Buffalo Bill: His Life and Adventures in the Wild West — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The sisters never left off chattering, ‘around their mother, upon the news in his letter. “He is not coming alone, either,” said ‘Lillietoe Lottie. “He has with him one whom he calls ‘ Wild Bill.’ I wonder if he has become tame himself? He speaks of him as a very dear friend, one who has shree times saved his life. The other one he calls Dave Tutt, says he is handsome and brave, but I know he doesn't like him, for he doesn’t speak of him as being good at heart and true as stecl, as he does of | the other.” “Tt lacks scarce a half hour of sunset,” said the mother. “Tell Kitty Muldoon tc put on the tea-keltle and hasten pre- parations for supper. Tell her how many will be here, and to let nothing be lack ing. Thanks to my good son and that - Providence which has smiied on his efforts, our home is ready to welcome him to com- fort when he comes! ” Lottie called out in her #oice— “Kitty Muldoon !” ‘Here, miss, here, fresh as a daisy and three times as natural,’ cried a plump, cherry-cheeked young girl, with just enough of the bregue on her tongue to tell most likely Erin’s Isle was her birth- place. Dreessd as well as the sisters, she looked more like a companion than a ser- vant. é And what is it, me darling Miss Lottie, that Kitty can be after doing to plase ou P” ‘‘Mamma wants you to hurry and get the supper, good Kitty, for my brother ~ and two of his friends are coming here to- pigkt.” At the same instant Lillie, who had been glancing Harmugh an avenue which ted westward in the grove, cried out— “They are coming! They are coming!” And three minutes later, their horses nothy and hot, three riders at full speed dashed up to the gate fronting the cot- cfear, ringing Q, ‘Oh, brother! brother!” cried the two sisters, joyously, and all heedless of the stranger eyes now looking on them, they rushed out to embrace and kiss him. Buffalo Bill, for this was he, had learned, Indian like, to hide all his feel- ings, but with a gentle tenderness he shook himself out of their embraces, and, presenting his two friends by name, hur- ried on to meet the dear mother, who, with glistening eyes, waited to greet her idol and her pride. “My good mother!” was all he said, as | which he was unused. His long brow: a . . J - id b eo . , ‘ . 4 f s * +” . " . ate — e « - * Tver? : hi % J BUFFALO BILT | he Se gn eee SNS * wy & i Z >is ft X, oe s | in ” * + *s - > > tite ' : ~ + J mel. +, ‘ . d . pene his manly lips to her w) forehead. San ae i “ My dear son!” was all she said, but ages would not describe the reverence” in her tone, or the wudying love in her! look. ear Bill now presented his friends in mo ou form to his mother than he had deemed if — necessary in the case of his sisters, -~= “This, mother,” said “he, presenting a — young man, who, in form and appearance, — resembled himself very closely, though he — was an inch taller, and hardly so muscular, “this is my mate—this is ‘ Wild’ E ill Hitchcock, the best friend I ever had, or ‘ ever will have, outside of our own family, Three times has he saved me from being wiped out. Once by the Ogallalas, once when I was taken with the cramps in the — ice-cold Platte, last winter, and once when old Jake M’Kandlas and his gang had Pe sure set on me. Heand I will sink or swim in the same river,and that’s a safeb at, Bill, that’s my mother, and a better ne ek trod the footstool ! ” = Wild Bill, with a natural grace, ber it his proud head, and took the hand of the” lady, saying, inatremuloustone— “T'm glad to see you, ma’am, for I've 4 guod old mother that I haven't seen this” many a day, and this rayther brings her up afore me!” OS ae “And this other,” continued Bill, a is Dave Tutt. He is good on a hunt, death on the reds, and as smart as bordermen are made now-a-days. Now, boys, you're all acquainted, make yourselves at home. The darkey out there has got the horses, and he'll see them all right. J know: ‘hat ; mother will soon have a good old sup oer for us.” ja “ Yes, Kitty is getting it ready as s fast as she can, and Til go ec help her,” aid Lillie, who did not like the wild, passion ate gaze which Dave Tutt seemed to upon her. Soe oo AE Three more perfect men, in point of sonal beauty, never trod the earth. ~~ Wild Bill, six feet and one inch in height, straight as an ash, broad in sh he der, round and full in chest, slender in the waist, swelliug out in muscular propor- : tions at hips and thighs, with tapering limbs, small hands and feet, his form was a study. His face, open and clean, bas regular features, the nose slightly aquilin His large bright eyes, now soft and tender in expression, werea bluish grey in colont, shaded by lashes which often dropped over his bronzed cheek as he looked ¢ OWL somewhat confused in female society, 00 ela * ¢ s : 4 ae ‘ie ” : ‘ o a ye ale | (Hs co ee ae Os) ; i> - i les aay Yl ed