Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-08-25
- d. e ~ @1' ,-J ~
CHAPTER I.
The Happy Girl.

5..5 The Happy Girl. -
THE stage line which ran from
Williams to Bear Tooth zone OF
the most authentic then to be
found in all the vest possessed
at least one genuine Concord coach,
50 faded. so saddened. SO cracked and
50 splintered that it's passengers en-.
tered it under protest and alighted
from it with thanksgiving, and yet it
must have been built by honorable
men, for in 49, it still made the run
of 100 miles twice each week without
loss Of wheel or even SO much as molt:
ing scrap Of paint. .".-
Il And yet whatever it may have been
in its youth it was in It's age no longer
q gay dash of color in the landscape.
On the contrary. it fitted into the dust
brown and sage green plain us de-
fensiveiye as a beetle in a dusty path.
Nevertheless it was an indispensable
part OF a very moving picture as 1t
crept. creaking and groaning Tor it
may be It was the suffering passenger
creaking and groaning), along the hill
side. j %'.I-7 49, :.
After leaving the Grande river the
road winds up pretty high divide
before plunging down into Ute park.
as they call all that region lying be-
tween the Continental range on the
east and the Bear Tooth plateau on
the west. 1t was big spread OF land
and very far from an eastern mans
conception Of park, From Dome
peak it seems plain; but, in fact.
when clouds shut OF the high sum-
mits to the west this valley" becomes
a veritable mountain land, tumbled.
lonely country. over. which an occa-
sional horseman crawls. a minute but
persistent insect. 1t Is. to be exact, a
succession OF ridges and ravines. sculp-
tured Cn some far of. post glacial
time) by foods of water. covered now.
rather sparsely with -pinons. cedars
md aspens. a dry, forbidding but ma
jestic landscape. ..5@ +, i5 ..sS
IN late August the hills become iri-
descent, opaline with the translucent
yellow Of the aspen. the coral and
crimson of the fire weed, the blood red
OF. huckleberry beds and the royal pur-
:ple of the asters. while flowing round
all, as solvent and neutral setting. lies
the gray-green Of the ever present and
ever enduring sage brush. =" ~
Through this gorgeous land OF mist,
OF stiffness and of death few years
ago pale young man Seated beside
the driver rode one summer day In a
.voiceless rapture which made Bill Me-
Coy weary. *z H. =. ...,JJ3%=
IF you'd had as much of this as l
have you'd talk of something else" he
grOwled after half dozen attempts
at conversation. Bill wasn't much to
look at. but he was good driver. and
the stranger respected him for it.
Eventually this simple minded horse
man became curious about the slim
young fellow sitting beside him. -.
what you doing out here anyhow
fishing or just rebuilding a lung?'
# .Rebuilding two lungs" answered
the tourist. -
..Wel. this climate will just about
::ut lungs into a coffee can" retorted
Bill. with official loyalty to his counr
try. >~.~. d"
To his discerning eye 1.-The tourist"
now became "a lunger." Where do
you live when you're to homer
connecticut"
II knew it." 3. u.,---
5$."How did you know it?" The youth
seemed really interested to know.
~ drove another fellow up here last
fall that dealt out the same kind OF
brogue you do"
BIZ was prevented at the moment
from pursuing this line of inquiry by
the discovery of a couple of horsemen
racing from distant ranch toward the
road. 1t was plain, even to the stran-
ger, that they intended to intercept the
stage. and Bill piled the lash with
sudden vigor. rg -. =
.:I'll give 'em a chase" said he
grimly. r.sg 's-'%
The other appeared little alarmed
.'What are they. bandits ?" r..
..Bandits!' sneered Bill. your eye
sight is piercing. Them's girls"
The traveller apologized. MY eyes
aren't very good" he said hurriedly.
He was. however, quite justified III
his mistake. for both riders wore wide
trimmed sombreros and rode astrlde at
a furious pace. bandanas futterlng'
skirts streaming. and one was calling
in shrill command, "Oh, Bill! -
AS they neared the gate the driver
drew up with word Of surprise
..Why. howdy, girls? Howdy?' he sald'
with an assumption Of innocence
"Were you wishin' fer to speak to me!'
"Oh, shut upr' commanded one OF
the girls. q round faced. freckled romp.
.You know perfectly well that Be-rie
is going home today. We told you all
about it yesterday"
"Sure thingr' exclaimed Bill. I'D
forgot all about it,
Like nothin'!' exclaimed the maid.
eYou've been countin' the hours till
you got here. I know you" 49,.
Meanwhile her companion had slip
ped from her horse. well. goodby'
Molly. Wish I could stay longer"
"Goodby. Run down again.
II will. You come up