Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-02-08


his own language.
Whenever ELI Taylor could see the
smoke Of a neighbor's cabin he became
possessed with the idea that the coun-
J try was getting to be- too thickly set
tied and corespondingly unhealthy.
and he bundled his family into one of
those huge wagons known as "a prairie
schooner" and moved further west.
This he persisted in doing until one
day he found himself under the shadow
Of the Rocky Mountains. and he woke
broken-down old woman and his
daughter Lena and his son Tom ''about
as big as they was ever goln' to get to
be-"
Young Tom Taylor had not inner
ited the gypsy love Of change that had
distinguished his ancestors. He was a
sturdy, sensible fellow and wanted to
settle down on c farm, where his moth
er could live better than she had been
doing. and where Lena could have a
chance to know more about books.
which she had learned to read In some
unaccountable way, and of which she
was very fond.
And SO Eli Taylor in his 5Oth year
settled down to the cultivation Of
farm not far from what is now Canyon
City, but which was then a cluster of
cabins where prospectors rested before
going over the mountains to South
Park.
Here Ell Taylor and young Tom
worked with SO much success that
within a few years they had a comfort
able house and outbuildings, a dozen
COWS and as many horses, and, great
est of all evidences Of prosperity,
money laid by for a rainy day.
Lena Taylor, though miles away
from the nearest neighbor, was not
destined to remain unknown and un-
appreciated. The fame Of her thrift
and her beauty was discussed abcar
the campfrss 6s prospeccors IN the
mountains. Many Of them had gone a
days journey out Of their way to see
her. and the general opinion was that
the man who made a successful
odds. the finest piece Of property In the
territory.
1t has been said that poverty and suf-
fering are the greatest tests Of charac-
ter, but we are inclined to think that
1t requires a stronger. nobler nature to
withstand q change in the face of sud
den prosperity than to meet reversals
with philosophy.
Eli Taylor, was prosperous, and with
bis prosperity vanished his inbOrn dis
like for settled communities. 1t was
he who carried all the farm produce to
Canyon City and purchased there such
supplies as were needed by his thrifty
family.
Had he confined his purchases to
these supplies all would have been
well. but, unfortunately, he had a
chance to crafty his taste for strong
drink. and he yielded to 1t till the pas
sion became his master.
The saloons Of the frontier at that
time were open gambling dens, run"
by sharpers who plundered without re-
morse the men they had first made
drunk.
One - these places was kept by n
man named Mart Estel, who had the
coveted reputation of wealth and the
unenviable reputation of a desperado
who had killed a number of men. He
always denied being rich. and when
questioned about his shooting exploits
he would lay his hand on his hip and
say, with a chilling laugh:
"You can bet that when Mart Estel
finds himself in a tight box he knows
how to fix the lock that will let him
cut"
Estel's saloon become a favorite re-
sort with Eli Taylor, and he not only
got drunk there, but the news reached
his family that he had fallen into the
habit Of gambling. The latter report
was confirmed by the fact that he no
longer accounted for the money he had
got from the sale Of his produce.
Lena and her brother begged their
father to keep away from Canyon City
but, unheeding them and blind to the
tears of his invalid wife, he persisted
IN the course.
And now the son and daughter, who
ent home, expressed an anxiety to move
further into the wilderness, but their
father became stubborn. saying:
"You made me settle down here and
here I'll stay"
When matters were nearing their
worst a young man, dressed In the
garb Of hunter. but with a refinement
of manner that convinced Lena that
he was not IAN original mountaineer." !"
~ mo IN the vallov In vhich tho 1Na vIOr
farm was situated and asked to board
there while he hunted and prospected
in the neighboring mountains. He gave
his name as George Herron," and as
he offered s. a week for the accommo-
dstion and showed a willingness to pay
In advance, Mrs. Taylor and Lena
agreed to take him in.
George Heron was a handsome and
rather a melancholy young man-such
q one AZ must appeal powerfully to the
virgin heart and lofty Imagination Of
the frontier girl.
He was away great deaNoften for
nights at q time, and when he returned
he hut seldom brought game. though
he always had strange wild flowers for
Lena and curious specimens of ores,
which he examined with his micro
scope and acids.
Love IL largely a matter Of associa-
tion: 1t IL not, therefore, to be wonder.
Cd at that Lena grew to watch the
mountain trail for the coming Of the