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About McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1884)
* ' WHAT DYHTG IS. "to leave the turmoil and the careful tu mult , And wander vaguely to a pleasant region , Where green lields glow with-a sheen oi summer sunset. .And narrow farther to a sylvan vista. TiVhcuco issue sounds 'to soothe the spirit's trouble ; To hear the laugh and gurgle of low waters , And young birds sing with -a diviner music , And young * birds carol with a lovelier music , And evening winds that walk with a fa'.ntei footfall JJnto the white clouds and the bluer sky depths ; To rest a little some green willow under , "Whose branches whisper in that shadow garden , And hold that hand which bath the tcnder- cst pressure , And touch sweet lips just as thine eyes are closing ; This is that falling ere the sunset's fading. This is that dying ere the morn immortal ! To see blue-hooded violets reposing , Among the grasses twining to caress thee And kiss thy cheek as if thou wert a sister , And.warm thee with their breath of heav enly odor , As if thou wert to them indeed a sister. To find some quiet in the'willow ' vista , Some little slumber in that shadow garden ; This is that evening of thy dreamless sleep ing. This is that slumber ere the life immortal ! A gentle waking to a new beauty , A gradual unfolding to the soul life , As through a rose's chrysalis transported Into the blooming valley of that , Eden ; A slow unfolding of an early blossom ; A little kneeling at the sapphire portals , And consciousness of all surcease o'f heart ache , i Tumultuous tremor as the soul receiveth The grander splendor of the spheral chorus , The joy which "passeth human under standing. " * Tills is that coming of another morning , This is the morning of the life immortal. [ Frederick Peterson. YIK KEE. After father died , some ten years ago , I found that for three years we , had been living on credit I was 18 , strong and well , but did not know how to work. In the little back room of the ZNew York tenement , house ( by the way , the landlady seized my clothes for our rent ) I considered my future. I had inherited a great faith in relatives from my father , so I wrote to seven. I re ceived six polite notes , telling me to go to work , and the following letter : JONESBORO , Col. , Jackson's Eanch Dear Nell : I'm your cousin Jack. Your father once gave me money to come west. I've took up land , got a comfortable home , no style or frills , but good folks to live with and healthy grub. I've got the best wife you ever see and seven youngsters. The ity ain't no place for a friendless girl. Wife wants you to come. She'll be a mother to you. Come right off. I'll meet you at Denver. Inclosed was a cheek sufficient to de fray expenses ; so I started. Denver was then only a largo town , and the depot i barn-like structure. I got out of the cars and stood bewildred among all the emigrants and their bundles. Some one touched me en the shoulder a roughly dressed , broad shouldered man , with long blonde beard and big blue eyes. "Are you Nell ! " ho said. "Yes ; and you're Cousin Jack. " " 'I knew you , " he said , as he led the way , "by your black clothes an' sorrer- ful look , an' them big , blue eyes , like yer father's as two peas. We'll git the . shadder duter 'em when we git ho'm'e' . "Yer father was a mighty- good man. .Bless yer dear heartdon't let them tears -come. This 'ere's a dry country ; we -don't waste water. " Comforting me in his kind , rough way , he reached his team , a' big , green wagon , drawn by two wild-looking steeds ) which I afterward knew to be bronchos. A fat , blonde boy , about 12 , * held the reins. "That's Ted , " said Cousin Jack. "Ted , this is Miss Nell , your cousin ; give her a hug. " The fat boy solemnly obeyed. After this he seemed to have a'special claim on my affections because he met me first. Jack's wife was , a jolly , 3 > lump woman , with. > rown eyes and curly hair. She always had a baby in ier arms and another at her heels. She adored Jack. I never knew them to 5iave a quarrel. I soon grew to love the life at the ranch. I liked the big , /half-finished house , its untidyness and comfort ; its pleasant , healthy atmos- .phere. I loved the children , the house- 'hold pets ; Shep , the sagacious dog ; Thad , the clever cat ; the hens and sheep ; the horses , Dolly , Dot and Jaisy , that did the plowing and