David Belasco

The Girl of the Golden West David Belasco

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.