Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-26
'TheEvening Story
Pete Coyne's
Elevation
By SARAH BAXTER

leaders in its developed condition.
Sometimes they take on a higher re-
finement: sometimes they don't.
When the first railroad was pushing
its way across the great American
desert l, being fond Of hunting wild
game, went to a small town on that
part of the line that was finished and
made It my headquarters for hunting
buffaloes and other game. boarded
with a Mrs Copeland Whether she
was a widow, brevet widow or held
no matrimonial commission whatever
no one cared. and no one asked Her
regular boarders called her by her flrst
name. Kate. She was one of those
women who at In readily with uncouth
surroundings. Her boarders were all
men. but every man was respectful to
her. in accordance with the manners of
the country. They did not hesitate to
swear In her presence, and probably II
one Of them should have had a diff
Guilty with another neither would have
hesitated to shoot In her presence, but
so far as she was herself concerned she
was immune from any disrespect what
ever.
Mrs. Copeland was but twenty three
years old and tolerably good looking.
She showed ne preference for any Of
the men with whom she came In con-
tact and accepted no attentions from
alike. except one. Peter Coyne. whom
she seemed disposed to quarrel with.
Coyne had been a professional gam
bier. but had recently turned his at
tention to contract he had with the
railroad for taking dirt from where 1t
was not needed and putting 1t where
rails were to be laid. He appeared to
be the most forceful Of Hates board
ers. and wondered why she singled
him out for Ill usage Her treatment
seemed to trouble him, and every time
she scolded him he would hang his
head and take what she said to him
like guilty schoolboy.
] noticed that Kate's reprimands to
Coyne were never occasioned by any
III treatment of her. Sometimes they
arose from differences of opinion,
sometimes because he was unmindfpl
OF the feelings of others, and once II
heard her abusing him because he had
shown a tendency to backslide into his
former profession Of gambling. Just
before left I witnessed makeup
after one OF the dressings Kate gave
Coyne. and 1t was very amusing. The
big man had got posy somewhere
and offered 1t to her as a peace offer
ing He went up to her with 1t as
shyly as IL he expected her to open on
him with six shooter.
Soon after this little episode finish
ed my hunting operations and return
ed to the east The railroad and other
transcontinental lines were finished.
and the western part Of North Ameri-
ca began a development that has work
ed wonders New farming territory
was opened. towns and villages sprang
M with modern conveniences. and the
people, throwing Off their uncouth
manners with their rough dress, were
transformed into ladies' and gentlemen
Some twelve years after my hunting
trip to the west | had occasion to visit
Washington. Congress WAS in session.
and the social seas son was at its height
At a reception of the president, which
/ attended. | was moving about among
the throng when | met man and
woman handsomely dressed. both OF
whose faces seemed familiar to me.
The lady showed signs of recognizing
me, but passed on with only the sign.
Later a man, evidently westerner,
approached me and said:
BEG your pardon. sir. There is
lady in another room who desires to
speak with you"
| followed him, and he led me to the
woman / had met shortly before.
Mrs Senator CoyneP said my con-
ductor. and since he did not know my
name he left us.
| stood looking at theilady wonder
ingly. while she sat looking at me with
an amused expression on her face.
Then suddenly through the silk and
lace gown she wore | recognized the
woman had boarded with years be-
fore. I grasped her hand.
You would hardly recognize in me-
she said. '.the woman you boarded
with when ON your hunting trip. would
your And you wouldn't have expected
that ! would marry Pete Ccyne. Fact
Is. I saw there was the making OF a
fine man In Pete. and when you were
with me l was trying to get him up
on to a higher plane, He made money
by contracting, and after awhile
married him. Then when the terri
tory became a state be was sent to
congress. That led to his being made
one of the states senators, and here
we are right in 1t for all we're worth"
"And | assure you" l replied. lone
would not suspect but that you were
born here"
"Oh, this Is my third winter In VAST
ington- When hrst came l was pref
ty rough. But, you see. Pete was
rougher than l, so / had to pull myself