An Honest Woman [pp. 288-305]

An Honest Woman.
Before dawn Alick roughly awakened him,
saying: "Light out, ole man, if you're bound
to chase off them thar emigrants."
"You git up the band of colts to brand,
and I'll come back and help you," said Mr.
Wilkes, finishing his repast of black coffee,
hot biscuit, and bacon. Bracing himself to
sternly order the trespassers off, he rode toward the camp.
The gaunt oxen were greedily cropping
the dry grass, and the family were eating
their breakfast, which consisted only of bread
and water.
Mr. Wilkes, riding up to the group, was
appalled at the scanty fare. "Lord bless my
soul, no coffee! " was his sympathetic reflection. " This yer is awful tight papers!"
The husband rose with a hasty apology.
"Mr. Wilkes, I suppose. Your man told
me last night that we were on your premises.
I should have gone on at once, but our cattle are footsore, and we were quite worn out.
We are preparing to start on immediately.
Pray excuse the intrusion."
Mr. Wilkes glanced down at the speaker,
who was small and slight, with black eyes of
painful brilliancy. The refinement of his air,
the cultivated tone of his voice, contrasted
sadly with his meager belongings. His hurried breathing, emaciated features, and short,
dry cough were a poignant appeal. Mr.
Wilkes sprang from his saddle to offer his
hand to the stranger. "Howdy, howdy,
Mr. - -— "
"My name is Bell," was the reply.
Mr. Wilkes took off his Peruvian hat, bow ing deferentially to the pretty, delicate wom an and the hunger-pinched children. Then
he said, with a fine assumption of coming
with hospitable intent:
"Well, now, Mr. Bell, don't be in no
rush. What was ye allowin' fur to do?"
"I am looking for a tract of government
land. I have been unfortunate in business,
and lost my health. I hoped to recover by
taking a trip across the plains. I've gained
some on the way, and believe this climate
will finish the cure. I am a little straitened
for means, but I can preempt land; and if
my health is restored we shall get on nicely."
The great, warm heart in Mr. Wilkes' massive frame swelled. He took both the thin,
cold hands of the stranger in his own toilhardened palms.
"Look yer, Mr. Bell; here's guv'ment
land a plenty. I've put fifteen hundred
acres under fence accordin' to Californy
law. But, bless ye, I can't keep half of hit
when hit's surveyed. Now, jest ye drive inside my fence, and pick out a quarter section, and I'll help ye git up a log cabin, and
see ye fixed afore hit rains. Hit's powerful
lonesome without no neighbors, and I've jest
been a-waitin' to find the right stripe of a
man."
"Oh, thank you! I fear I ought not to
accept so great a favor," hesitated the grateful immigrant.
"Don't act the dunce, but make yourself
comfortable, and introduce me to the madam," pleasantly returned the proprietor.
"Proud to make your acquinetance, madam; and seeing yer jest arrove in this country, don't be no ways backward in axin' fur
any little thing ye mout be out on. I had
accommodations when I fust come to the
coast, and if I can help you, and you pass
hit along to the next, we'll be actin' like white
folks. I was in a manner froze out of grub
when I got to the settlements, and if yo want
any groceries or little tricks afore ye git a
chance to go to town, call on me."
She thanked him with a tremulous voice.
Opening a gap in the fence, he bade Mr.
Bell drive in, and select a place for his
house; then remounting, galloped back to
his own corral.
"Well," cried Alick with a sarcastic coun tenance, "I allow ye sent them campers A
whirlin' out of these parts."
"No, Alick," humbly admitted his em ployer, "I couldn't; them thar pore little
cusses of children hadn't nothin' but bread
to eat-no coffee, no meat-and that thar
pitiful little scrap of a man'll get a title to his
preemption -six foot by two-afore spring;
hit's jest crowdin' the mourners to run'em
off, so I told him to go inside my fence, and
take up a quarter section."
"I knowed you couldn't stand the sight
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