The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-12-04


ty but they returned sad and wOe-be-
gone, for their fate had been decided.
In the early part ofJunc Miss Ewing
ton arrived at Fort Leavenworth, from
which place she was to set out upon the
plains with Il government train, which
had been sent as an escort to an Indian
agent on his way to California.
The fortat this period presented a live
~ scene. Large numbers Of troops were
assembled there, and also were visible
Indian subagenis, and custom house
clerks, and almost countless varieties oi
attaches and servants, all floating be-
tween the quartcrmaster's Office and
their camps, waiting for their transpor-
tation or their escort.
This, it will be borne in mind, was at
the time of the gold fever in California,
and hundreds of wagons and thousands
of animals were stretched out upon
the plains receiving their loading pre-
vious to their start. The tramp Of
cavalry, the tread OF infantry, the crack
of the teamsters' whips, and the hoarse
echo of the teamsters' imprecations were
daily tableaux of a life in camp. And
vet there was no confusion; the active,
systematic mind of the quartermaster,
directed and controlled the hetero
geneous mass of life and business, and
it moved onward in regular order and
| harmony.
! Miss Evington occasioned no little
excitement at the fort Her fascinating
manner aud beauty of person won from
an enthusiastic clerk the title of the
"Bcle Of the Prairie" During The week
| that she remained there her number of
lovers were considerably increased
More than one proposed and We're re-
jected; and others wished 10 offer them
selves, but had not the courage. Final-
! ~ the train moved away, and many
were the "last lingering looks cast
after it by the residents of The fort.
The train moved slowly, for it had
not The best Of management. At Fort
Kcaruey a short pause was made. and
the march was then resumed up the
Platte Valley, the rate being less than
twenty miles day.
y inlO>t daily other parties were en-
counttrcd. Some would pass the gov
ernnent escort, and few would be
passed :. but nearly all would stop aud
admire the "Belie of the Prairie"
whose fame had now bc,ome quite ex-
| tensivc.
AT SCOTS Bluffs, II party Of Cheyen-
ne Indians We're encountered in coun-
Gil, and Il day was spent with them.
There was one young, handsome, m ag.
nificenily formed chief, who from the
=, first moment he laid eyes on Miss Ev
ingtOn became enamOred with her.
The chief would sit for hours, littlt
distance from her, and gaze with tn e
greatest admiration into her eyes, oi
watch her active figure most inten tly
when she was sewing or writing; but
the second she turned her eye upon him
he would drop his eyes into hts lap, oi
turn them off at some distant object, or
play awkwardly with his beads ant
feathers, and manifest rs much hlushiue
confusion as a boy-lover, in stead of be-
ing, as he was, the husband of foui
wives.
When the time came for the parties
to separate, the chief called the leader
of the escort aside, and said to him
through his Interpreter, that he loved
the white girl and wanted her for hi.
squaW. lie would give for her his sev
en- ponies, kis three wives and all hi
blankets. The commander replied thai
the sqUaw did not belong to him, anC
that no one, therefore, could $ ell her bu
herself, and that she did not wish t,
!, hare his wigwam for the present, ant
she could not think of derriving him o
his onies, his wive, and his blankets
although she respected him as brave
and noble chicf,
The Indian, upon receiving the mes
sage, mounted his pony, and mutterini
something, rode oil, followed by his in
: terprctcr, his wives and his ponies.
In short time the train was en- route
and the proposal Of the lovc-strickel
chief was almost forgotten, save whe
it was called up for Il little amuSem ent
1t afforded Miss Evington consider. bl
enjoyment, rs this was the first gcnuin
l Indian she had ever secured as au ad
mircr. When she recalled that he Wa
II chi cf, who already had several wive
it will be admitted that she had som
cause to be proud Of her conquest,
: The night following this affair prove
= moonleSs and dark. The party encaml
ed in sort Of valley close to II runniu
stream OF fine water, and within
grove Of coltonwo trees. Just attt
) the fires were kndled Il party of thrc
u hunters rode up and asked permis,io
TO cncamp with the train. This WI
9 readily granted, and, dismOuntihg frol
y their horses, they picketcd them o
' the edge of the grove, ,among the luXur
> ant grass, and then joined the part
U around the different camps.
Two of these hunters evidently b,
=, lOnged to that class of men known
:. the West as trappers. They We're gri
!. zled, SCARED, lank, muscular, keeneye,
h. inclined to mOroseness, and eXchangil
=. only occasional words with the mer
bers Of the party. The third was
!. young man, not over twenty-five
!. thirty, bronzed, but eminently han,
a some, genial and friendly with all. II
Il conversation proved him to be Il man
d. education and there was much commel
4 excited as to why he had adopted Il
Il life of a hunter and chosen the rue
uncultivated trappers rs his compar
ions, The conclusion, in the majorit
e of cases, was that he was gold-hunte
n who had taken this means of huntiu
: the precious metals. Whoever he wa
"a or whatever might have been his obje,