Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-09-18

AAAo, 'o0ebneI Win Tie discovery, mad
IN manner, restored her to quiet state
of mind.
Thomas" she began, ''what reason had
you SO early in the morning, Of being out
with a windlass-frame, tearing over the
prairie like a mad-man?"
81 wasn't" said Tom, with great warmth
''Thomas, Thomas" added she with
deep earnestness, edo not say so, for YOU
will tell positive falsehood. / saw YOU,
with my own eyes, while looking for the
COW, being seated on the bluff, near Spring
Branch. I saw you ascend the hill, and
throw, with great force, your windlas high
into the air, when it soon disappeared, and
you shortly after You can't deny it."
Tom was thunder-struck. Astouish-
ment and almost dismay contended for the
mastery in his countenance. He appear
ed in great distress. She was the last per-
son on earth whom be wished to know a.
nything of his treachery. He threw his
head forward, his hands across his body
and sunk to the earth, giving symptoms Of
great internal pain.
Jenny became alarmed, and earnestly
entreated him to inform her of his true
condition so that if Necessary, she could
procure assistance. Tom did this partly
to gain time to invent the best course for
him to pursue, and partly to hide his con-
fusion.
'I'm better now" said Ton laintly. SIn
q few moments / shall be well again. A
tainting spell came over me- I've had
'em all my life. get over 'em in few
minutes. Don't be frightened"
After few moments, during which
Jenny RETAINED from speaking, but mean
while her thoughts were in vhirl OF
doubt and misgiving Tom was apparently
able to speak. He knew he had to ac-
count for his appearance that morning,
thus early, with vindlass,--so he resu-
mes,
/ "Why, Jenny, | kin tell We all about
that wlnlass in jif Why, You see, old
Rube Hare and me had fuss 'tother day
about my taking his old winlass-frame from
some old diggins on the hill and not retur-
MIN on 'eln. tuck it to help Dennis CAT
fer get his heifer out Of a hole, and forgot
to take it back. He said he'd sue me eff I
didn't hey it thar by sunrise tomorrow
| was afraid Of Dennis; you know he is
a wicked feller and alters keeps his word.
So tuck it there, and being mad, / give
it histe in the air, and I didn't care wheth-
er it broke Or not That's the whole Of
that thing
"Ihonas, | am very GLAD" said Jenny.
81 am very glad that you have relieved nv
mind from the painful thoughts which be-
gan to rise therein. am satisfied with
what you have said I was very afraid
you had been doing something very wrong"
"No, Jenny, no, | hain't done any wrong.
You don't think l hev, do you? Some Of
the miners envy me my good luck, and
don't kere eff lose the diggins, but Others
says I shall have my lights"
Tom brighted up rs he perceived the
shade Of doubt slowly leaving her counte-
nance. He was in consequence, en6bold-
ened to press his suit with all the powers
of his mind, mingling with his protesta-
tons of love and fidelity, most positive de-
mails of having done anything dishonorable
or wicked, in order to secure Dummy's Dig
gings-not forgetting now and then to ex-
press considerable regret at Dummy's mis-
fortune!
So warm and so eloquent did he grow,
for upon this theme all are eloquent,) al
though his language was uncouth and his
manner not the most graceful, now pic
turing the joy and Happiness which were
in store for them both should she accept
him; alternating them with the life of
wretchedness and grief which he must ex-
perience in case she refused him,-that the
former conflicting feelings again arose in
her bosom, which ragged for some time, I'M
til her heart-a woman's world, gained the
ascendancy and she, poor girl, yielded it
up to him in the full confidence that there
it would find its sweetest Joy. Alas for
her, poor thing, she knew but little what
was in store for her.
Before they parted, she exacted a pro-
mise that poor Dummy should be his part
ner in the diggings, and share equally.
That night she laid her head upon her
pillow to experience the first part of ''loye's
young Dream" dawning upon her heart.
Tom thought, as he fastened homeward
that he was about the luckiest dog in ex-
istenee, with the heart of pretty girl in
his keeping and flattering prospect Of be-
coming speedily the exclusive owner of a
bouncing lead.
During the week just opened, Tom and
| his friends were unusually active in fur
| thering his right to Dummy's claim, ,by la
boring in secret with different persons,
sometimes appealing to the sense of justice
Of some, holding out direct peeuniary gain
to others-urging the necessity of rigid
enforcement of the rules and usages of mi
ner which generally obtain in such mat
tiers, In order to enable them, should ocea-
sion arise, to use them for their own adj
vantage. All this time he was lavish in
the expenditure of what little money he
could raise, in the purchase of liquor
for gratuitous distribution. His industry
was not unrewarded, for he had succeeded
in enlisting upon his side quite respecta-
BILE number of miners. The course he had
marked out TO pursue was this, in brief
He concluded to wait reasonable length
of time for Dummy's friends to establish
their right. and falling to do that, he in