Omaha daily bee., 1888-02-07
THE FIRST WOMAN IN CAMP.
Sensation Caused by the Novel Event
The SEQUEL.

camp was excited and talking about it.
Now it took some very important event
to thoroughly arouse all the boys along
the gulch. a row in which only one
man was killed was considered very
commonplace social event, and an ordi-
nary lynching did not attract much at
tention. But of course ifsthe vigilance
committee was doing some extra fine
work there was good attendance to
see the sport. But this was an extra
ordinary occasion and was the gossip OF
the entire camp.
What was itY
why, there was n woman in camp
and all was commotion. 1t was the first
great social event in White Horse gulch.
Lynching, the bursting Of the faro
banks, u rich strike or new placer
yielding twenty colors to the pan, were
nothing to compare with it in import
ance, for such things were Of common
occurrence and quite tame affairs in
comparison. Every one, and the num-
Der was few, who could muster
white shirt was the envy of all the rest.
Indeed, there was danger of row be-
tween the white shutters and the red
shirters, and had they come to blows,
the red shirters, being the more numer-
Gus by a very large majority, would
have made quick work of the white
shirted elite. BY some good fortune
one of the boys found a blacking-brush.
But that was worn out before all had n
chance at it. and for second time seri-
Gus trouble was brewing, and this time
between the shined and anti or nom
shined.
But respect for the fair sex prevented
one of those interesting hanging bees.
Everybody was a special committee of
one on toilet, and after further skir-
mishing an old razor was found in a
corner of a cabin, where it had been
thrown among a lot of broken cups and
saucers, for mining life and its domestic
customs are like bull in china shop
when it comes to cups and saucers. The
rusty old razor was honed on high
topped boots, and after it had been used
on many a grim-visaged face some of
the boys hardly knew their pards.
Most fortunate were those who were
enabled to take all three degrees of the
toilet as follows, which made them the
dudes of White Horse gulch:
First-White shirt.
Second-Blacking brush.
Third-Razor.
1t was the first time the dude degree
had been taken in White Horse gulch.
Now the boys could have done still bet
ter if they had thought about using
their mineral glasses for eyeglasses.
But they had not heard of such anglo
maniac innovations, and if some one had
tried the experiment he would prob
ably have been ordered, in the usual
''P. p. c." style, to leave White Horse
gulch within twenty-four hours for de-
Geaning himself in manner unbecOm-
ing q gentleman in squirting at
woman through one glass. Such "blOs-
somrock" manners would have been con-
sidered as ''hoat" from a very poor lead.
No, the eyeglasses degree was never
taken until mining experts began to ar
rive from the east during the great
Leadville excitement, and many man,
gazing at his empty purse, has always
been apt to swear more or less,
| the the LESS" at the wonderful mag
| nifying power of the dude min
| ing experts eyeglass. But enough Of
this, for the details would make a vol
ume, and by this time the young lady
had finished her dinner and was stroll
ing about with her uncle, Il large,
leshy, jolly old man, who was a large
| stockholder in one of the principal
his niece, young lady Of twenty, on a
trip with him for company and also to
show her something Of the wild and
| rugged west. 1t had been many q
month since any of the boys had seen u
woman, and hence everybody wanted to
meet her and invite her TO partake OF
the hospitalities Of White Horse gulch,
for all the latch strings were out and
she would have been welcomed to the
| best the rude mountain cabin afforded.
| Again trouble was threatened between
| those who had taken the full dude de-
| gree and those who had only gone
| through part of the mysteries OF the
toilet of the elite, but the leader OF the
| camp swOre by his undivided One-third
| interest in the Abe Lincoln lead and
| his reputation as the ring-leader in sew
| eral lynchings, that every man should
have q fair show in extending the hos
| pitality of his cabin, and the danger was
| averted.
Now, any woman would have APP
| peared handsome. A dried up old maid
from New England, dieted and pre-
served on non-sugared tea for quarter
| of century, would have been cOnsid-
cred handsome and very lovely, for the
mountain boys are very gallant to
women, and old maids are given q fair
show every time.
| The boys were all charged by the po-
| lite manner and handsome face OF the
| young lady, but there was look OF
deep sympathy in the eyes OF all when
| Uuey odW ucT. IL ID IOO Dhu, Woo VIZ
prevailing sentiment Of all.
| "What a handsome face, pard, ex-
claimed a miner to his friend, 'but how
| unfortunate"
"Indeed it is," was the rejointe., "and
wonder if she will remain so for life?
Yes, it is too bad!"
| "What pretty hands and lovely eyes"
commented another, ''but how sad that
she could have been born so deformed."
"Possibly she has been injured in
some railway accident in the east" said
still another, "and how very unfortu-
nate that it should have happened to
one so young and beautiful"
| And thus the comments went round.
Some admired her handsome face,
othes her beautiful black hair, and
others her small and comely shaped
foot, but all pitied her for her deform-
| ity.
| That evening after the young lady
had retired the uncle was chatting with
large number of the miners, and his
niece of whom the fond uncle was very
proud, became the topic of conversation
and many were the complimentary re-
| marks made. Int for n lonp time no one