, 1881-06-24

looked-fOr domestic calaIlity, he felt that
he must get away from all his old associ-
ations or he should go mad.
Not being engaged in very lucrative
business myself, ard having no 'klth
nor kin" with whom to advise, l finally
allowed him to urge me into promise
to go with him as soon as my small busl-
ness accounts could be settled satisfac-
torily; and so, month after the subject
was first broached, We found ourselves
in New York with through tickets for the
West.
We took our own time prospecting
along the Rocky range from the Spanish
Peaks on to Dakota. This was about the
same time that the cities of DeadwoOd
and Custer were born among the Black
Hills.
Finally, one day we came into the
claim of quite a number of miners. Their
tents were pitched in the mouth of a lit
tie canon where the findings" gave
promise of paying dirt"
We Joined our fortunes to Camp
Royal, and each in turn was cook and
general scrub. The boys were a rough
set, but Fairfax and myself in no wise
held aloof from them; it wasn't safe to
do so in that wild region, for quite often
your enemies might prove to be those of
your own household.
Rowing squads Of Indians were often
seen lurking about the hills, but none
had showed any symptoms of molesting
us.
Internal beggars, they hung around
the trains and camps all the way along
the Rockies. We noticed one small
party of traders that came into Laramie
"a thievish set of half-breeds and
jockeys, always keeping their women,
like whipped dogs, away in the rear.
i know Fairfax and l had stretched
ourselves down by the fire in the bar
racks, when a low, wild cry startled us,
and looking up we saw a young Indian
girl fitting from the door. We ran out,
but she had vanished. Fairfax only got
a glimpse of her; saw her distinctly.
1t was a matter of great wonderment
what she could want of us. We men
toned the subject several times and then
We forgot all about it.
My taciturn messmate, Fairfax, was
most unlike the fellow that had known
in academy days. The calamity of
which have spoken came to me second
hand; he nCver mentioned it.
They said he was doing a good busi
opera. singer. They were married
privately and in haste, because he knew
how violently his friends would oppose
the step. He lavished his time and
money upon the dazzling prima donna,
but his love match soon came to disas-
trous end.
He endeayored to persuade her to
leave the stage and its unholy influences,
but adulation was her life. New faces
and new eonquests" was her motto, and
she laughed him to scorn.
His love, deep and sincere, caused him
to attempt to exercise q healthful author
ity over hec. Alasi she fed the country
with an italian tenor, wrecking the hopes
and ambitions of gifted and scholarly
man.
Knowing this, 1 bore his silent misan-
thropy with all the patience imagin-
able.
One day We went prospecting up the
canon. When we returned at night we
were astonished to see little mustang,
or Indian pony, grazing near the camp.
Coming up, We were still further amazed
to behold young squaw before the fire
broiling the meat and turning the hoe
cake, while the boys sat round with
smiling faces and vague expectancy of
manner.
She was talking volubly with half
breed, pouring the soft aboriginal dialect
In an unbroken stream from her expires.
sive mouth.
On our entrance she stopped her
speech, as suddenly as we stopped our
advance.
A woman in a camp in that wild place,
an alien from her hndred-regardles of
any code of morality or religion for
what purpose?
as the squaw takes hers in the wigwam of
her red master-to drudge and toll, but
not q man in the mines would allow her
to bring bucket of water. or break
stick of wood She was to these men
like a Druid priestess. Sometimes /
shuddered to think of the ending of this
affair. Refined social life cannot under
stand existence beyond the pale of civil
ilation. Every wild instinct and passion
here goes unleashed; and. should this
young honess faxn on one more
than on another, that mans doom was
sealed.
One night / came into Camp Royal
early. had a sudden attack of illness
and came out alone.
The girl was dressed in her gay Indian
toggery, the scarlet, spangled peticoat,
and embroidered moccasins, and with
strings of beads around her shapely neck,
but her hair instead of hanging like a
black name around her shoulders was
coiled around her small beautiful head,
and she wept as she sat with her face
buried IN her hands.
When she heard me, she sprang to her
feet, with her cheeks flushed and her
eyes fairly blazing.
"Are you a spy Lennox9" she said, in
flexible and pure English.
staggered to my bunk completely
astounded.
''Assuredly not; I did not dream of
this. Who are you?"
1T does not matter. Let me trust my
secret in your hands?"
''You may. 1 have no interest to be.
tray you"
THANK you."
And catching glimpse of some other
miner coming, who seemed to be mis-
trustful that my sickness was feigned,
she instantly unbound her hair, and was
giving me specimens of the unadultera-
ted Indian dialect, when the man was
near enough 10 hear.
After this ] cautiously watched her
every moment. I lonGed to see the
stain washed from her pretty, oval face.
was interested in her. / went deeper
Al 4 II.