themar- fceting at Denver , twelve miles away , and were so gentle and kind we used to ride them without saddle or bridle. I learned that cattle grew fat on the dry-looking grass , and gave the best of anUk. 1 learned to love the broad plains and the glorious sunsets , and to watch the distant bands of Indians with ihalf fear , half interest. I helped cous in Mary , sewed , cooked , kept the house and children neat , and lifted many burdens from her weary shoulders. We 'were so happy. The children and I took long walks over the plains , and "Ted and I took many rides on Dolly and Dot , and in the long winter even- children stories. Occasionally in s I told the casionally Harry White ? ame over to -visit us from his ranch , five miles a.way. He lived with his old mother ; he and Jack were dear friends Harry neeneda wife , Jack used to say , wink ing at me. One day Jack went to Denver foi supplies. He went alone , and coming home later than usual , Ted and I ant baby Mamc went out to meet him Jack looked sober and guilty , ant seemed ill at ease. If he ever drank , 0 should'have thought him intoxicated In the wagon was a queer shaped1 heaj under a horse blanket , j ! was sure it moved. When we got behind the barr Jack said , sheepishly , avoiding my eye : "Well , Ted , L calkerlate I've gel su'thing in that there waggin that'ul astonish yer marrn. " Little Mame pulled the blanket ofl the heap ; she had been peeping undei it all the while she was in the back o | the wagon. There lay a human being , Such an object ; snort and squat , dressed in a queer blue , blouse Witt flowing sleeves , wide trousers , and queer wooden shoes. He had small black eyes ? a shaven poll , from which depended a long , .thin quue. . His countenance was battered and bruised , his clothes torn and bloody. "There was a row down to Denver , ' ' said < Ja'ck ; "the Christian folks stove in .these 'ere heathens' winders , tore theii houses down , and killed half on 'em. 1 cleared out as soon as I could. When I got half way home I heard a noise back of me , and out crawled this thing. I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. He thought I was going ter send him back , an' ho fell ter cry in' and jabber- in' in thatjap of his , and clingin' , onto my hand an' kissin' of it. It sorter turned my stomach. I told him ter set down , give him some crackers ter eat , covered him up an' told him he could live with me. What do you s'pose marm'll say ? " "Oh , Cousin Jack , " 1 said , "of course she'will not care. Your house is aref- ilge for all the wretched and unfortu nate. " " .Sow , don't , Nell , " he said , turning as red as a rose , and busying himseli about the harness. The Celestial looked at us solemnly ; Mame toddled up to him. He looked at her curiously but did not move. "Get out , John , " said Jack , "you needn't be scared any more ; we're at home. " He got out stiffly , and to my surprise , turned and lifted the baby down. She took his pig tail and pulled it in wild delight. He seemed grieved when I took her away. When Jack told Mary , the good soul found a thousand reasons why he should stay , and hurried to make him a bed in the attic. The Celestial did not say much , but when Jack called him "John" he smiled a sad smile. "Melican man callee John. Hump. Yik Kee. " So with due consideration for his feel ings we addressed him as Yik Kee. Pie was'of great use. He helped take care of "the children , did the washing ( Mary did not fancy his method of sprinkling clothes ) , and helped Jack on the farm. We made him one of the family. He was always .pleasant and smiling , but was a man of few words. Cousin Jack added much to his in come by trading in hides. Ranchmen Uying at a distance sold their hides to him and Jack sold them to traders , who came around at certain times in the year. Harry White was a partner in the business. He used to go on a sort of round-up and visit the ranches all over the country. The cattle of the ranchmen roamed in vast herds over the plains , protected only by the brand of the owner. Cattle-stealing was fre quently practiced. Offenders in this' respect were shown no mercy. They were convicted , tried and executed only in the court of Judge Lynch. I never blamed the ranchmen for this ; it was impossible to guard the herds in the past area over which they traversed , and the cattle ' must be protected in some way. Gil Meadt was a wealthy ranchman , who lived