The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-24
By MRS. ]. Z. HUDSON.

many exploits OF daring ana SUFFERING,
Is now an obliterated path. What we
are wont TO call 1.-THE March of Progress"
and "The Spread of Civilization" have
blurred it past following step by step
over the prairies and mountains OF the
west. but the long track is still blazed
here and there by prominent points
bloody nassacres and other historic In
cidents-so that one cannot deylate far
If he undertake to follow it.
1t would not be wise, however, to set
ont upon this journey by any Of the
methods of travel that were in use when
the Santa Fe Trail was the scene OF
great trafic-with OK team plodding
heavily and slowly, by which the pioneer
emigrant moved on; nor on foot with
pack upon back, as the forty miners tray
eled. II would DO hard TO follow the
trail So The only highway that Will
take you over nearly the same route Is
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe rail-
road. If il is not convenient to buy
ticket On that line and you have no pass,
then get map of the region west of the
Mississippi and put your index finger
down at what was once Westport Land
ing, now Kansas City, Missouri. That
is the starting point Of our story.
The old trading town of Westport was
for long timathe eastern limit Of the
Santa Fe Trail II lay high on the bluffs,
six or seven miles from the sand bar
where st. Louis steamers landed their
cargoes. Beyond the town, westward,
and over the Kansas line, the United
States government had set apart a
stretch of country for the use of Santa
Re trains, on which they encamped and
corraled their worn out oxen. Here the
poor beasts rested, fed upon the rich
prairie grass and recuperated strength
for the long return journey over the
plains 10 Santa Fe. The drivers of these
unwieldly OK teams were mostly Mexi-
cans, speaking no language but their
own profane Spanish and looking sullen-
" out from under their sombreros and
their tangled black hair. They and the
wagon masters slept and ate III camp and
drank at the trading post, while the
head buyers went on to st. Louis to lay
in a stock of goods adapted to the
markets of the mysterious country that
was long ago conquered by Spain and
then forgotten of men. Sometimes these
trains had a long time to wait for the
Journey to st. Louis, and the return
voyage up the mud shifting Missouri
was tedious and Of uncertain duration.
In the summer Of eighteen hundred
and ffty-one many corrals dotted the
uplands Of the prairie ON the reserve
near Westport, and the herds of cattle
belonging to them grazed in the val
leys, lay on the sun slopes, and drank
from the half dry creeks that wound
through the hills toward the Kaw.
They had grown sleek and fat, their
gaunted sides were filed out and their
appealing ribs were buried in flesh, SO
hong had they waited for cargo.
Even the lazy teamsters were growing
restless, and the wagon masters were
anxious TO start westward while the
grass was In good condition. All were
listening for the steamers whistle that
could be plainly heard at the post when
the wind was from the north, but they
did not trust to that for information Of
the boats arrival. Couriers were con-
stantly going back and forth to and
from the landing on the fleet footed
Mexican ponies that accompanied all OK
trains ON the Santa Fe Trail for the use
of outiders, scouts and messengers
"No boat" was the word they brought
back day after day, until one hot after
noon when the sunshine quivered over
the prairie like the breath of furnace,
and no breeze so much as stirred the
long grass In the sloughs. The cattle
lay painting ON the uplands, and the
Mexicans were stretched out in the
shade of the wagons.
Suddenly grateful north wind came
swirimg among the grass, breaking the
stesta Of the summer day in an instant,
and almost upon its first wave came the
seund Of the boats whistle. The camp
was alert at once. Ponies were saddled
and mounted and went dashing from
corral to corral, and then away to the
town and the handing.
Wagon Master King was an American,
Estates" man, and spoke both English
and Spanish. He was Of uncertain age,
because of his brown, unkempt, from
hersmanbke appearance, and yet rather
young than old. He had been one of
the most impatient for the boat TO come,
nnd now he was among the first to catch
apony and spur 1t off down the hillside
howard the river. Just how he differed
from the others of this unimportant
party 1t would be difficult to tell; per-
haps most markedly in a slight aloof-
hess, feeling that had led him to
make bride path through the woods
that lay between Westport town and the
landing and 10 follow it whenever he
bad ridden down to the river rather than
the wagon road used by the trains.
When the boats whistle was heard he
started of In great haste, and as usual
turned into the bypath, while dozen
pr more men kept ON in the road. This
path had come 10 be called in derision
the Kings highway" and as the wagon
MASTER turned into it the other riders
CALLED out to him:
"Come on by the big road this time
you can go faster and will get there
sooner ii it Is longer"
The trainfnaster hesitated. But an
parenty upon second thought he kent
on IN the Kings highway" and only