The Press., 1892-07-21

without knowing it. The curious con- fguration of the ground often made the mountain streams appear to be flowing up hill to meet the travellers. and then as the trail bent sharply around upon itself the lifelike water would slide away be- hind rock and plunge down preci- pice into dark. green fringed basin or a tortuous crack of the canyon.
 Hot springs boiled from one of the mountain sides and were walled around with the sediment of the overflow of ages, presenting grotesque shapes and blue-green tints suggestive of under earth laboratories. To step over these long growing crusts and look for the first time into the bubbling waters: to feel their living motion with the hand: to wonder whence they had come through all the ages since the upheaval of the mountains let loose their fountain heads. ill whose do minions they took their rise: what fires warmed them: whence they gathered their salts and their sparkle, and what force brings them forever and forever upward-that was rare sensation The waters still effervesce, and their healing warmth has not diminished a degree, but the wilderness is gone.
 When the Santa Fe train reached Las Vegas springs they found the lodge of several old and decrepit Indian families who had come, as their forefathers had for generations before them, to lave their wounds and their worn out bodies in the waters. With them were three or four miserable Mexicans, who had crawled over the range from Santa Fe after some train. and who, behind their backs, were called lepers by their com patriots. All had faith that the waters of the mountain would cure their ills. and were happy. They greeted the train people as interlopers and demanded large tribute in anything they could get to eat and drink.
 While the caravan was at this stop ping place Captain King called the men together and said to them:
 ''I want to be fair with you, partners, so must tell you that at San Miguel we shall have to part company. We will be married there. nodding his head toward Janey, "by the father at the mission, and from there we will go to my claim up in the territory. You will be but fifty miles from Santa Fe then, and think there can be little doubt of your safe arrival. It does not look quite the square thing to leave you on the way after you have honored me by making me your captain. but l hope you will forgive that. It may be, partners, that I have nearly as good a reason for re- signing as old Jose had-l hope it will be all right"
 An awkward silence for moment held the tongues of the trainmen, but presently one of them spoke up, saying: will be all right. only we'll be sorry to lose you, and if you're a-goin to git mar ried that's excuse enough for any man. "
 "Yes, certainly; certainly we'll let you off and wish you luck wherever you go," said another, and his good wishes were echoed generally around the camp.
 It was nearly sundown when the train reached the little frontier mission viii lage of San Miguel The old adobe house looked like a soft water color painting in the prismatic air. The ''fa- ther" of the mission came forth to greet the weary band, and with upraised hand approached the bowed heads and gave them all his blessing.
 Janey was a good Catholic, and her wedding took place in the fathers house, with nearly all of her companions on the overland journey and many of the natives of San Miguel as witnesses John King could not subscribe to the faith that was inherited by Janey from her French forefathers (the only one known to the Spanish -Mexicans of the frontier), Eut he had been baptized in his youth in the good old realistic Bap- tist style, and the marriage was not de- iayed. Away from all the scenes and ties of her previous life woman must feel the seriousness of new wifehood keenly, and it was truly solemn hour for Janey when she promised to be unto John King helpmeet for all time. Not that she hesitated an instant; her cour- age in the face of difficulty had proved her love and loyalty beyond doubt, but the conventionalities and the sweet surroundings of home and friends are very dear to -wonan's heart at such a time, and even plain little Janey thought with sigh of the gown and the gifts. the music and the flowers. and the glory of the bridal day of her dreams The same day saw the ,ssr!ded pair start on their way alone northward-to just what point nobody knew.
 From the village the Santa Fe Trail bent sharply to the northwest, the pass through the range at this f'oint being q little to the the south of Santa Fe. The Rio Pecos, sparkling snow water stream, irrigates the fertile valley which is cultivated by the natives. and the everlasting mountains look down on the mud huts tNat have stood for two or three hundred years in this notch, the easternmost outpost of New Mexican Catholic strongholds. ......
 Greeted by the swarthy rancheros and accompanied by the gayly dressed GUS tom house agents who had come from Santa Fe to meet the traders. the train moved on through the broken range, and for several days toiled up and down the ridges and zigzagged around the mountains before the tired oxen made the last up hill haul onto the table land overlooking the capital.
 Here halt was made for the purpose of making preparations for the grand entree." Every man washed his face and the Mexicans combed their long black hair until it shone. while the American plainsmen made q pretense of smoothing theirs and eclipsed every thing by putting on white shirt. The creak- ing wheels, now almost ready to fall apart they had become so dry, were greased anew and everything put in the most presentable condition. All were excited and impatient, and every man being now his own master, confusion and uproarious hilarity reigned When the start to the city was finally made pandemonium broke loose, and the wagons rolled down the hill with the stiff kneed oxen on run.
 The entire population was out to see the caravan arrive; the captain general.