about ten miles from us. He owned the largest herd "of cattle on the plains. They were branded with the vowels of 3f his hame , E. A. , which could be rec- jgnized anywhere. , He always shipped bis cattle east to his brother in Chicago. [ feared the man. He was tall and jaunt , with deep-set black eyes ind low forehead. His home was un- lappy , his wife cross and ugly , and his jhildreh wild and unruly. This made aim more than commonly disagreeable. I think it was in the fall of ' 74 that Flarry White brought the big load of lides to Jack. Both were much pleased it the bargain they made. Harry gave plowing accounts of a new customer a ranchman from Chicago , who had laken up an abandoned homestead. He jad purchased many cattle from his : ousin , Gil Mead , and " hoped to rival lim in the number and quality of his lerd. Jack packed the hides away to : eep till December when he expected ; he dealer. One afternoon- long after this , Gil Head rode up to the house looking very igreeable and pleasant. A couple of it rangers , also ranchmen , were .with lim. They wanted to look at the hides , me of them being a trader , Gil said. Tack was in Denver , so Yik Kee and I vent to the barn with them. They ooked the hides over carefully , and sonversed in low tones , Gil with a sup- messed oath. Finally they thanked us : ourteously and took their leave. "Humph ; no goodee , " said Kik Kee , > ut he wouldn't say more. About 5 that evening , "when we were it supper , a crowd of twenty-five or hirty men rode up on horseback. Jack same out and met them , inviting them n to take supper , in his generous , hos- > itablo way. They wanted him to go o Denver with them ; there was to be a neeting there of importance to ranch- nen. The meeting would beat 8. They lad brought with them an extra horse or Jack. Mary looked around for Yik Kee to help her'but he had .mysterious ly disappeared. I faintly remembered seeing his white , horrified face peering around the barn at the horses. I no tec 'the visitors ate little the food seemed to choke them. Some of them watched Mary and the baby in a queer sort oi way. WJien Jack , as was his custom , kissed his wife and babies good-bye , one of the visitors , an oldish man , coughed huskily , and said : 'VBestif I kin stan1 this. " They all rode off , Jack the mer riest of all , waving his hat till he was out of sight. When we were clearing up the un usual quantity of dishes Yik Kee ap peared at the end window and beck oned me. I followed him out. Ted was with him. Behind the barri were the three horses saddled. Shep was with them , released from confinement , where he had been secured from fol lowing his master. "Fmler 'em , " said " * * ed , in an excited whisper. "Yik's afraid they're up to something. " "What is it , Yik ? " I said , sternly. "No fooling , now. " For answer he twisted his long pig tail around his neck , tying-it under his left car in a significant ? manner. "Humph , he hangee ; stealee co\y. " "Oh , Mary , " I cried , remembering Gil Mead's 'Visit and his strange ac tions , and dimly seeing what Yik Kee meant , "I must tell Mary , " I said wildly. "Humph , no , " said Yik Kee. "Yel- lee sick , " and he closed his eyed in a dieaway sort of manner. "Go no\v too late. " We mounted. "Mother'll think we're gone to ride , " said Ted , as we galloped over the plains. He was deathly pale , poor lit tle fellow , but ne sat erect and firm. I saw his father's big Colt's revolver sticking out of his pocket. He was a deterannedjboy. Even in my despair , in my wild hoj > e that , I could save Jack by begging on my knees , that I could cling to him , and that they would have to kill me first , I could not help a smile at the comical figure Yik Kee present ed on horseback. His loose garments flapped in the wind , his long pigtail' flew out behind , and he bobbed up and down like a kernel of corn in a corn- popper. it. was a soft , warm night , lighted only by the pale young moon and the twinkling stars. We. rode as fast as our horses could gallop. Shep was close at our heels. Way ahead , when we reached the top of a little hill , we saw the crowd of horsemen. They were riding toward Denver. We gal loped on with renewed zeal. They turned into a cross road leading to Mead's ranch. On this road was a bridge over Dry Gulch , which was in the spring a roaring torrent. Beyond the bridge , across the fields , was the haystack of Mead , where was stoweu