Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-08-05
A SELF RISING PRINCESS.
A Story of Cupid and Prospector and
Dusky Maiden.
BY FRANK A. BANER.

We were camped we'll up in the Bitter
Root mountains on a tributary to the
middle fork of the Clearwater river.
My companion, Long Jim Golfer, had
the reputation of being the greatest
yarn spinner in all the northwest.
must say that he lived we'll up to his
reputation, and not an evening passed
during our trip but something remind
ed" him of some past experience, and
he was an adept at steering the CONVEX
sation around to where something would
remind him.
But an evening have in mind, supper
was over and we were lounging by the
campfire smoking our pipes, although
midsummer the air got nippy as soon as
the sun dropped behind the mountains
to the west, and fire was very cheer
full and pleasant.
was lazily putting big clouds of
smoke and gazing at the rugged noun
tains to the east that still caught the
glow of the setting sun upon their peaks,
and admiring the beautiful shading from
the gold down through the ambers and
browns on the slopes into the deepest
of royal purple in the canyons. l was
also wondering if Jim was going to
omit his usual evening story, but de-
cided that would not help him to a
start and see how he would go at it.
The fire was dying down and the
stars were making their appearance II
the darkening vault overhead. TIL
melancholy note of a raincrow SOUNDED
from the mountain slope. The jangle
of the horse bells came from down thu
creek, and the small park across the
stream grew large in the dusk. | wa
commencing to think that would have
to break the ice or so TO bed without
my nightcap yarn, when long jim moved
measily, knocked the ashes from his
pipe and slowly getting his lanky legs
under him scraped the embers together
and threw on some more wood.
Its curious how things turn out diff
ferent sometimes quoth he, apropos
of nothing. He reflled his pipe, loung-
ed again against his saddle and, gazing
thoughtfully into the rejuvenated fire,
continued; 81 had a partner once that
fell in love with a squaw, or thought he
did, which is about as bad. Mighty
nice young teller, too, from back in the
states somewhat; don't recollect jest
whar now anyway we was partners in
a quartz claim which we called the Cab
berwack, and we was openin' it up with
a tunnel We was a goodways from
anywhar and didn't see much of any
body, specially women folks, and ]
could see that Sonny were jest honin'
fer the sight of calico. l called him
Sonny, but his right name was Ralph
Waldo Emerson Snow. Sometimes he
called me Old Opportunity, cause he
said that had foretop in front q
tells him that's the place for foretop)
and were bald behind. He had been
brought up right well and had a good
schoolin'. He was great shakes or
drawin' and paintin', but his long suit
we're maxim figgers outen clay.
eve struck q big streak of talk in
the tunnel and it were nuts for Sonny,
only it would crack when dried, but he
mixed lots of flour with it and it worked
first rate. He'd make prospectors and
packhorses and miners Jest as natural
as life. Why he made my head and
shoulders, life size, and said l was on a
bust-looSed jest like me, too.
"Well, gittin' late IN the summer,
long trails band of Injuns out for a
hunt and fish, and. pops up their tepees
Just down the creek from the cabin.
So we saunters over thar that evenin'
and powwows with 'em some. There
were one mighty pretty little Injun gal,
about seventeen, thar or tharabouts,
and ruther light, and sees at once that
she ketches Sonny's eye. When we
goes back to the cabin he keeps talllin
about what a nice intelligent lot Of
Injuns they be; what noble and splendid
specimens of humanity. Why old Fern
more Cooper's Injuns want in it.
says nothin' but winks to myself and
dops up to roost. ,a
we WANT dom much jest then,