February 16, 1972 (12 pages)

a . RM oe Saeed + neem —-. — “ = ree 2 cae > ee eeey© «nt oe ¥ ~~ es ie ee ae a} at a we Py ss+Se es “Ne oe 7 ( The Nevada County Nugget, Wednesday, February 16, 1972 (Continued trom last week) Tex, a little abashed, apologized and explained that it was another custom to smoke the despised article between courses and then adjourn to the veranda for a satisfying cigar, which Mrs. Ruth thought was more aristocratic than the pipe, and so he had discarded it. Sending the boy for a box of perfectos, they returned once more to the broad piazza, where the evening was given up to the news from The City of Six, Tex's investments, and a hinting of some tentative plans. that he had to . submit to his partners. The steamer was due in a couple of days, and it was agreed that Wakefield, Mike, and Tex should proceed to the city to meet Rance and Dot and bring them at once to the rancho, An ancient calesa was resurrected, much to Mike's gratification, _ who did not feel equal to another day on horseback; a pair of ‘half-broken mustangs were hitched to it, and with Tex on horse back the party made their way to Oakland, where the outfit was left before crossing the Bay. The steamer arrived at the appointed time, and the expected ones were aboard. Rance and Dot met a warm and loving welcome. Rance was delighted to be once more with his old friends, and when he had taken Mike aside and learned that Wakefield was in possession of his normal faculties and that all was well with the rest of them, he declared that his cup of happiness was overflowing. "And Mrs. Poole," interposed Mike, "may I inquire as: to hilth? I'd do it personally, but nobody has a chance wid her father monopolizing her. She do be looking foine. The divil you say!" he ejaculated. "It's rist and quiet she wants, does she? Well, plenty of it she’H have at the Rancho de la Paz." This in reply to a whispered communication from the proud husband. curtain falling on the past and the beginning of a new life for there is nothing else than rist and-quiet there. You may not belaveit, but Mrs. Ruth hersilf is doing a bit of that same, and the sorely afflicted man. The ensuing fortnight were halcyon days for them all. It had dawned upon Ruth that there was such a thing as misdi "That is the name of Tex's new farm, and so far as I can see there will be a pair of thim. Bless me soul, I must be getting married mesilf; it's contagious it's getting, although —" (here Dot clasped his hand), "Sure I look on ye both as me children, and it's glad we are to have ye back wid us once more." There . was a thousand questions to ask and to be answered; and, as Mike softly whispered, "Thank the good God, there are none of 1 = ie them that we cannot give a straight answer to," The next day they started for the ranch, where there was another joyful reunion. It needed only this meeting of mother 2d their and daughter and the perfect understanding that renew mutual affection to bring to each one of the party complete contentment. There were phases of the tragical incidents known™ only to Rance and Wakefield, and the former soon learned that Wakefield had taken his wife to his bosom once more. This denouncement made the situation an easy one to meet, as no explanations were demanded or necessary. It was a happy group that gathered on the veranda that evening. Rance was called upon to tell of their travels, and Dot described Rance's visit to his boyhood home and her days on the old plantation, where she was made much of, not-with standing that she was from the North; of the entreaties to stay, and of her own and her husband's desire to return to the "en chanted land," as they termed the foothills, Tex told of his bargaining for the hacienda and Ruth's surrender to the effeminate customs; and then Mike, after vainly entreating Wakefield to tell the story, related the hero's exploits in pursuit of the highwaymen, every incident of which he had gradually and persistently wormed out of Wakefield. For the first time the wife listened to the details of his vengeance, understood that he meant it as the vindication of his honor and hers, and shuddering at the danger, yet rejoicing over her knight errant, her hand stole into his, and with the fond pressure, it seemed to her as if peace and love were hers, Rance listened open-eyed to Mike's graphic relation. To him it was chivalrous retribution; it was more, it was the rected energy in the world, and she had become infected with the atmosphere of idleness that was a heritage of the valley. There was a good reason why she should relax her rigid ideas as to the imperative necessity of constant expenditure of vital force, a reason that impelled Tex to exercise his martial authority and insist upon a complete abnegation of household cares; and Ruth,. who had passed her life waiting on and caring for others, found it pieasant to give herself up to the care and attention of the Mexican handmaids, although she was consciencesmitten at times over her own shiftlessness. Both the mother and Dot were-soon under the same influence; and the trio, who had so much in common, passed many idle hours on the broad piazza, while:their husbands roamed the valley or visited the neighboring ranges. As for the partners, they loafed over the country, enjoying a pasear among the cattle, a ride to Don Pedraza's adjoining broad acres (Mike) had become hardened to the saddle), and a midday siesta under a branching tree by the side of a deep ° pool, where a substantial luncheon, despatched by the provident mistress in care of a swarthy paisano, had full justice done it. Then they grew meditative and reminiscent, traversing their trails and experiences and under the influence of the after-luncheon pipe or cigar, concluded that, after all, luck had been with them and they had much to be thankful for. It was at one of these noon-day halts that Mike, who had been doing some deep thinking on the subject, turned to Tex and said, "It's a pity ye only have a paltry six thousand acres of this valley. Look at it, it was niver meant to be divided up, and I wonder at the old [on letting go any part of it. Why didn't ye buy it all while ye were about it?" "A very good reason," answered Tex; "I did not have enough money." "Would he have sold it all to ye if ye had?" inquired Mike. "I think he would," said Tex; "he has another four times

