The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-07-12

q Copyright, 1910. by American Press g
y Association.
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Nothing was known about Ralph
Hayden, a young man who bought 4
small ranch in New Mexico, except
that he was an Englishman. He was
tall and well formed, with light hair
and complexion and blue eyes. This,
with winning smile that uncovered
white, regular teeth, made him In ap-
pearance very attractive. He had
brought f2,000 with him from England,
with which he purchased and stocked
his ranch.
He had no sooner got settled than
the neighboring ranchers called on
him and invited him to their homes,
but he accepted none of their invita-
tons. This excited good deal Of talk
among the women at the different
ranch houses, all of whom were Gu
rious to know why the handsome Brit
Usher would have nothing to do with
them. The general verdict was that
he considered himself too good for
them. Nevertheless Hayden was hail
fellow well met with all the men and
soon became popular alike with ranch
ers and cowboys.
One day Hayden set out to go to q
neighbortng ranch He was walking
across field when bull espied him
and bore down on him from the rear.
Hayden, unconscious of his danger,
continued on leisurely Suddenly he
saw horsewoman leap a fence and
rush upon him. swinging lasso as she
rode. Not understanding the move
ment he stood still. regarding her with
wondering eyes. Coming near him.
she threw her lasso. but not at him.
Turning, he saw that she had thrown
the loop around the horns of bull.
Drawing his revolver, he quickly kill
ed the beast
The next thing he did was to raise
his hat in courtly manner to the wo-
man who had saved his life and offer
his thanks. She was a girl about
twenty years old. A coil Of hair was
falling under her sombrero. having
been loosened by the jump she had
made over the fence. Her costume
was a jacket cut Mexican fashion and
divided skirts of the same material.
Had it not been for you" said Hay
den. Il would probably now be either
dead or dying. The bull would have
taken me in the back and broken it.
l shall esteem it favor If you will
name the way in which l may best
show my gratitude"
you are Mr.. Hayden, l believe"
II am"
"Do you know what woman loves
bestY
II do not"
'"To get ahead Of other women"
"WellY"
Come and see me-
"You have charming frankness. l
shall certainly call upon you. You
must be that Miss Macdonald of whom
l have heard so much"
81 am Kate Macdonald. l bid you
good morning"
Kate Macdonald was feminine free
lance. She could ride, shoot, hurl a
lasso as well as any man in the neigh
borhood and had way of looking out
Of a pair of honest eyes that invited
confidence. She was tender hearted In
the extreme. She called a spade a
spade and had sovereign contempt
| for people who said one thing and
meant another.
| Ralph Hayden called upon her at her
fathers ranch the same evening.
When he arose to go she said to him:
Tomorrow afternoon l shall expect
you to ride with me- We will go past
the principal ranches hereabout in or
der that the women may see us to-
gether. After that l shall resign all
claims upon your attention"
"And l shall not be allowed to visit
you again"
"As often as you like, but not from
any obligation to do so'
A month later one evening Ralph
Hayden. after pacing the floor for an
hour. swayed by conflicting emotions,
went to Kate MacDonald's home, told
her that he loved her so deeply that
he could ruin himself for her and beg
| ged her to marry him.
"What do you mean by running your
self for met" she asked.
Il am pledged to marry girl in
England"
Kate started. This was indeed g
blow. Her sense of honor revolted al
his deserving another for her.
"Does she love you very much?" she
asked
81 don't know. l suppose she loves
me, though the marriage is to be under
| certain contingencies
what are they? No. don't tell me
Go away. l need time to think this
! over"
He obeyed the order For several
days there was no communication be
| tween them. Then he wrote her. re.
calling all he had said. closing with
the words: II was demented. There
is but one path for me to follow, and
| OAlJ q IOOi hnafC WOOAQ 4OllOM
| any other"
No answer came to this. One even
ing about week later Kate MacDon-
aid, attended by half dozen cowboy
friends and parson, rode up to Ralph
Hayden's ranch house. All dismount
| ed and entered One Of the cowboys
acted as spokesman:
Anything Kate Macdonald wants
goes. She's made up her hind to mar
ry you. If you decline you run &
gantlet and other such torture as In
dams use. Here's a man to do the
job" He pointed to the parson.
"Pm not afraid of your torture" SAID
Hayden, "but I'm ready to go through
the ceremony"
Not word was spoken by the con
tracing couple except to make the re
plies required by the marriage service
When it was over Kate Macdonald
led the way out. and all mounted theil
horses and rode away.
The next day Hayden disappeared.
From this time forward Kate Mac
Donald, or Kate Hayden, was chang
ed woman. She no longer gallope(
over the country taking fenceS anC
bitches by the way. She never Attend
ed any Of the social gatherings hell
among the neighboring ranchers. Th,
only feature eminent before her mar
rage she retained was her tender sole
itude for those who were in trouble
The Hayden ranch remained in care o
a keeper, who offered it for sale. Moth
ing was heard Of its owner. A yea
.l-... In.