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About The Nebraskan. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1892-1899 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1892)
8 THE NEBRASKAN. V white woman on the frontier is am alttractiom oti: to be resisted by the average son of the JjorderlbHl "OW Jackson's gal," would have made friends and attracted a brilliant thinon; of gallants to her side in line best drawing rooms of the east. Tnme passed and old Jackson's possessions grew and multiplied amid his "gal"" camme to be known as am heiress- The bays, how ever, were as liber boys of their age and surroundings, (fat, ragged amid aparemlly with out aim or ambition. (They assisted ttnueir father in Ibis work and at might piled oST to Ibed and soom lost! comisciousmiess inn a sinoxe which carried with it the only romance of their hum drusE existence. But Moyme had a taste tor tllae beautiful which sine culttivatted. She adorned tlihe rough walls with pictures cat from the papers and magazines which travelers liiad Befit inn her heeroims' : sloe mead books and was cultured far bevoirad liner smr-rosuadings- Sine was something of a musician as well, and tine old melodeonn wlniidn sat inn ime corner amd Bner father's 'fiddle'" spoke a different language wlbenn touched bv tine nmagnc of her fimgeirs. Sine Bnad the nmiimd of tine family. There must have beem some rare old blood amiomg the giiTs ascestav- jSTobodv kmiew or aslbed how she Ihad acquired Iner ltasle for reading nor how she had collected her well thumbed little library of books, newspapers amd maga zines. No one wondered winy her clothes always fitted her mounded figure with such neatness, nor bow she ihad learned fio coin her golden hair so gracefialllyv mpcrcn her shapely head, nor why she, so dim! ianeat from all flherai, had such a beautiful compieiion They wcmbM hare been both surprised amd shocked to see her Hooking any other way. The whole community amd the soldiers at the fort as well, came to acknowledge her as the beautiful queen of the prairies. It is aaol to he supposed that a girl with such a reput ation, aad am heHrefici at thai, would waml for ssitors. There was mot a single imam tor one hmmtHxed miles aro-amd hul what would have gome down on his kmees hetaui her if she would let Mm. Bat she woulds'l and they knew itt, amid kept a respectful disttaace. She gave emcounragnaeiBl to mo ome. 1 lamry Dale, a tall, snuB-hrowmied ramrliinaai: , lived some twenty mailes below her father's place, and 'Fmamk Fisher, a slick looking yonnmg tfellow with store clothes, who was is some way comimecled with the sutler's store at the ford, were the maosl persistent of her admmirers. Along with Jackson's pnosperily had come a sort of good fellowship, which often degem eratles into a condition of good for nothing ness. He had boon companions, and with themm he drowned his sorrows and the macm nry of his lost love in the flowing bowl, and they celebrated their respective good fortunes in the same manner. Of late he had seldom gone to the tort alone, without coming home imitoxicated. One bright October morning he had annonnced his intention of visitinsr the tort. Moyne demnrred. Her word had previously been law to him, but iMs time he rebelled. He went to the stable, saddled his pony, and soon was on his way. It took but a moment for her to determine her course, she mmommled her favorite, a big black stal lion, and was soon at his side, leaving the boys at play about the place. He did not like this interference with his plans snd for some time they rode in silence. But what moan could scold such an imperious beanty or carry a frown or a scowl long in her presence? Gfradmlly his ejes met hers and soom they were chattering merrily as they jogged along the dusty road. They had gone about hzilf the distance when he tmnsed suddenly, and Booking steadily at her, said with mnch more animation than usual : "Moyne.'" "What is it father?" was her good nafared reply. "Well, gal, I"m not blimd mor deaf if I am getting old, and IVe seen them two youmg fellers hanging "romrnd 3'ou right smart of late. Now Vd like to know, its a tether's due, what yer goim to do with W Seems to me if I was a gal amd had the choosim, it U
