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Show 80 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. never seen the like before, regarded her as a spirit, and beat a tumultuous retreat. One day as Mrs. S. was arranging her bonnet before a glass preparatory to making a few calls, by the side of her serene face was reflected the squalid features of a squaw, who had stolen into the room unawares, and seeing her own image in the glass, was thrown into a paroxysm of delight by contemplating her beauty, perhaps her toilet, which was nothing more than a string of beads around her neck. Beyond the advantage of protection from the weather, they were in the most unsophisticated ignorance as to the ordinary uses of clothing. But so great was their vanity they would give anything they possessed for a mirror. The Hungate family, father, mother and children, had been murdered at the very threshold of Denver, and threats had been made to sack and burn the city. The nerves of the people were strung to the highest tension, and ready for a panic at the least intimation of danger. Late one evening a man dashed into town, frightened almost out of his senses, and reported that a large company of hostile Indians were driving off stock and murdering the ranchmen. The scene that followed beggars description. Every bell in the city sounded the alarm. Men, women and children pushed through the streets en deshabille, and literally crazed with fear. The United States branch mint was prominent among the places of refuge. In the general alarm, wells, cisterns, dark alleys and dry goods boxes became hiding places for the terror-stricken inhabitants. One man said to another, "my gun has been idle for so long, I wonder if it will go off; I believe I will shoot at that dry-goods box and see." Imme- |