sufficient to feed his domestic cattle through the winter. We at last reached the turn of the road. They were three miles in advance , riding rapidly. Yik Kee stopped at the turn. "Humph ! Can't catchee. Hangee at bridge. Yougoee ! " He turned his horse and sped across the field , deserting ns basely. We rode on , Ted and I. He was pale and still ; my cheeks were burning , We neared the bridge. The higl : mound of earth before us hid them from sight. We stopped our horses and listened. The men had lighted torches , some were preparing a rough gallows under the bridge ; -two were uncoiling a rope ; some held the horses of the others beyond the bridge The men were masked now , and I could see by the lighted torches that their number was increased. Jack was very white and sad , but he showed no fear. "I am innocent , gentlemen , " he said slowly , "but I refuse to tell you of wobm I bought the hides. " ' 'I undeistood him. Could Harry White be a cattle thief ? I felt as if I were growing mad. "What shall we do ? " whispered Ted , cocking his revolver. Suddenly a bright red light illumi nated the heavens , followed by clouds of black smoke , and a queer , crackling noise. A yell from the men , Gil Mead's voice above the rest. The haystack was on fire. It seemed to me in the glare around it that I could see a for eign looking h'uman vanishing across the plain. The men mounted their horses , Gil Mead at their head , and set off across the fields at a mad gallop. They must save the stack. They lelt "Jack bound band and foot and guarded by one man. Shep , the wonderful dog , had kept by us until now , slinking in the dark shadows. Now gliding sidewise and still , he reached the man on guard , whose back was to us , and with no warning growl , caught him by the throat with strong white teeth that 2ould choke a coyote in a second : The man , who was in a sitting posture , fell back with a groan. Ted struck him jver the head with the butt of the re volver , and pulled off the dog. I cut lack's bonds with a knife. He looked it us wonderingly , and staggered to lis feet. "Never mind how we came , Jack , " [ said. "Quick , mount the horse be yond the bridge-and ride to Denver for four life. They will not harm a wo- nan ard child. " "Harry White"he muttered , the loyal soul that even could think of another's langer. "I will tell him. " "No , no ; not of this only say if he itole the cattle to fly the country. They vill find out sooner or later. " He galloped down the road. Ted md I mounted , calling off Shep , who iat on his haunches watching the un- jonscious man , and then we , too , sped down the road. The hay-stack was giving out great volumes of black smoke , but'the fire was dead. Ahead of us was a riderless horse , Dolly , who greeted her master with a joyful whinny. Where was Yik Kee : Then Dot , my horse , shied from the road at a recumbent black figure. It was the indomitable Yik.Kee , who had crawled all the. way from the stack on his stomach , so that he could not be seen , after , lying in the dicch until the blaze had -faded out. "Humph ! no catchee Chinee ; heap sore , " he said , laconically , rubbing his stomach. , He mounted Dolly , and we rode on to White's ranch. Harry rushed out at the sound of horses' feet , at mid night. There , under the twinkling stars , I looked into his eyes , and told hi n fhe whole story. 'He showed no guilt , but only said he must stay the night at his ranch , for the men would come back to Jack's for him , and then mounting his fleet colt rode off down the road. I comforted his mother as best I could. At daybreak we rode home. Mary was in a wild state of alarm. Where had we been ? Where was Jack ? and how cruel we were to leave her alone. She said that at 1 o'clock three masked men had come-to the house and searched it and the premises , but had- not molested her or the chil dren , only asking where Jack was very sternly and sharply. At noon , .Jack , Harry , the sheriff and a party of armed men from Denver rode up , stopping only a moment to tell me that they , would be back at night. I dared not tell Mary , and she worried all the afternoon at their strange con duct. At night Jack and Harry came home , -looking tired but happy. Then Jack told Mary , and she cried and clung to him as though she could never let him go. It seemed the pleasing ranchman from Chicago was one of a band of cat tle thieves. He sold the hides to Har ry , who honest and open himself , was slow to suspect wrong dealings in others. The sheriff had caught the men skinning a cow that belonged to Mead , and had captured the gang and taken them te Denver. The men concerned in the attempt to lynch Jack were sincerely sorry. Their regrets would not have availed much , however , if they had succeeded in their purpose. They gave each of their children ten acres of land ; they gave Ted sixty-five , and .me , whom they pleased to consider very plucky , ISO- acres. I felt rich enough , and time has made it very valuable land. The man on guard was our warmest admirer. He thought Ted , Shep and I wonders of courage. He said when I came down on the bridge with the open knife , h thought his last hour had came. Gil Mead committed suicide riot long after this. He was always queer. Ni one ever knew that Yik Kee set th stack on fire. I tell you Jack reward ed the faithful fellow gave him a gooc farm , taught him to work it , and buil him a house. The funniest thing was Yik Kee had a wife and three queer lit tie children in China , and Jack sentfoi them , and Yik Kee and his family are as happy as they can be. The children play with Jack's ( he has twelve now ) and get along finely together. In 1875 I married Harry White which , I suppose , was foreseen from the beginning at least Jack says any body could have seen it. The most se rene and satisfied face at the wedding ivas the Celestial's. In my inner con sciousness , notwithstanding he was a ' Chinee , " I have the convic- ; ion that as great a hero as is seen in modern times is the man of few words Yik Kee. [ Our Continent. A Great Hiver of the Berth. .life in Puget Sound. The most interesting part of the jour- ley was the passage of the Columbia. Che bar at the mouth of the river is jreat hindrance to its free navigation , ind vessels ar& often detained for days , ind even weeks , waiting for a favor- ible opportunity to cross. We waited ive days outside in the fog , hearing al ] lie time the deep , solemn warning oi , he breakers. Our steadfast captain. is long as he could see nothing , refused o go on , knowing well the ' risk. At he end of the fifth day he 'entered in riumph , with a clear view of the river , he grandest sight I have ever seen. Che passengers seemed hardly to dare o breathe till we were over the bar. \.s we passed into the .river I sat on leek , looking about. I had longlooked orward to seeing this immense river , even miles broad , rolling seaward , and he great line of breakers at the bar ; mt no one can realize , without actually eeing it , how much its grandeur is en- lanced by the surrounding ? of inter- ninable forests and themagmflcence of ts snow mountains. The character of he river itself is in accordance with verything about it , especially where it ircaks through the Cascade mountains a four miles of rapids , and still higher .p , shut between basaltic walls , rushes rith deafening roar through the nar- ow passage of the Dalies , where it is oinpressed into one-eighth of its usual ridth. For a long time I could not re- eive any other sensation or admit any ther thought but of its terrific strength , 'he Indians say that in former times be river flowed smoothly where are owthe whirling rapids of the Cas- ades , but that a landslide from the anks dammed up the stream and pro- uced this great change. A letter has been received at Erie , ennsylvania , from General Butler , and as been made public , in which he eclares that he is out of national olitics forever , and that he has no mbition in politics out side of Massa- husetts. - w A LEAP-YEAR SCHEME. MesHengor Boyg To Bo Used an Kscorts by Young Denver Tribune. Denver's district messenger boys are always obliging. Their employers have concluded to put them to other uses than that ol answering calls. The Dis trict messenger company yesterday is sued a card stating that its messengers can be used hereafter by ladies as es corts. The card says the boys will bo neatly uniformed , and that they will be handsome and polite. The boys can bo had for thirty cents an hour. The scheme is s.aid to be one peculiarly adapted for leap-year , when ladies are supposed to cast as do a certain amount of their modesty. Those who wish to go to the theater , and do not wish to ask somebody else's brother to accom pany them , can find an escort ho may be diminutive , but it is better to have a half loaf than no bread by