Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-05
A PLAINS MAID.

LII CIl0 year 100 S0G Out Will d
party of speculators bent on making
their fortunes by mining for metals
among the mountains of New Mexico
At the time of this adventure we were
approaching Santa Fe, where we propos-
ed to indulge in a few days rest. Our
party consisted of ten persons, a couple
of scouts (old Indian fghters), an army
i; sergeant, who had been detailed with
thfes SCI isccla;ars to this duty by the colonel
commanding the last military stattic-
we had visited, and two capitalists
from ST. Louis, together with a lady
and myself.
1t was an evening in early May, and
we were cozily ensconced in camp for
the night and near the center of the
continent. Everything about us was en-
joyable. Tt was clear, bright night,
although the moon was only half way
through it's second quarter, and the stars
shone white and twinkling in the skies
of those highly rarifed altitudes-a
fairy night for waking dreams, in the
poets mind Of love, the artists of en-
trancing landscapes, the plainsman's of
hero's of gue and glory amid the gilt
ter of golden epaulets.
1. Sangaree, one of the scouts, was roast
ing on a spit brace of prairie hens,
while Colorado Charlie, the other scout,
was broiling q savory vension steak on
the opposite side of the open fire. The
sergeant, the capitalists and myself
were socially seated together drinking
something stronger than water out of
tin cups, while the lady had withdrawn
to the privacy and sanctity of her soil
tary tent. All were ready for a meal,
with appetites sharpened by the bracing
breath of the springtide breeze. No ad
venture of consequence had befallen us
since we had left the frontier fort-all
had run smoothly as train Oh down
grade. Perhaps we were a little bored
by the uniform serenity of our lives.
Man is an adventurous animal
The lady honored US with her COM
pany at supper, which proved entirely
satisfactory, after which meal the
scouts, the sergeant and myself fell to
at cards. The soldiers went busily to
work smoking short clay pipes. The
speculators puffed cigars and slipped
weak whisky and water, and all was
soothing and serene. Presently the lady
brought from her tent 4 Spanish guitar,
and 1inging herself rather negligently
on the verdant field grass pleasantly
proceeded to regale us with both song
and music. She was striking and pc
culiar girl. Young, 1.-the and graceful
as a gazelle, yet strong as she was sup
pie; of almost Hebraic type, still her
tawny skin and straight, black hair,
loosely falling to her shoulder, her coal
black, flashing eyes, her full red lips,
her low, broad brow and her high cheek
bones, aglow with color-all these be-
spoke her half breed origin.
We had eagerly accepted her proffered
companionship at Denver, high official
there having sent to US a message the
day before we started for the plains that
he was anxious to avail himself of the
opportunity of placing under the protec
tion of a band of gentlemen a young
lady traveller, who, having completed
her education in st. Louis, was on her
journey homeward to Santa Fe, where
her father, wealthy Indian trader, had
long resided. This young lady had been
visiting the governors S family in Colo
RADIO The message added that her fa-
ther would meet and welcome his young
daughter at well known trading sta
tion some distance east of Santa Fe, at
which point he would then be sojourn-
ing upon business.
Of course we all fell in love. I am
not the last or least even probably to
the pack mule. The lady's loveliness
and good nature had wrought US all up
to a state of idolatry and devotion. Her
name was Pouchee-Pouchee Blooming
dale. Of course she never alluded to her
pedigree, which was evidently mixed.
Nor did we, but it was known to the
scout Charlie, who had impaired it to
US, that her father was a rich old He
brew of Dutch xtraction-Judah Blu
menthal (his daughter having Angliciz-
ed her name), and it became gradually
understood among US that her mother,
who had been Pawnee squaw, was
long since dead.
On the fine spring evening of our tar
rying the wiry ring Of a guitar and mel
low strains of song filled the air with
rapture. Miss Pouchee had sung for us
some opera songs, an Irish melody and
wild Spanish drinking song, which
had warmed our blood like wine. One
of the capitalists, named Abelson, sue
cumbing to the music, had thrown
away the stub of his cigar and drawn
up close to the musician, seating him
self, half reclining upon the ground at
her feet in dreamy admiration. He was
brawny, handsome man of 30, with
brown mustache and auburn hair, a
fearless, unfiinchisg sort of fellow, with
nerves of steel and eyes of liquid blue.
None Of us liked him. He was too su-
| percilious and self satisfied. He had the
glare and glitter of a gambler.
You're grand player" he said at
pause in the singing, and know lots
of good pieces Did you learn the guitar
! at school. may 7 ask?'