Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-03-17

''ssszzsSs s3eIr ical mining town
or scamp" far up in the Rocky Mount
aims.
1t had grown in six months from one
log cabin to town Of a thousand IN
habitants. 1t was rough, unpreten.
tious town, both as regards its buildings
and large number of its citizens; but
under the duck suit of the miner there
are more honest hearts, more noble and
generous natures than will be sound ID
almost any other calling in life.
It is q noticeable fact about a new
mining camp that the most bigh-sound-
ing titles are applied to the most com
mon.looking structures; the cheapest
place always has the grandest name. For
instance, the Delmonico restaurant was
the worst Of all the eating establishments
in Pyrites, and the Windsor Hotel Of
fered the poorest Accommodations OF any
hostelery in the place.
The cleanest, most home like eating
house in the place was Mrs. McGuire's
restaurant. Bridget Mcclure was
lively, bustling Irish woman, with red
face and hair shade lighter. She was
popular with "the boys" as she called
the miners who patronized her place.
"We can always get plenty on our forks
at Mrs. McGuire's," was the usual sem
tence of praise bestowed upon her es-
tablishment.
"Chihuahua" Brown boarded with
Mrs. Mcclure. He was quiet, retiring
sort of man. No one knew much about
him, except that he once had some min'
Ing property near chihuahua, Mexico
There was another Brown In Pyrites, Sc
he was given the sobriquet OF "Chihua'
hua," to distinguish him from the Other
Brown. He paid his board promptly
and was highly esteemed by Mrs. Nc
CURE, who sometimes spoke of him a
"the widow woman's friend, on account
of his once having loaned Mrs. McGur'
5000 without security, when the good
natured Irish woman first started in busi
ness. Now she was beyond the need o
financial assistance, and was doing
Hourishing business such large busi
ness, in fact, that she had been obliget
to send to Denver for additional help t
wait upon the table. The "help" dull
arrived upon the stage and created sen
sation in Pyrites. The first general de
scription was given out by the stag
driver, "Fairplay Bill, to deeply inter
csted throng of listeners at the Sllvt
Bear saloon.
''She cum up on the stage along sid
of me-" said Bill" "rhere was thre
girls for the dance hall, besides. Whe
we got to the first station, at Turke
Creek Canyon, she asked If she coul
ride on the seat with me; size did so ad
mire the scenery. I took her up besld
me on the box, and you never heard
girl 90 on so about the color of the SKY
and the trees and rocks, and the vii
flowers bloomin' on the mountain side
She pointed out things to me about th
scenery l never see before. l never sc
girl so gone on scenery. She really di
enjoy it. I got SO interested, hearll
her talk, cum purity near slidln' tn
whole outfit down the mountain, as cul
round Dead Mans Curve. She's diffe
ent from any biscuit shooter ever see.
"Purty9 She's purifier than that mig
leader o mine, but she don't put on
much style as Kitty does, specially whe
she's Just been hltched up, an anxiou
to 70. Purtyl Ever see 'em picture
bout woman raisln' up out the sea
Ever see that picture of 'Rumyo an
Julia2' She's purifier than either one
'em. I've crrried many hash slingt
in my time, but never see one like heI
Most of 'ems got their hair cut sho'
and curly, an act fresh. She's ditfe
ent; long hair, blacker'n a dark nigt
in the canyon; big eyes, roses IN NJ
cheeks; she's lady, that's what she
could tell that first time see her.
This was how Doris Ware came
Pyrites to be the "help" at Mrs. M
Cures restaurant. It was not strans
that the business of the restaurant Il
creased. Mrs. McGuire's new walt
Girl was very, very pretty, and pref
face is an attraction anywhere, but
pecially so in q new mining camp, whe
women constitute very small minor
of the population.
1t is not strange either that many
Mrs. McGuires boarders fell in love WI
Mrs. McGuire's waitress. There "
ouite a noticeable sprucing up in t
way of general appearance among
boarders. Two or three of "the boy
affected bright colored ties, and VIII
they came to their meals they were p'
ticular about washing their faces We
clean. They seemed to put more tn