The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-07-08
Darlington
A Story of Ranch Life
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

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Not only boys read stories Of deeds
of heroism. Girls sometimes absorb
them and fall in love with the heroes
When I was q girl dotted on such
stories. Soldier boys were my favor
ties, but / conceived a great admira-
ton for the western cowboy. Having
come from a refined family and lived
In the east, where l never saw cow
boy, 1t is quite possible that had l met
one of them my Illusion would have
disappeared like thin mist before the
suns rays.
The typical cowboy or cowpuncher.
as he is called, was told later. MUIR
ders the kings English, the corners of
his mouth are gummed with tobacco
juice, his every third word Is an oath,
and he gets drunk whenever ne hnds
an opportunity. I don't mean to say
that there are not quiet, respectable
young men among them, but the ma
jority don't pretend to be carpet
knights.
When I was nineteen years old my
brother, after graduating at college,
concluded to make a ranchman OF
himself and. going to the west, pur-
chased and stocked a ranch. He wrote
glowing letters about the life he led.
riding over his broad acres, watching
his herds increase, and seemed rather
pleased with the lawlessness Of coun-
try wherein every man was his own at
torney and his revolver his constable.
He sent home photograph Of himself
on horseback. a sombrero on his head.
lariat at his saddlebow and a revolv-
er at his hip. 1t fred my imagination,
and / thought how fine 1t would be for
me to have a lover rugged out in the
same fashion.
A time came when he wrote me to
make him a visit. I was wild to go,
but my parents objected However,
was so persistent in my entreaties that
they at last consented. Having no es-
cort. was obliged to travel most Of
the way alone. My brother wrote me
that he would send some one to es
cort me over the last sixty miles since
the journey was through a rough coun-
try and he was unwilling that should
pass over it alone This distance was
made up of fifty miles Of railway and
ten of wagon travel. The man ! was
to meet would wear yellow ribbon in
his buttonhole. He would pass through
the train and was to stop him when
he reached me and ask If he was John
| Darlington.
When Mr.. Darlington came slowly
walking down the aisle of the car
saw that he fulfilled my ideas Of the
man would like to love and be loved
by. Though roughly dressed In flannel
shirt and trousers and light coat, he
showed unmistakable signs of being to
the manner born. How many pistols
and knives he carried on his person /
did not know, but one huge revolver
was stuck In his belt In front
In a buttonhole Of his coat he car
ried yellow ribbon which l recognized
at once as having held together bun
die Of cigars. This assured me that
he was the man was to meet. and /
addressed him, asking him II he were
not Mr.. Darlington. His face broke
into beautiful smile, and he lifted his
sombrero and took a seat beside me.
Mr.. Darlington told me that he had
a ranch near my brothers and that
they, being the only two gentlemen in
the neighborhood, had become fast
friends My brother had mentioned my
coming. and Darlington had asked per.
mission to be my escort over the latter
part Of the journey. OF course real
lied that he would relish the care of q
young girl. since he had probably moi
seen one Of his own class for a long
while.
found Mr.. Darlington very agree
able conversationalist l asked him
why he wore revolver In front In
stead of at the hip. where the heroes
had read about carried their weapons.
His reply was not very satisfactory.
learned afterward that the trains had
been often robbed, and he desired to
have his gun" where he could grasp
it In the shortest possible time. The
reason why he did not tell me this
was because he did not wish to fright.
en- me. Nevertheless his being thus
armed naturally suggested danger to
me, and felt how fine 1t would be to
be protected by him.
| We had passed over the principal
part Of the journey. The train was by
no means full, and my escort In order
to give me more room turned over the
back of the seat In front and sat there
facing me. was looking out through
the window when heard the forward
door thrown open with a bang and the
words pronounced In a quick, sharp
angry tone:
Hands up, allr'
A man entered the car, while another
Immediately closed the door and stood
with his back against 1t, carbine al
his shoulder. pointed down the aisle
The first man had no arms In his hand
whatever. Only few seconds elapsed
Il n -