West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-02-05
HE HAD TO STAY.
Genuine Western Hospitality in
Eastern Nevada.

1t was IN wild and arid region in
Eastern Nevada that man of miJ,II,
age an' bronzed face was toilng up
the aIlern slope of arocky hill. driving
before him tired donkey that moved
slowly along with Topped ears and
hanging head. The weather was hot.
although the month was October. AT
each step the hoofs OF the donkey
struck from the parchcd soil little
wrcathN of dust The man who fol-
lowed the patient beast was dressed in
th' garb OF "a prospecting miner. one
oi mat class whose hopes and need,
send them forth TO explore the wild> of
tar-away mountain regions The
donkey bore on his back a few mining
tools roll of blankets and. two or
three bags and bundles
The slope of the hill was long and
steep. On all sides stretched brown
and ucclcss hills. about and bctw.,n
which were spread sandy and alkaline
plains. The scene was one of drpyrv
Namcncss and saddest silence The
broad waste was so thinly clothed with
Slmted sagcbrush that ON AN sides
patches OF chalky soil and great gray
rocks-thc bones and nakcdnc~- OF the
mountains were exposed TO view. Not
- living thing was seen; not the chirp
OF % bird was heard
\ last man and animal reached the
crest OF the ridge up toward which
they had so painfully ploddcd. As they
halted on the ridge look of surprise
came into the caycwom face oi the
man. and the donkey raised his droop-
ing head and prickod up ri, ears.
Where the tired prospector had expect
cd To- find naught but drcarN contmu-
alton Of the parchod region he had long
been passing through he saw before
INN Igns OF civilization.
Inc low sun was almost touching the
top OF range Of rocky hills far away
in the west and "a few tall peaks i'm the
nearer landscape were beginning to-
send great creeping shadows along the
ground. Shading liiI eyes Niih his
haud, the pro,pector gazcd down upon
n little valley, still i'm the sunshine. that
lay spread before him Through this vale
memdcrcd wllow-clothed stream.
and ON terrace on plat Of few acres
stood a human habitatiOu. tt
A5 The miner, with shaded ewes,
looked down into the brightly lighted
httlc valley before him his gaze was
iIr-t turned upon the dwelling il con-
tanned. He saw central cabin with
leau-tO additions at each end A stick
chimney rose above the ROOF of the CEN
uai building and from one Of the she'd
rooted addition, projected a stove pipe.
Scattered at random about the dwclliuo
wcir a few small oulbuildings, rooted
with brush ana straw, and a rude pal
ing fence inclOscd the whole.
Above The dwelling, on the hillside.
appeared a small grove of makinp
asps and willows, indicating the pres
cncc OF living water. Some distance
below the grove and the dwelling was
fenced on a garden patch OF two or
three acres. irrigated by the rill from
the -pring Down in the main valley,
Walcrcd by the willOw-fringed brook,
were fenced patches of ground many
acre. in extent that showed cultivation
and growing crops while on the com
mon bordering The brook below the
cultivated fields, were seen q horse or
two and q handful OF cattle
When the prOspector again turned
hi- eyes toward the little dwelling i'm
The valley the creeping shadow Of the
big mountain, miles away to the west
ward, had almost reached IT, He
ordered his iour-footed companion for
ward and began TO descend the slope
Familiar sounds. rs Of old home music.
greeted the ears of our miner as he
ha-tcned down the hill toward the
house. and its neighboring cultivated
patches Dogs barked, sheen bleated
cattle lowed, pigs squealed and even
the voice Of the turkey gObbler was
heard in the land Better than all
else. in thc mood he was in, he saw
children warming about the place
among dogs and pigs Some Of the
yOung-ler, were mounted upon the
roof of sheds and pens and some ON
th" posts ~ the bars that formed the
entrance fo the home inclosurc. while
-ilII others were running 20 and fro,
apparently boz the widest excitement.
and man was also seen standing in
tho yard before the house
Ih man, thus waiting iu the yard
was the man of the house" He had
been brought forth by the barking Of
tnr dogs and the wild-eyed reports of
hI- children II was with great sur.
prise that he saw the apparitiOn of the
pr0pcctOr aud his donkey descending
the ippc of tho mountain The man
who thu TODD forth wore "a pair of
baggf huiicrnut pantaloons. held up
by single knit wooden euspcudcr. a
blue wooden shirt and tattercd straw
hat His buUernut-colOrcd hair
reached almost down 20 his shoulder
but bis face was clean-shavcd IIc was
q man iorty.hve or fifty years old. but
still solid and sound as % nat From
thc moment when Doe had first seen the
miner and his donkeS descending thc
side of Che mountain this pioneer
ranchmau had watched their every
step and movement with interest
When the miner finally arrived at the
bars. tied mp his donkey. let down
har entered fhe enclosure and ap.