Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-11
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ROMiNCE0F INDIAN PASS

pe Were You never III Indian lPassf The
let me tell you of it:
Seventy miles west by south from Del
yer, the trail from Fairplay Road crosse
!, q great spur of the great Rocky range
d as it runs toward Sunrise Valley, and il
highest point, where it runs along til
face of a stupendous sprecipice "a natl,
way tive feet wide,s with@a. theusan.
yardsoff sheer descent TO- the valley,
bottom, upon the one band and a hal
Thousand upward to the beetling, dizz,
mountain summit upon the other, is Tn
dian Pass.
From II ope may view the vhele wild
country; ! Logg's Peak to- the north,
Pixies Peak to the south, the Giants
Castle, the Devils Ledge, the long line
OF Btloody Rocks aud the far-away sea-
like level Of the plains TO the est !; at
your feet Sunrise Valley, with q cluster
OF settlers cabins, but all else nature,
rugged and unbroken-the heart of thu
Rocky Montaips.A / g. e /
Manufacturers and Indians ride tlrrongt
the pass; tourists and strangers walk.
and shudder as they gaze. g,g i.ttt,
In Sunrise Valley lived three families
the Donaldsons, Jeromes and Turner's
all Americans. They had found a home
there years before, and were engaged ir
embarrassing and hunting. Their mar
kst was by the south road to Pueblo.
Seldom it happened that they crossed
Indian Pass, and yet in case of necessity
it was available as the nearest route to
the world without.
Among this little colony and members
of i were Jennie Donaldsoa,s d girlA of
eighteen, and Ralph ,Jsrones i man Of
twenty-five and her lover.
That this should he 80 seemed right
|
They were the only young people in the
Valley theylmd known each other for
years. Ralph was brave hunter a
thorough hunter, tender and true
nan; Jennie was u beattifttl mountain,
girl Their love was az natural as tho Ii
world about; and as pure and sweet. y
let, simple children that they were, no t
vord of this had, ever passed between y
ilcIn' They rode together, walked to- !,
ether, sometimes worked together, aud
erome always galloped across the three
lilies that separated their homes to see Il
Id Sin Donaldson on Sunday eve, and
t with him in the cleaning, talking re
cattle, and peltries, and wood life. &c
lille Jennie fitted about near them, or n,
It at her fathers feet; tut no promise
I'd been sought nor givcn-their love yt
at'stied them, z" = u ~ 81 fr
Matters stood thus when, on septenl- lie,
Z day, stranger rode into the little
TX and offered Ralph Jerome the
ance OF his life, to act as a guide for bu
'ited States survey party about to | an
'rt through the mountains for the Co
nth. .,..... .,
Il learn that you are thoroughly ac- wa
- a - . |
alnted with this region" said Capt. to,
dson, "and / want You. The work !
Il occupy you fully two, years, with ant
n field and Office duties, and if you ing
we yourself capable, will be but pas
to something better. {
II you go1" as hin
md Ralph, big face suddenls brisMIE apo
ng with the realization Of his dream kn.
years, said: 90,
Yes.p - ytysgN Trtgcrg f4aL !,
[e babe old Sim Donaldson goodbye and
uight- and Jennie. And after The stee
Ter had disappeared within the cabin the,
+, leaving the two young people pas.
le without, almost lncousciously n
pa drew the girl to his heart and the
her there Que blissful moment Zion
|, as If shocked at his own audacity, won
Used her aud put her away. 81 R.