The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-12-10

We had struck Il rich at Hasley,s Hope. Ai,er months of weary prospecting. of climbing rugged mountains. uaversing ~aierless and ueeless deserts, alter sew eral fearful frays with savages. after al mos. all hope had fled and despair. like d cold. heavy mist. began to settle down upon Us. my partner and 1. had by the n1erest chance stumbled upa vast sandbar. carrying among its greh quartz Ike grains innumerabie smaller particles of shining gold. Day af,er day had We washed from this bar ounce after ounce of tais glittering mineral. Night after nigh, had ,se though, and talked and dreAmt of the happy days in store for Us away back among the friends of former years. Yet, as day af.er day. month after non,h rolled by. still we fingered all alone, never quite satisfied, never quite reAdyko go.
 One day party of NaVaIoes came to or camp with grra, fiocks ef sheep and zgea,s, with their quaint little ponies. their wornen and children. and put up their tepees and pas,ured their tiocks around us. They seemed friendly disposed and cTered us no injuv. but ail.;ngly traded four and mea, ,n exchange for supplies which we had. Among their children wAs little white girl whose father and hs comrades had been killed by the band when they were on the warpa;h and the child taken prisoner. She remembered .eTy little of her life before her captivity. only that her name had been Little Ar kansaw," and Little Arkansaw xe called her. Before the Indians lief, .e bought her for hundred silver dollars. And well dc remember the day we cut the coionwoods from the bank of the stream ard built the trs. log cabin a, Hasley's II ope The little room we built for her. and how we installed the little girl with the angel face, and the solemn. pretty gray eyes as our little housekeepeT. A cheerful. sunny-,empered little girl ~as SEe. and the chauering and singing of her voice made pleasant music for US TWO lonely men. and her fairy like fin- gers soon transformed our rough, uncom- fo--able den into one of the coziest little dwellings imaginable
 Hundreds of miles away from any set dement, far away from every ooTeni- erAe of civIhzed tie. we were still within the world. Other prospectors chanced tta; way and received heary welcome. There was ample room for more. and new claims were located and developed. and soon that deep. narrow iit:le canon as dotted with he tents of over three t1ndred busy. hopeful gold d.ggers. The i;:le stream. directed from irs channel. led away into hundreds of d.;ches and s-ciees owned by men Of all nations. all professions. all trades, 4li occupations. who were enduring untold haFdships. braving all manner of danger in their struggle for riches.
 Among all lhese men Little .ArsansaW became prime favori,e Young as she vas it was she that made little delicacies for the sick: her soft little hands that bashed the feyered brow. The only fe- male in the camp. she was its queen.
 As she became older we realized her need of education, and regretfully we placed her in the care of freighting out fl xhich in time bore her 10 Santa Fe where We had made arrangements for her abode and instruction.
 But now all was to change. As if by the touch of some magician's wand a great camp had sprung into existence l: streets and lots had been surveyed, post o:iiee and mail service petitioned for, and every preparation made for the creation of an extensive town. A huge store house had been built by my partner and l. and that night the freight teams were expected. bringing with them many of the luxuries as well as the bare necessi- ties Of h5e. That night they did arrive. and well ! remember 1t. As the 6rxs team drew up before the great door we saw the bright face and curly head golden as bunch of butter-cups, which belonged 10 none other thar Little Arkansz~. She was so glad to zee us. so happy. so de- lighted, that we could md no heart to reprove her for coming wIthou; our knowledge. Money had been of no ob- ject to us, and it had been of benefit 10 the naturally bright, intelligent iisile g,rL That night u was she that prepared our suppers, and in her o~n sweef way in- sisted that she should stay al least a month with Us before returning to school, ard 10 this we could do no otherwise than consent. Poor child, she never returned, and sad were our hearts because she could not
 In the rear of our store . large haIi had been erected, one end being 6tsed up with bquor bar and tables fng the accom- r,odation of those who wished 10 risk iheir fortunes in games o( chance. Al great expense re had procured m elegant P:2no, which stocd at the cther ead of the room, to furnish music for dancing when