Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-11-04
By A. A. SMITH.

"a NG-sAS9 =. - =. So-sASGSAS3
II ARLY in the summer of 1899. was
T. persuaded to join party of friends
bound for a months outing among the
Colorado mountains. Priding myself
upon my ability to derive profit and en-
-joyment from solitary expeditions, L
left my comrades among the popular re-
sorts surrounding Colorado Springs and
Manitou, and pushed on to the almost
deserted village of Alpine. Ten years
ago this now desolate hamlet was
fiourishing town of several thousand
inhabitants. 1t boosted an immense sill
ser smelter, two banks, numerous sa-
ICONS, and all the accompanying fea-
1ures of great mining center.
1 Immediately secured as my guide an
old timer known as Uncle Rastus."
He told me that he had lived there
~'sence Uncle Sam committed the crime
ora"
7 was without doubt the most trouble
some "tenderfoot" which the old gen.
sleman had seen for many day, for L
resolved upon seeing everything TO be
seen, and / gave him not the slightest
opportunity for rest. Within a few
hours after my arrival he had shown
me over the entire townsite, now
strewn with broken bottles and over
grown with qual1ing aspen; he had Civ
en- me, in detail, the history of the town
and the principal men who had risked
2ife and fortune amid its wild scenes,
and although it was then quite late, l
begged him TO go with me to the nearest
mountain.
you won't be going to climb that
mounting tonight, pardner?" he said.
turning TO me with n startled look as we
hurried along through the fast descend
ing twilight.
20 no; certainly not tonight. But
why do you look so scared, uncle2 You
know every foot of ground for miles
around here. What are you afraid of?"
Il amt afeard of no other place" he
answered, in n low voice. but won t
ago near there in the dark"
i looked in the direction Indicated by
his trembling finger, and could not. or
rather did not, suppress an exclama-
zion of surprise and delight. Nesting in
rthe heart of a tiny vale which lay be-
1ween two barren rocky cliffs, was a
miniature landscape, plot of artistic
beauty, perhaps so feet square. The
last rays of the setting sun streamed
through the opening between the hills,
and they fingered as in a benediction
upon the low white picl1ets of the en-
closing fence, the small evergreens ar
ranged in graceful curves upon the
green turf, and the cluster of bright
flowers grouped about the center. And
II, 4 Co
&ooned with ivy and clematis as to COM
pletely hide the material, at the same
time preserving the form Of the struc-
sSure.
What is that beautiful little gar
den % / inquired, as returned TO my
companion. who had remained behind
while passed on down the pathway.
Its the preachers grave" he replied
In the same awe-struck voice. ! tend il
and keep it like that myself. But come
back now, young man. I'm plum used
up with your tearin' around at this
rate, and youm wear yourself out, too
] tried in vain to laugh the old noun
rtaineer out of his mood, and, not sue.
.ceeding, followed him back toward the
town.
"Now tell me about this preachers
grave" l said, after we had eaten oul
simple meal and drawn our chairs out
side the cabin door. Il am curious &c
know, and just tired enough to listen
"WeD,' said the veteran, as he lighted
his pipe, TWAS in SO, one summer
might, Jest like this, that first see the
preacher. You know how twas then
the boom was over. Hundreds of ten
siderfoots about, like you, had tumbleC
out here to stake claims an git rich il
a hurry. Some of them got sick an dieu
some spent all the little pile they brunl
with EN- an went back a-cussin' TIT
hull country, an the mines, but Their,
was few that swore they'd stay anC
fight il out.
1T was hard times, an we was
pretty tough lot, guess.
lone night we was all sittin' owe
there"-pointing to a rickety old build
-sng, which still bore a sign announcing
two drinks for 25 cents-"when we Sc
a peart little Teller about your size com
IN up from the station. 1t was prett,
nigh dark, but we could see quick a
"a wink that he wasn't our size at ALL"
''He was the preacher, suppose?"
"Yes, he was the preacher, an he wa
a-takin' his yaycation; but the poo
feller didn't get much vacation aroun