ringing for a messenger boy. If the boy does not make his appearance promptly , the young lady or maid in the sere or yel low leaf can ring again. If the boy does not show up then the person who has been ringing the alarm can just bless the boy a little and ring again. Then she can retire and fix up anew her spirits , ' curls , bangs or sixes , as the case may be. After that the'boy may knock at the front door. On being admitted he may be out of breath , but the lady , no matter whether old or young , should kiss him behind the left ear. She may , if she sees fit , call him a little wretch , but he will have the privilege of saying , "My dear Miss Flip , am I going to the ball or theatre with you this evening ? " The lady may ask him if he knows how to use opera- glasses properly , or or if he can dance ; but the boy can do both , and these mat ters having been settled the lady with her gallant though youthful escort can start out for the theatre'or a ball in a carriage if walking is not good enough. A Tribune reporter yesterday called at the office of the District Messenger company and approached the superin tendent , whose duty it is to awake the boys who have fallen asleep in the chairs or on the stools , and inform that a gentleman atbox wants one of thorn to take a letter to his lady love , or that a lady wants some one to accompany her to the theatre. i\ \ "Have you secured any boys as hand some as newspaper rep'orters to act as escorts to young ladies ? " was asked. "Yes , sir , " replied the superintend ent , as a cruel smile played on his handsome countenance , "a fine crowd of noble looking boys. " "Do you think there will be any ob jection offered by the ladies to the boys acting as escorts ? " "I do not think so. You know it is leap year , and no young ladies will offer any objections. " "Will the boys be used for anvthing else ? " "Oh , well , if a young lady is timid and should be out calling on her friends she can borrow a full dress suit for a boy and send him out. " "Do you think the innovation will pay ? " "No doubt of it.It is a novelty , and ill society bells will think it the proper japer to have one of the youthtul es- jorts. " "Are the boys well informed ? " "Yes , they are well posted on social svents and theatrical matters. They ire well read , and you can make up rour mind that they will prove very igreeable companions. " American Beauty Slurred. ilrlicpel GnfiUb In London Kortnfctntly. Theje can be no doubt that Ameri- : ans honestly believe their women to > e the most beautiful in the world ; nero o them would there appear any ex- ravagance in the remark of the New fork Sun on the audience which at- ended Irvine's first performance , "in espect of the beauty it contained , far urpassing any audience that Mr. Ir- Ing ever bowed to in his life. " But he opinion of foreigners I do nqt peak of Englishmen alone is very lifferent , and I have never met one rho has lived long or traveled much in America who did not hold that female icauty in the states is exceedingly rare , irhile the average of ordinary good 9oks is unusually low. More pretty aces are to be seen in a single day in Condon than in a month in the states , 'he average of beauty is far higher in Janada , and the American town in rhich most pretty women are noticeable 5 Detroit , on the Canadian border and aving many Cinadian residents. In the restern states beauty is conspicuous by s absence , and in the eastern towns , ialtimore , Philadelphia , New York nd Boston , it is to be chiefly found. In few York in August I hardly saw a ice which could be called pretty. In rdvernber New York presented a dif- jrent appearance , and many nretty I -omen were to be seen , although the umber was comparatively small , and tthe Metropolitan opera "house even .merican friends were unable to point at any lady whom they could call eautiful. A , distinguished artist told IB that when he first visited America e scarcely saw in the streets of New ork a single face which he would se- ict as a model , though he could find venty such in the London street in , hich his studio was situated. The T merican type of beauty is extremely slicate and refined , and London and mtinental society will alwavs contain > me American ladies who may rank nong the loveliest in the world. Such c known to us all , but are mere corn- on in Europe than America. i fc _ Mormon missionaries are traveling trough Michigan. ° i't