Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1896)
TH.E IIESPEK1AN Environment. A lily pure and pale, Beside a purling stream Within a sunlit vale Midst myri'd flowerets' gleam. A spray of golden rod Upon a wind-swept wold, O'er glinting dewless sod Lone, shifting sheen of gold. These sent with ardent care From truant heart dejected The lily decks love's flowing hair The hill-flower lie neglected. J. F. B. A Letter From Walking Wolf. Walking Wolf, Akizona, Fob. 20, '96. Deak Ted: Yon UBk why I didn't sond that htory. Well, I had ono writton which I intended ' to sond; but since I wrote it, I've had such an extraordinary oxporionco thnt what I called a story of ndvouturo before, now seoms as a simplo narrative a child's nur sery story, as it wore. I'll try to toll you about it, but for tho first time, I am unable to express satisfactor ily what I have clearly in mind. I hardly know how to begin. This will bo told by degrees, but if I can just get started, I know you will bo interest ed. And Ted, nt the conclusion, don't think hard of mo or judgo mo hastily for tho sako of tho old days whon you and I yelled togothor at tho old Uni. People differ, and I did as woll as I could accord ing to my light. It is best I should oxplain a little. You know, here in this lnnd of mountains and cow-punchers and cattle, nearly everyone rides horseback. Tho range bronchos are vicious and hard to rido; but a young follow isnot considered much of a rider unless ho breaks threo or four of these little horso dpyils each winter. Tho boys are very skil-fulr-with tho lasso. They think nothing of roping any ono out of a bunch of twenty horBOs running closo togothor, and of ton, tho girls of a family are as skilful as tho boys. As you alroady know, I havo boon attend ing Binging school at tho littlo school houso up tho gulch. Among tho othors who woro attending was a young lady by tho namo of Pridoaux, Winnie Pridoaux. She is a girl of modium sizo, with black hair, and hns a vory determined cast of countonnnco. Sho is considered pretty by tho boys around horo, and I'll confoss sho is fairly good looking; and sho has such a rcBoluto way about her that sho is intorosting to a stranger. Sho has tho reputation of being exclusive in hor society; nnd tho boys aro somewhat afraid of her. Sho usod to go to school in Donvor. I had hoard all about hor before I saw hor and my curiosity was aroused, so whon I mot hor at singing school ono ovoning, I wns as agreeable aB possiblo boing deter mined to got acquainted with this western beauty. Woll, I succeodod. Aftor chatting with hor a bit boforo singing school for sovoral ovonings and soeing that sho waB not avcrso to my company, I musterod up cour ago enough to bog tho privilego of accom panying hor homo after class. Sho scorned rather ploaBod and consontod. Woll, this samo thing happened sovoral times in tho next few weoks; and I thought wo woro gotting to bo famous frionds. Sho wa tho moro free and oasy than any othor girl friond I havo ovor known; and yot sho po88C8sod a quiet dignity and good sense that could not fail to win honost respect from an honest man. Thoro was no display of affec tion on my part I would not havo dored nor did sho show any markod preference for mo. 'Tis true, sho wont with none of tho othor boyB aftor 1 rodo homo with hor that first night; but, aB for that, she went with none of them boforo I met hor. All our conduct towards each othor was as rigidly corroct as if wo had never known anything except that taught in an .encyclopedia of etiquette. ey At the end of the term, the Binging. school