Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-06-10
by THE CA,EP.FlIIE
BY ELLIS YETTE.

From the Western Monthly for June.
We made good time that day. and when
the sun set we camped in the shadow Of
Virginia Dale. There were hundreds Of
pi.ts between and the Se:ras- leagues
y' sage brush, a k III and drifting sand but
BE- Summer had only Just opencd, and We
were We'd ON our way. The DAYS were no,
ye ~ thelr longest. bat We had made thirty
6y miles since SUI risr aud We took care
Il ,ile stock aud turned into supper with
the pleasing cons iousness tha, we had done
we'll,
We were motley group :old miners, two
or three trappers. h,lt dozen 'tender-tee,
--etj yng their first experience OF western
life few h"li-breeds, aid the usual
amoun, OF 'nuie->kinuers.
This was severa! years ago, aud do not
mind admitting that | was one Of the ten
der ie t. to whom everything was wonder
tul, aud the Rocky Mountains the acE.e Of
earthly magnlfcence was deeply i'm
pressed with the grandeur of those western
sohtudes, and delighted with the wild new
world which was opening at every step.
Then, too. | was surrounded with men Of
whose lie and habits knew as little as if
they had been Esquimaux and, in spi'e Of
its hardships and dangers, it WAS most de
!ighttul summer.
Our plan of travel was to be on the way
soon after daylight; and, rs the sun grew
stronger. to lie bv 70. three or four hours in
the middle OF the day, and continue our
Journey u til long after the moon had risen.
Bu, the day on which we reacted Virginia
Dale had been rather cloud> and we were
able to travel only until sunset, and then
camp in the shadow of its wonderful rocks.
By the time supper was over, it was quite
dark, and we heaped brush on the camp
fire, and lounged around it, smoking. telling
stories, CT going to sleep. lit u ci gar, and
managed by the Pickering light, to arrange
few flowers had gathered and was press
ing in an old diary tor-some one at home,
| was trying to make the flowers stay in n
good position against the leaf, when "a sha1-
ow came between me ard the fire, and a
rough voice said
''Su,bin' for the women folks. | rech.
on"
Yes ] answered. closing the book 1
promised my sister to bring her some flow
ers from the Rockies
'Humph young man, ye needn't blush
so for your sister, an to an old chap like
me!
offered him a cigar.
Don't care eff | do; your terba ccer
alters first rate
'Of course, it came from home,' I said
with a little sigh, thinking OF some one in
that home, which just then seemed a long
way off.
TIE old man looked up wistfully.
'Ef ye've got home, set a heap OF
store by it, young man-tain't every one
i'has'
1t was quiet about the FIRE now, and
had been thinking of home, and was in rath-
er a softened mood but l was surprised to
hear 'Indian BiIl'' (lamous for his hunting
and w,d exploits) speak in that gentle tone
] smoked on in silence.
i never had any home t'speak Of he
continued, after short pause, 'an' more's
the pity; but ] feels et every yoangster like
you, who's go, home an women folks tc
Iake care fir i'm, oughler think a heap on
EN-
Yes replied. Il know how much he,
are worth, now l am so tar away aud
feel AS though | coul die in their de-
| irpcc.'
'nyin' S all very fue,' sani Indian Bill
dr,lv, knocking the ashes from his cigar
'hu rnk ami often called on to die fnl
| .nik--l'as,~,>t no, wh,r you was raised
au benz and Az 6. er oi 'em every day,
more count sometime, than all Yer dyin'
Ye may have wife and home of yer own
some day, and yen do we'll to think On t.
God grant i, 7 | said softly.
Te fire was deaGening little, and Bill
gathered the falling brands, put on fresl
wood, and sat down again in the glare o
the ffames
Il dunno what brought it to mind he be
gan again, 'but I've bin thinkin' of su,hin
that happened onst, when was crossin'
few years ago.
Something that happened to you p ask
ed.
Not to me, but to some women.folks il
our train. hain't thought ont before TO