Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-04-30

as IL was. As matter OF fact the
fiction writer's have always thrown an
undeserved halo around the life OF
a cowpuneher. being long" on the
romantic side OF the same. but short"
on the many disagreeable features
attending Il.
IL was during the last year OF my
cowpunching period that Red Mason
came TO work on the L Bar ranch
He possessed social qualities the
existence Of which were revealed
on the occasion OF dance az the
Widow Houston's ranch. and which
won him the unstinted admiration OF
his mates. The Widow Houston was
the relict OF the late Sam Houston
who died some five years before. leav.
Ing behind him. besides the widow. a
son and daughter. They had pros.
pered. and by carepn management OF
what the I'd man had left them. had
become Possessed OF a fair ranch. -four
miles up Los Tanos. and "A bunch OF
several hundred cattle. The daughter
Nette Houston. was the admitted
belle OF San Miguel county. She was
not frail. languishing type OF beauty
by any means; that kind did not -four
ish on the frontier
or course such an event as a dance
was hailed with pleasure, and every
one at once made ready. There was
a Ereasing OF boots and a polishing OF
spurs and "A busting OF clothing all
that day and the next. The time for
starting was impatiently waited. but
at last II came. and the party was on
cavalcade OF six. including Red
Mason and your humble servant. The
dance went of with tremendous eclat
and Red Mason was emphatically the
hit OF the evening on the male side
The attentions which he Iavished
upon both the widow and her daugh.
ter were the cause OF much remark.
With easy grace he led the matron
out on the floor. took his place at the
head OF the reel. and saluted her with
stately bows as the accordion and I'D
die struck up "Money-musk." IL was
q pleasing sight 10 see him guide his
buxom partner down the middle. his
spurs and chains playing a jingling &C
compartment to the music, and when
the dance was over lead her gallantly
70 seat and hurry 20 procure her
some negus.
His versatility was still further dis
played when he appealed TO Miss Net
tie for the favor OF her hand IN the
bolero. With the dame he had been
dtgnined; with the maiden he was as
agile and graceful As Victor Ramirez,
the Mexican, who bore the reputation
or being the best dancer and most no
torious liar in San Miguel county.
TITS sure surprisin' how he kin cut
out just the heifer he wants, every
time. while we fellers stay inside the
corral" sighed enc Jealous guest who
snVied Reds popularity with the sex
But the l. Bar ranch contingent ex-
nited openly. proud 70 find themselves
so well represented. For several
weeks after the dance IL became evil
dent that Red was bent upon follow.
ing up the apparent advantage he had
gained in the good graces OF the
ladies on the Houston ranch. Every
evening after supper he would mount
his steed and ride away to the scene
OF his triumphs. He was extremely
reticent, however, about his affairs,
and gave no hint concerning them,
nor was any one aware whether It
was the mother OF the daughter
whose affections he sought. Chatting
on the subject he resented promptly,
and the boys agreed that il was safest
10 let him alone.
Matters continued in this way
through most OF the winter. Regu.
larry every night Red rode away into
the darkness. returning at the usual
time. But one morning he appeared
st breakfast limping slightly as be
walked and with one OF his eyes
black and swollen. Evidently he had
been waging battle with some person
or persons unknown. He refused
however. TO discuss tho cause OF his
battered appearance. and went about
his duties with a piece OF raw beef
lied over his eye. But that evening
instead OF mounting and riding away
ne took seat by the Are and related