The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-16
Kentucky Ned.
IOrigipeLl

the attentions Of the young men Of the
social world to which I belonged. L
was told that would meet no men
except cowboys. whom knew to be
wild, dissipated, shooting and general
]y disreputable set. In truth, tsdid not
wish to go. but was notSsn good
health. and the doctor recommended
the open air of ranch life
When 1 got on the ranch found the
surroundings pretty much as had ex-
pected. However, i got exhilaration
from the life that i had not expect
ed Every morning after breakfast /
mounted horse that had been provid-
ed for me and, with father for an at
tendant, galloped over our broad acres
till noon. Then i lunched and rested
till near dinner time, after which meal
L was not long in seeking my couch.
The consequence of this mode of life
was remarkably beneficial. and gain
ed strength every day.
The cowboys were not so uninterest-
ing after all. Nothing could be more
different from the ways of the beauX,
10 whom had been accustomed, and
could rot but feel Notwithstanding the
couruiLesS of the one compared with
the aiashed manners of the other w hen
in my presence, that there was some
thing wanting in the first that found
in abundance in the second. For in.
stance. in presence of danger would
infinitely rather be under the protec.
ton Of the cowboys. But did not feel
any interest in them.
There was one exception. He was
called Kentucky Ned Stray bits of
gossip concerning him came to my ears.
He was n sort of black sheep in a good
Kentucky family. He had had an en-
counter With some one in that state
and had left it between midnight and
morning. He had driven stage, served
as a private in the United States army
and herded sheep. Father had taken
him into his employ without knowing
anything more of his antecedents than
any of his other cattle tenders and
didn't know the Eentuckian was a gen
tlcman born till I apprised him OF the
fact Then father wanted TO know
how / found it out.
There was more that father would
have liked toNinow. Kentucky Ned
had fallen heels over head in love with
me. Not that he said so; be knew 1
was too far beyond his reach. Nor did
| offer him the least encouragement
He simply saw and was conquered
without 4 word or look from me.
How did know this? 1t was as plain
to me as the sun in heaven.
The day came when I In turn was
conquered and by Kentucky Ned, not
by Il word, but by an act Nor was the
act Of especial benefit TO me, nor did
he know that he was influencing me.
Indeed, he did not know that saw the
act which won me.
Father and / were out on one of our
morning rides From an eminence we
were looking at herd of cattle Some
thing had frightened them, and they
were running with their tails in the air
toward bluff Now, had learned
| enough about cattle TO know that when
herd gets going it can't stop. Those
| in the rear keep crowding those ahead,
| and it doesn't matter if the advance
ones come TO Il precipice high as Mag
ara-they will be forced over None
can stop unless 1t be those in the rear.
| We saw 500 or GOO cattle going like
mad for the bluff, and it did not seem
! that any of them would be left alive.
Then we saw 4 cowboy-I recognized
| him for kentucky Ned, though father
| didn't-spur his mustang from beside
! the herd, make a detour and ride right
! between the leaders and the bluff. cut
! ting their course ut right angles Then
| he Cantcred leiSurely along the edge of
/ the bluff, reincd in and looked around
! at the immense herd coming right to-
/ ward him. There seemed not one
! chance in thousand for him to escape
/ being pushed off the edge and buried
! under tons Of flesh. And what did he
! do? Why, lie rolled cigarette on the
pommel of his saddle, lighted it and
puned as coolly as If he were in per-
! feet safety.
! Father and l watched him So terror
/ stricken that we couldn't either OF us
| speak Suddenly ] saw the cattle in
| the lead try TO stop. They were forced
| on however, but when those directly
In their rear came TO the place where
! the first had reduced their pace they
( tried TO stop too. Pretty soon most OF
The cattle had succeeded iu stopping
( and were all licking the grass Then
. those which had been pushed in the
advance stopped, turned and went
back. The herd was saved
That night father scGA, for Kentucky
Ned to thank him for s;S ing thousands
OF dollars in cattle. Father asked him
how he did it, what made the herd
turn. oh that was simple" said the
/ cowboy. - bag of salt had been sent
out for the cattle When I saw them
! heading for the bluff l rode across
( their front with the bag and scattered
the salt before them. Every one of
! them shifted it and was bound to stop
/ for #"
. ! thanked Kentucky Ned, too. and
. when ! did so gave him my hand
pressed his slightly, and he knew after
That that I was not so far above him
as he had supposed. But didn't then
/ recognize that his coolness ana bravery
had thrown into shadow the traits of
F., every lover 1 had ever had The day
+ came when I found it impossible to