Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-12-14
POLLY'S TRIUMPH
BY MAaAbET SPENCER.

In no mild way did Major Philander
Young snap out these exclamationsl
he leaned against the corral fence
made Of pipiony trees; looked at the
mules and horses; thrust his brier-
wood pipe into his short jacket pocket,
and looked cross as bear.
whats that Philip Look up the
road, See what dust they're making.
IT'S a wagonl Two wagons! Glory to
the prophetsi Speaking of angelsl
and here they comel By Jovel Some
girls tool"
MAJOR Philander climbed the fence
spry as a monkey. drew his field
glasses from their case on his shoulder,
balanced himself on a post, and gazed
full ten minutes.
"Thunderl Joe ITS the Colonel and
his whole oGtfit from Sante Fe. Call
Tom to fix MS up a bit hun boys
everyone Of you to the tents. Put
things in order. Shove the old boots,
spurs, pipes and jackets under the cot7.
Roll up tie lankets, put the cleanest
on top. How like the" "Come Phil,
thatIl do. I'm used to the Colonel
and his Jolly tribe, we camped all last
season together. Miss Polly, aged
seventeen is the only dangerous one.
She'll soon get yOu IN her net. barely
escaped with my life.
party of engineers from the East,
were in camp near Las Cruces, New
Mexico. The wonderful Organ MOnn-
tai called 'Los Organos, rose to the
east of them. They are not single
ridge, but broken up by east and west
canyons and valleys, deriving their
name from their perfect organ like
shape. The central peaks are mac
cess ble ike tall organ pipes reaching
almost to the sky, while low banls OF
limestone rising from the plateau form
banks ot keys against the pipes. This
wondr0us group Of mountains run
from north 10 south eighteen miles,
and from east 20 west elght miles
Good land lies at the lOot-oniy await
ing irrigation
The low sand hills lie east, and the
beautiful valley of the Rio Grande
stretches from Fort Seldom" past
"Doua Ana and Les Cruces to their
termini, "Tue JOrnada del Muerts"
tJoUrusy OF DEATH. A score of mines
lay along the orgaL district and camps
are made within a few miles OF the
Jay Gould" the Bennett, "Steph-
snsoU, " Memphis and others. Clear
air SIX hundred miles above sea level,
is delightful. The wide mineral belt
from forty to twenty miles gave en-
cOurngement to many eastern cOmpa-
mes, ana camps were numerous.
For hundreds of years the Indians
ana Mexicaus had believed that the
Great Spirit ruled over them through
the voices of the wind. Los Organos
played as storms swept acOss the pipes,
weird and sad, fierce and teTribl as
the Spirit was grie7ed or angry. When
the hOs sun in a golden hame lit tie
highes. peaks and the air was soft and
still then the Spirit smiled and beck
oned them to find shelter and resting
places on their journeys IN the deep
canyons aud valleys sweet music
low and deep; when a cool wind
touched the organ and voice of love
from some departed friend ohanted
pray ers. The voices Of their dead often
warned them of peril aud danger when
the storms moaned and trembled in
the mountains. Sometimes they lay
on their faces all night singing "Santa
Maria" IN repentance for sins. When
sudden shrieks like a soul in trouble,
and gusts fitfnly rose to the highest
points, they rode far down into the
valley OF the "R1o Grande," gathered
together their families, tasted and
prayed three days.
Don Garcia and his robber band
were notorious horse thieves and
gamblers. They rode powerful an
Imals, wild eyed and unbroken. They
dashed through small Indian villages,
through large Railroad towns. Sheritfs
and armed soldiers failed to capture
them. Corrals were most carefully
guarded,
Little puTs Of dust fell in showers
on the white tents, as two wagons
drawn by stout mules drove gaily into
camp. The sun dropped low behind
the hills, the gold crept low on the
organ pipe, and the dry air or No
vember was as warm as June. The
scant herbsge all along the roads was
grey with dust aud the dry earth
grosned for the long delayed rain.
Hello boysl glad to see youl
Struck it rich yet? You look very
comfortable. I've brought the whole
family this mel Here's Polly and
Nan, and my old man Rob, only six,
but regular engineer already, and
here's a good mother for ell of you old
bachelorsl"
Mrs. Baker I'D dimple1 and blue
eyes, and merry IoOk In them, She
shook hands vigorously and heartily,
The boys liked il, Miss Polly, r.sy
and saucy and handsome IN her blue
travelling suit and cap, entered into
the spirit of welcome enthusiastically.
Nan and Rob explored the tents, the
corral and pronounced the new home
'jolly.''
A few hours later and the Coloners
family were "settled into quarters, 1"
supper was announced, and even Ma
Ior Philauder Young had ceased to
gTumble.
"Ibanksgivi dinnerP Of c0ursel
We came on VurpCsel Polly made
fruit cake enough TO kill all ordinary
engineers, her father told her, and my
mince meat is safely packed in Jars, the
turkey is still marching around, but
viii be shipped in time; and want you
to invite your friends to dine with US,
the young men from Las Cruces-Jay
Goull and Stephenson, The Colouel
soys they are al without their fam
lie" -"
''You are too good. Mrs. Baker"
said Dick Goodman, "You don't know
how many boys viii accept that Christ
mas invitation"
'Just to-day thought Of Thanks
giving, with desire to quit the couu-
tryp ss;J tLc Major. Ores own home
locks wonderfully tempting just about
this hDs Of year"
Tie dnys flew. Polly's pony was
brought with the Colonel's horses, and
hours between sunrise and sunset she
rode over the brown fields, up AID
down tie dusty trails, with Ler father,
and his Dsn. ~he family Lad spent two
wears il. Mex %, m,A!sg h-.;qu.rtsrs
At Santa Ce. Thus th-y we're well used
70 viii outdoor .::e srd ] urn-yIns
NOT an ncce.-.b.: cEsg of clos Or
Esnos,' tut Ppliy h.l explo. cd. Sc
anew the legends aaG AlC&Ioac sups--
uIions by heart. l:I;.. 10. and Nan
lad learned to lIs.ea 10; ihs Lig organ
and TO RatcL lie. sGs fogs ciOr1d1 fb 4