San Diego State University - Del Sudoeste Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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WHITEANDGOLD 15 a circle, each straining his eyes for a clearer view, yet afraid to approvaJCh. tiI d like his skin, Ii said one. ITorn re welcome, said Harold, anyone got a match ?ii One was soon lighted and the four drew closer. By its dim flicker they recognized :1 long, black stocking tied to a string. There was a snicker from somewhere. They were glad the match went out. They scattered in silence. Harold joined his trembling companion. Did you kill it:rw she gasped. Dead as a doornailfi he answered. N . B. It was very hot and I was sitting listlessly on the porch. Suddenly there appeared around the corner three small children, a boy of about six years and a girl and boy a little younger. They rode broomsticks alnd carried washboiler lids and long pointed sticks, and on the heads of two were large CO'ffee-pOtS and on the third curly head was a 1ard-paii1.I laughed heartily at them, but they gravely looked at me and never smiled I asked them what they were playing. The eldest child solemnly replied, iiWe aim t playing. I am Don Quixote and I am riding my steed, Rosananti. They tindicating the other two cHildreni are a Knight-Errant and Sancho? He also condes scendingly explained that what I thought were boiler-Iids were shtields; the things I mistook for sticks; were sharp spears and what I had the audacity to call coffee-pots were helmets; then, completely ignoring me, he turned and gave the command, ttAdvance! ye royal knights! Vanquish the foe! They charged on the telegraph pole and on a: large shade tree and soon retreated. with Hashing armor, to other fields of conquest. Helen Sinks. On the Frontier In the days when the buEalo roamed over the great Staked Plains, even before the red man was extinct, the cow-boy held sovereign sway throughout the north-western portion of the Lone Star State. The mere sight of him, with his leather breeches, his belt and revolvers plainly visible, and his long shaggy hair hanging in tags below his big sombrero, was enough to incite the fear of the bravest of that vast band of immigrants who were settling this western country; his wild reckless life quelled the war-like spirit of the native barbarians, and chief among them was Joe Simpson, a wild, burly fellow. The settlers always kept a constant watch around their un forti- fied camps, ready to sound the alarm in case of a sudden attack in the evening. Had they been able to look beneath the surface and see the cowboys, better nature, much of their anxiety might have been a1- layed. Late one winter afternoon an alarm was sounded from one of the settlements, summoning the men to the bank of the river. The sight which met their eyes was appalling. A small child shivering on the

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I4 WHITEANDGOLD And when you have the place arranged And fixed up properly, New black boards, windows, stairs, and floors, You are prepared, you see, To take a child from where he is To where he ought to be. eA. S., i06. Sketches The glistening, sandy desert stretched away to the eastern horizon where it wavered in the blue of the overheated ai'r; southward stood a tall lone mountain, a silent sentinel. On a darker spot, out in- uhe desert, rising slightly above the surrounding sands, a group of green trees marked the Coyote Wells, and there the ocatilla cactus raised its tally red blossomed stalks above the small thorny brush and cactus of the plain. The setting sun left the western sky above the dark mountains at mass of flaming reds and golds, deepening into darker blue and purple. The evening star shone out in the east. As it grew dark more stars twinkled in thfe clean- heavens. The Milky Way stretched from the lone mountain across: the great dome of the sky like a broad band of silver, thickly studded with jewels. In the east the sky grew lighter, a yellow glow appeared like that from a great fire, lighting up the edge of the desert. Then the great moon rose, a luminous golden ball. and lit the sands with its soft light, casting long shadows across the hills, and tracing the dry water course with great dark markings which stretched their long hngers back to the black mountains. In the moonlight 3. traveler, slowly following the long trail, reached the mountains, and entering a deep gorge, was lost from sight. As he left the desert the long wail of a coyote reached him and then, all was sti11.-R. D. mum They were taking a. moonlight stroll. He was just beginning to get. poetical. On such a nighte-ii Harold? she cried, iiLook at that snake! and with a scream worthy of a woman, she hastily retreated. Harold looked. Sure enough! there was a; .z'lbng black snake slowLy crossing the pavement. He made for tHe middle of the street to hunt for stones of course? There were no stones. He went farther back. At last he found one. i Harold, come away! Donit-don't bother about it! Youill get killed! Nonsense! I'll kill it! and stepping forward he landed the stone squarely on the reptileis head. When the stone rolled asidem however. the snake proceeded as before. Some one approached from the other side. nA snake! ltll be-! Should think heid get away faster! Yes, or die when you hit him? growled Harold, landing another stone. There, you fixed him. He does not move! By this time two more men had joined the fray. They drew round in

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I6 WHITEANDGOLD opposite bank, the bridge hoating down the stream and with it all hope of rescuing the child. The crowd stood along the bank gazing helplessly at the little girl; they knew that she must soon succumb to the cold of the prevailing storm. The pitiful cries of the women were partially drowned by the howling wind as it swept across the plain. The men walked the shore in despair. Grief took the place of excitement. Just at this time they were startled by the wild rush of a horse- man. Turning around they saw Joe Simpson, the man whom they most feared in all the wild new country. In the fast approaching twi- light they were able to discern only the mere outline of his rough, weather beaten face, and lost the look of sympathy that crept into it as, with one swift glance he took in the whole situation. Instantly he started off at the same mad speed with which he had approached. The astonished, terror-stricken crowd stood for a moment speechless and motionless, forgetful of the cause that had brought them together. Fearingr lest he would return son with his band of followers and take advantage of their present condition, the crowd dispersed and went to their camp, where the men armed themselves for battle. Presently the watchman saw a huge object moving rapidly to- ward the child. His first impulse was to shoot, but before he could bring his gun into operation, the man had siezed the child and dis.-. disappeared in the darkness. . Joe, for he it was whom the watchman had seen, had risked death to cross the river on a fallen tree, that he might rescue the child. But alas! Before he reached the crossing he saw the tree swinging on its way down the stream. All hope of reaching the other side was abandoned. Joe seemed to have but one thought, the comfort and safety of the child. He sought out a hollow tree, and after wrapping her snugly in his great coat, placed her within, and sat down'himself on the outside to protect her from the cold north wind. The settlers continued their watch all through the 'night, but no enemy came. By morning the river had gone down, and a cross- ing was affected, and a party went out in search of the child. Joe had not shifted his position all through the stormy night, nor did he stir at the approach of them. At first they were frightened at the sight of the rough rider setting like a statue at the foot of a tree, but they cautiously advanced and found Joe, cold and dead, but little child was safe.-Ira Cowart. A little bird sat on a wire And said to his friends, ill declare? If wireless telegraphy comes into vogue Weill have to sit in the air! -Ex.