Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-21

NAN NlBN in the north western part OF leXaS
EWl[NxlHI He dressed in antique black trock
N&N1lJkH coat and wore Panama hat. Both
HS%S1 dated from ''befo' the wah, suh; there
was no mistake about that He rode about
the ranges and the prares ancient bronco, not
quite so antique his Clothes but so antique that the
cowboys said the pinto had been IN the Afk s..d,,
with her. there many young men who would nave
thought themselves blessed if Amandy Higginson mao
SO much as smiled them She was plump ana falr
and very engaging and called her mother Nav ana
her father "Paw" And girls scarce around Dou-
Bile Mountain, while at that time cowboys were pien..
full and Texas was not yet fenced in and sheep were
oustng cattle.
When old Bill was happy he. said "Amandy was wa,
Abe annie of his eve He said she the finest girl
between the forty parallel and the Mexican Dor
der and was going to marry rich man. When any
cowboy came round with couLng nod,na, MS
NI'l stand this hyer crowd off with shotgun Mary
he said to his wife "Amandy is the girl to wed mil
I:ons There's no girl like Amandy. Cowboys is pis'n
to me- and I'll make em food for cayoots II they KEN
Iangushin araound this raynch. You tell EN- So dye
hear? I'll feed 'em to the beasts OF the held
He snorted and his white eyes looked very nerce:
The Young men in chappareros and guns fought shy OF
him 1t is horrid to be confronted with a gun when
one comes courting for it is, of course almost ipos
sble to kill ones prospective fathern-law without
discouraging the lady -,
Now it happened one bright day IN the later oprng
when Northers over and the prairie flowers were
ont and ali things were heavenly, and the cattle were
lively and the wind sweet, Amandy put on her sun
bonnet to keep her skin from frecklng and TOOK
little walk on the prairie away from the creek
Good day. Amandy," said Billy.
"Oh. it's YOU" said the ungracious Amandy Pears
to mes if warnt allowed to walk the he perair as
Texas free and without guards. WhaT did you spring
from?" =
Il wuz jest a-ridin' Bly," began. Billy a.,
"You alters is jest aridn' by, said Amandy. An An
if you amt jest a-ridln by its MT Gapin u.s. OF MI.
Gaylord or Morgan Harris
"Wa'al, I knowed as your Paw away It, Painted
Rock, Anandy, and tho't as it wuz' good time to
hey little talk with you and clear things Tip some FOR
I'm gettin fair desprt, Amandy and owns II.
That's what Morgan says, and Merrck and Tom.
You all says and what R I've r got TO ds sy T s g
20 a-walkin on the perare owned by her own father
without bein confronted with cowboys sayn they re
desprt and doin' nothn but sayin they're despritt
DTS YOUR fault I'm desprit' urged Billy: You
know loves you morn ! loves my own life I've
said it repeated to you, an seq 1t ag IN
"Sos Joyce and Merrick and Morgan and the lot Of
yo an if payssed my word to you, the others would
be And don't 9ve o oU one ez y and Mr.
Prentss that he'll blow hole threw any cowboy as
he ketches sight of within hundred rods of me- ana
raqeous in denouncin you and Joyce before he pulled
out for the Rock. So it amt my fault, thar !!
= don't the B MY YOU ssy you'll 5ot H0p love
I'll marry you right off and he cayn shoot his son-
law thout ben' reckoned mean man. An ne cayn
neither for kin take care o myself and ne Kno"S'
it. a.. e-oa go
II suppose you reckon if he came arter you, then,
you'd just up and shoot him frst?' she asked .,
ard hev to- maybe declared Billy apologetcally
"Whatl shoot my old Paw?
'Not less he pulled me- Amandy
'The idea o my merryin man that allows he'd
shoot my Pawp said Amandy The idee's redicSulus.
Billy PTentss and you kn9 No b a e 5Son u I'd
be of bein tried for KILN you, for he's deadly with
weapons" ~
''Deadly' be consarnedw said Prentiss. THE ole
gaoot cayn shoot for sour apples The only gun hes
8TRat lets me out" said Amandy furiously; "don't
you speak disrespectul of my Paw! You and me he-
61;e bed PreDtiSS that begun therG
She tossed her head) "as knows of. You caynt be
insultin to Paw and stay in with me-
ooh amt intendin to insult him any, protested
Billy in distress, "all | allowed WIZ as he caynt shoot
any and he he's gay and tree .h we'll ms as 0 ms Is
st Hm r9"Rd wos sif aT ste Knows as %
III you amt civil to Paw you caynt get to talk
she declared, and I'll be thankful it. when we meets
peration mixed with oncivlity to my parents, tor you
never even so much pays the time of day with my
pore Nav.
Billy exploded
"Why, Amandy Lords sake how kin l. when your
Paw sets outside with his hair abristing and gun
ready to shoot if we, kemSS within hayf mile It's
fair ridickus to speak So
But at that Amandy turned short and walked towards
ooh Amandyr said Billy.
"Oh Amandy, Amandy, Amandy!" he repeated,
M HEga59 en Pf mporsd dq BLY, Leading g his
horse after her. -,
Nor Miss Higginson' don't work neither SAID
Amandy triumphantly
And then Billy stayed in his tracks and said no more
When he had recovered himself little Amandy was
entering her Paws house without look in his direc-
ton .
''Tm fair desprt' said Billy Prentiss.
He was then of a horseman coming up oehnd
him at an easy walk As he mounted, they met face
to face and though Billy did not know who the man
was he felt that he strangely like old Bill Hggn
son.
The stranger started and said hastily that he warnt
iookin for anything but Bill Higgnsons place ~,
"WaaL thets it and you're welcome to it, SAID Billy
as he put spurs to his bronco, and loped off The
stranger pulled his horse round and stared after nm
wac ak;ssni of her or my eyes deceived me- said Bill
Hieeinson's brother. "He sure looked fghtable s II
he suspcioned some I'd cot him This must be told 10
Bill, 1t will make Bill mad"