The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-13
THE ETERNAL FEMININE.

There was a time when a num-
Der of the boys on the Cross Bar
ranch secretly pinned to win the
heart and hand Of Angelina
Rhodes, but it was different now.
Five years in college had given
her new ideas and new perspec.
tives. So when she came home
richly and tastefully attired and
talked of lofty ideals there wasn't
horse wrangler on the ranch but
what knew he could never measure
up to her expectations.
But Angelina was the boys idol,
and they swore by Hornets Knob,
whose bald peak looked like a
white sepulchre in the distance,
that they'd protect her and see
that she got the right man for a
husband.
Shortly after her return from
school young men from distant
towns and neighboring ranches
came to court Angelina, who sat
and talked to them on a rustic
bench under a tree. The embryo
lovers failed to impress her and
she longed to get rid of them. 1t
remained for Sandy Ferguson, one
of the cowpunchers, to offer a solu-
ton to the difficulty.
1--WE all air fer you, Miss Ange-
lina," remarked the sage, stroking
his grizzled beard. "and from our
preserver seats at the Boston EN-
porium we kin see that the dudes
galavantin' round here amt maxim
much of hit with you, and I've
evolved an idee wharby you gifts
rid of 'em you don't like, without
their KNOWN you air in on the
play"
ooh, Sandy" said Angelina, 81
wish you could help me-"
'Well, here's my plan. While you
air sittin' under the tree with one
of them dudes that hain't got sense
enough to take hint and light
out, all you have do is to put
your hand to your head and Well
do the rest"
Angelina clapped her hands glee-
fully and fell in with the plan sug-
gested.
The next day Horace Wild, a
persistent and Objectionable sutton,
called, and when the girl raised her
hand to her head the boys at the
Boston Emporium unburdened
themselves of blood-eurdling yells
and, mounting their horses, gallop-
ed madiy down street. Whizz went
lariat, and Horace Wild found
himself bounding airily across the
prairie and doing his utmost to
keep on his feet. After practically
all the breath in his body was jolt
ed out of him, the young man was
tossed on his horse and sent home.
Sandy Ferguson's scheme was a
great success, and in three days
several other undesirable suitors
decided to give up Angelina rather
than risk having their limbs brok-
en- by a crowd of exuberant COW.
boys. Then came Lieutenant James
Crewes from the fort. He had met
the girl at military dance and
lost his heart. The lieutenant was
tall and fine looking. and the boys
at the Boston Emporium chuckled
merrily at the prospect OF the fun
in store for them.
Angelina in new gown was a
picture of feminine loneliness as
she and the handsome officer stroll
ed to the rustic bench, while the
boys watched closely from dis
lance.
"Thar's the signal" exclaimed
Sandy as he saw Angelina's hand
rising slowly to her head and the
boys were in their saddles imme-
diately. In less time than 1t takes
to tell 1t a lariat flashed over the
head of the neatly groomed officer
and he found himself leaving his
fair companion in a most abrupt
and undignified manner. Cowboys
were whooping and bpandishing
glittering weapons and shining sol
der buttons were in the air. 1t
was great sport for the ranchers
and they kept the lieutenant on