a . RM oe Saeed + neem —-. — “ = ree 2 cae > ee eeey© «nt oe ¥ ~~ es ie ee ae a} at a we Py ss+Se es “Ne oe 7 ( The Nevada County Nugget, Wednesday, February 16, 1972 (Continued trom last week) Tex, a little abashed, apologized and explained that it was another custom to smoke the despised article between courses and then adjourn to the veranda for a satisfying cigar, which Mrs. Ruth thought was more aristocratic than the pipe, and so he had discarded it. Sending the boy for a box of perfectos, they returned once more to the broad piazza, where the evening was given up to the news from The City of Six, Tex's investments, and a hinting of some tentative plans. that he had to . submit to his partners. The steamer was due in a couple of days, and it was agreed that Wakefield, Mike, and Tex should proceed to the city to meet Rance and Dot and bring them at once to the rancho, An ancient calesa was resurrected, much to Mike's gratification, _ who did not feel equal to another day on horseback; a pair of ‘half-broken mustangs were hitched to it, and with Tex on horse back the party made their way to Oakland, where the outfit was left before crossing the Bay. The steamer arrived at the appointed time, and the expected ones were aboard. Rance and Dot met a warm and loving welcome. Rance was delighted to be once more with his old friends, and when he had taken Mike aside and learned that Wakefield was in possession of his normal faculties and that all was well with the rest of them, he declared that his cup of happiness was overflowing. "And Mrs. Poole," interposed Mike, "may I inquire as: to hilth? I'd do it personally, but nobody has a chance wid her father monopolizing her. She do be looking foine. The divil you say!" he ejaculated. "It's rist and quiet she wants, does she? Well, plenty of it she’H have at the Rancho de la Paz." This in reply to a whispered communication from the proud husband. curtain falling on the past and the beginning of a new life for there is nothing else than rist and-quiet there. You may not belaveit, but Mrs. Ruth hersilf is doing a bit of that same, and the sorely afflicted man. The ensuing fortnight were halcyon days for them all. It had dawned upon Ruth that there was such a thing as misdi "That is the name of Tex's new farm, and so far as I can see there will be a pair of thim. Bless me soul, I must be getting married mesilf; it's contagious it's getting, although —" (here Dot clasped his hand), "Sure I look on ye both as me children, and it's glad we are to have ye back wid us once more." There . was a thousand questions to ask and to be answered; and, as

Mike softly whispered, "Thank the good God, there are none of 1 = ie them that we cannot give a straight answer to," The next day they started for the ranch, where there was another joyful reunion. It needed only this meeting of mother 2d their and daughter and the perfect understanding that renew mutual affection to bring to each one of the party complete contentment. There were phases of the tragical incidents known™ only to Rance and Wakefield, and the former soon learned that Wakefield had taken his wife to his bosom once more. This denouncement made the situation an easy one to meet, as no explanations were demanded or necessary. It was a happy group that gathered on the veranda that evening. Rance was called upon to tell of their travels, and Dot described Rance's visit to his boyhood home and her days on the old plantation, where she was made much of, not-with standing that she was from the North; of the entreaties to stay, and of her own and her husband's desire to return to the "en chanted land," as they termed the foothills, Tex told of his bargaining for the hacienda and Ruth's surrender to the effeminate customs; and then Mike, after vainly entreating Wakefield to tell the story, related the hero's exploits in pursuit of the highwaymen, every incident of which he had gradually and persistently wormed out of Wakefield. For the first time the wife listened to the details of his vengeance, understood that he meant it as the vindication of his honor and hers, and shuddering at the danger, yet rejoicing over her knight errant, her hand stole into his, and with the fond pressure, it seemed to her as if peace and love were hers, Rance listened open-eyed to Mike's graphic relation. To him it was chivalrous retribution; it was more, it was the rected energy in the world, and she had become infected with the atmosphere of idleness that was a heritage of the valley. There was a good reason why she should relax her rigid ideas as to the imperative necessity of constant expenditure of vital force, a reason that impelled Tex to exercise his martial authority and insist upon a complete abnegation of household cares; and Ruth,. who had passed her life waiting on and caring for others, found it pieasant to give herself up to the care and attention of the Mexican handmaids, although she was consciencesmitten at times over her own shiftlessness. Both the mother and Dot were-soon under the same influence; and the trio, who had so much in common, passed many idle hours on the broad piazza, while:their husbands roamed the valley or visited the neighboring ranges. As for the partners, they loafed over the country, enjoying a pasear among the cattle, a ride to Don Pedraza's adjoining broad acres (Mike) had become hardened to the saddle), and a midday siesta under a branching tree by the side of a deep ° pool, where a substantial luncheon, despatched by the provident mistress in care of a swarthy paisano, had full justice done it. Then they grew meditative and reminiscent, traversing their trails and experiences and under the influence of the after-luncheon pipe or cigar, concluded that, after all, luck had been with them and they had much to be thankful for. It was at one of these noon-day halts that Mike, who had been doing some deep thinking on the subject, turned to Tex and said, "It's a pity ye only have a paltry six thousand acres of this valley. Look at it, it was niver meant to be divided up, and I wonder at the old [on letting go any part of it. Why didn't ye buy it all while ye were about it?" "A very good reason," answered Tex; "I did not have enough money." "Would he have sold it all to ye if ye had?" inquired Mike. "I think he would," said Tex; "he has another four times