The University Courier.
91
LITERARY.
Some True Incidents.
Many strange and interesting things happened at the time that the Oklahoma Country opened for settlement, on April 22, 1889; and there would be no lack of material for a good novel, if anyone was to search for it. We can appreciate this all the more, when we think that there was all kinds of people from all parts of the United States, and even from all parts of the world, waiting for the promised paradise to open, and longing to secure a home, all their own, in this land of milk and honey.
One of the many romantic incidents of this period was the way in which Miss Klein secured a home and a husband. Miss Klein had been a school teacher in Kansas, but had resolved to leave her school work and take up a quarter in Oklahoma.
A few minutes before twelve o'clock on the eventful day, Miss Klein was in the very front line of anxiously waiting people, mounted on a strong, fiery horse, who seemed to know that he was about to test his powers in a race for a home for his mistress.
The plucky young lady had her claim already selected. She had been told about the country by the cow-boys and Indians, who knew every foot of the new lands, had made her choice, and was determined to reach it ahead of everybody else.
When the signal for the start was given, there was one great yell from the multitude, and the whole line broke out into a wild race for the new country. Such a sight had never been seen before in the history of this country. There were thousands of people in all sorts of conveyances, thousands of people mounted on all sorts of steeds, from the little burro of Mexico and the wiry Texas pony, to the powerful thoroughbred of Kentucky.
It was only a short time until the crowd became separated, the slow heavy wagons lagging in the rear and the swift racers far to the front; while one of the first among the eager strivers was Miss Klein, quietly urging her horse to
greater speed. She slowly forged ahead of the others and at last turned off in the direction of her future home. As she was riding at her mad pace over the fresh green grass of the prairie, she turned and saw not far behind, and riding in the same direction, a tall, fine looking young man, riding a long Texas horse. The very thought that he might be aiming for her claim, made her redouble her efforts to increase her speed; but it was of no use, the rider behind her slowly drew nearer, and at last the brave young woman could hear the rapid breathing of his horse, as he ran scarcely a horse's length behind.
These two riders had left all the others far behind, and still they kept riding on.
Finally they came to a small creek, and Miss Klein urged her horse into the water with her rival just behind her. As she rode out into the stream, her horse stumbled, and, becoming frightened, turned down the current. For the first time since the start, Miss Klein became really frightened, for the water grew deeper, and it was only a moment until her horse was out of his depth. The current was strong, and she felt herself being rapidly carried down, when a strong hand clasped her, and she was lifted from her saddle to the pommel of the strangers; and in a moment they were both safe on the other bank of the creek.
The young man did not stop, but asked as they continued their course:
"Where shall I take you Miss?"
"I don't care, if I only get to some town or something."
"Well then, get on behind me, and we'll go on."
She was transferred to the crupper, and they did go on. Although the little horse was sweating excessively, his pace never slackened.
At last they came within sight of the quarter that she had selected. She knew it by the big dead sycamore that leaned out over the edge of a "run," and as she clung to the saddle of her rescuer, the poor girl could not keep from crying to think that her home was gone, and more, that her faithful horse, all that she possessed in the world, was lost.