The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-24

forward to spending the Christmas holt
days in the beautiful town Of San Ber-
nardino, on the other side of the Sierras.
On the 23d the wagons, pack mules
and all the men, excepting three who
remained back TO complete some work
with myself, crossed the range that
separates the Mojave pronounced No
hav-ee) desert from the Towering and
fruitful paradise Of southern California.
For six weeks we had been working
in the desert, running lines, taking
elevations and plotting our work at
night by the smoky light OF dried
creosote and sapless sage brush. At
times we were sixty miles from the
nearest water, and when obtained the
water was alkaline. Many Of our pack
mules, maddened by thirst, broke their
ropes and wandered further into the
desert to die.
Hard tack and bacon, and not too
much d that, had been the only food Of
the men since we entered the desert,
and so the most cheerful became grum,
and the skin of the youngest grew dry
and parched as that of a mummy.
wv oAd Jul WIN AZ bAlOhNCf CfNh thO
officers came to speak in whispers, for
our throats were dry and our lips
cracked. Everything with moisture in
1t parched as il in furnace.
The alkali on the level expanses looked
like dazzling snow. The fantastic hills
and mesas were crumbling and burning
mp in the forceful and persistent fires Of
oxidation. And amid all this the mirage
would appear to mock us with lakes and
streams in which were reflected the
spires, domes and minarets Of grand
oriental cities, such as might have been
built by the genii of architecture.
II was half past in the afternoon,
and we hoped to reach the pass by dark,
where fresh horses would carry us to the
town before midnight and Christmas
day.
As our horses staggered on, we saw
three vultures rising from a dark object
little to the right. A glance through
my field glass revealed the outlines of a
prostrste man and horse, stretched out
side by side.
Years Of this wild life had accustomed
US to such sights. Yet as our hearts
were full Of thoughts of the joyous |
Christmas days Of the past and Of the |
rest, fresh food and water for bathing, |
which we were to enjoy on the morrow, |
there was something inexpressibly sad |
In the presence of death at such time |
and at the foot of the purple mountains,
beyond which lay Eden.
We refined in our thin, painting horses
and dismounted. In that atmosphere no
organic substance decays-it shrivels up
and becomes as hard and indestructible
as the glistening volcanic rocks that sur
round it; but enough remained to tell
MS that the horse had once been a noble
creature, and the saddle and equipments
were such as the wealthy Mexicans Of
southern California delight in.
The man was Of medium height. and
the carbine, pistols and knife, still belted
about his shrunken waist, indicated abil-
ity TO resist He was young. The long,
dark hair and the silky mustache,
through which the white teeth CLEANED,
told this We opened the saddlebags
and found $500 in gold, the titles to
lot Of California mining lands made out
to one Louis Bolton" and bundle Of
letters tied with blue ribbon.
In the middle of the bundle there were
two vignettes-one that of q sweet faced,
lady, the other that Of beau
tiful girl, the name Dora" at the bot
tom Of the picture being surrounded by
a delicately painted wreath Of forget
menots.
These letters were dated at "The ,
Elms," but, as the envelopes were de-
stroyed, there was nothing to indicate
the town, state or land. One read as ,
follows, and, curiously enough, it was ,
dated Christmas eve, year before:
my DARLING BoY-I think Of You at ,
all times, but on Christmas eve You fill ,
my heart so that can think of nothing
else, and IL il were not for Dora, who .
has come to cheer me, fear could not !
stand it Where is my Louis tonighty !
This question haunts me, and picture
you out in the deserts Of that wild land.
homeless and friendless, still hunting for
gold. All, my boy, come backi Better
poverty than this awful anxiety. But
we cannot be poor where there is 50
much love"
The letter continued at length In this !;
vein, and it ended, with love and
Kisses and blessings from Mother" 1
The next letter was also written at n
The Elms" on Christmas eve, just year II
before. / cannot pretend to quote 1t in v
'uIl, but every line bespoke q noble L
and q profound love for the q
absent Louis
l.
"Do not think me impatient" abe :
1rged, "but feel more and more that =
wealth does not mean happiness, and ,
hat the noblest manhood Is not devel-
ped In the fierce struggle for gold. And
hen, my darling, the world Is not 30 z
NIL Of objects worthy our love that We
Children CRY foPl