The Girl of the Golden West

It was when coming back to the mines, after a trip to Monterey, that the Girl first methim. It happened, too, just at a time when her mind was ripe to receive a lastingimpression. But of all this the boys of Cloudy Mountain Camp heard not a word,needless to say, until long afterwards.Lolling back on the rear seat of the stage, her eyes half closed,—the sole passengernow, and with the seat in front piled high with boxes and baskets containing rebozos,silken souvenirs, and other finery purchased in the shops of the old town,—the Girl wasmentally reviewing and dreaming of the delights of her week's visit there,—a visit thathad been a revelation to one whose sole experience of the world had until now beenderived from life in a rough mining camp. Before her half-closed eyes still shimmered avista of strange, exotic scenes and people, the thronging crowds of carnivals and fêtes;the Mexican girls swaying through the movements of the fandango to the music ofguitars and castanets; the great rodeowith its hundreds of vaqueros, which was held atone of the ranchos just outside the town; and, lastly, and most vividly of all, the neverto-be-forgotten thrill of her first bull-fight.