Columbia gazette., 1854-07-08
LOVE STORY OF THE AUSTRIA
ed g LA ,DIGGINGS. e.f-

pa g LAh .OAuQl4NoC.E a@fa 7ea
Mike and Robert were two as good
mates as any at the Mount Alexander
diggiugs. They had had . good spell al
hard work, and, as is usually the way,
returned to Melbourne, for q holi day Il
Christmas time; and thenvit.wss that the
bright eyes Of Susan Hinton FIRST sowed
discord between them. Mike was the
wooer, and the old man gave his con-
sent; for Mike, with one exception, had
contrived to make himself a favorite with
both father and daughter. The excep-
ton was this: old Hinton was q strict
disciplinarian-one of what is called the
"good old school," he hated radicals,
revolutionists, and reformcrs, or any op-
position to church or State. Mike, on
the contrary, loved nothing better than
to hold forth against the powers that be;
and it was his greatest boast that gov
ernment had never pocketed = farthing
from him in the way Of license. This,
in the old mans eyes, was his solitary
fault and when Mike declared bis inten-
ton Of taking another trip to the 0lottery
6elds'' before taking a ticket in the
even greater lottery Of marriage, he SOL
emily declared that no daughter of his
should ever marry a man who had been
openly convicted Of any way evading
the license fee. .ssw seq ealeb a4e
This declaration from any other man
who had already promised his daughter
in marriage, would not have had much
weight; but Mike knew the stern, strict
character of Hinton, and respected this
determination accordingly The day Of
their departure arrived, and, with a
fearful injunction to bear in mind her
fathers wishes, Susan babe her lover
farewell, and Robert and he proceeded
on their journey. Full of his own hap
piness, Mike had-never suspected his
comrades love for Susan, and little
dreamt he Of the hatred against himself
to which it had given birth-hatred the
more to be dreaded since it was con-
ccaled under most friendly exterior.
For the frst month Mike behaved to
the very letter Of the law, and having,
for the sum Of 9l los, purchased his
legal right to dig for gold, felt himself
. most exemplary character. Success
again crowned their efforts, and spec
dy return to Melbourne was contemplate
ed. In the ardor of his exciting work
another month commenced, and Mike
at FIRST forgot and then neglected to re-
new bis license. "The inspector rarely
| came bis rounds before the 18th; the
ueighborhoodE was considered deserted
fairly worked out-hed never come
round there" Thus argued Mike, and
his friend cordially agreed with him
close day 5 work standing outside The
commissioners tent, broiling in crowd
when two days would finish the job /
Not he, indeed! Mike might please
himself, but he shouldn't get license;'
and this determination on the part o.
his "mate" settled the matter r.
| In one respect Mixes self.security
was not unfounded; the gully in which
their tent was now pitched was nearl,
deserted. Some while previous there
had been great rush to the place, 81
great that it was almost excayated; ther
the rush took different direction, ant
few now cared to work on the two o.
three spots that had been left untouch
ed. Like many other localities consid
cred worked out. as much remained II
the ground as had been taken from it
and as each day added to their store
Mixes hilarity increased.
It was now the 10th of the month
their hole had been fairly sbottomed,
a nice little nest Of nuggets discovered
4 their gains divided, and the gold sem
down to the escort office for transit t.
Melbourne. "A few bucketfuls Of gooc
washing stuff. was all that was left un.
done. To-day will finish that, ,
thought Mike, and to it he set Will
hearty good viii, to the intense satisfac.
ton of his comrade, who sat watching
him At little distance. Suddenly
Mike felt heavy hand upon his shout.
der; he looked up, and saw before hin
the Inspector. He had already will
him large bedy of defaulters, anc
Nike little doubted that he must be ad
ded to their number. Old Hinton's de
termined speech, Susan's parting word
| and tears, flashed across his mind. i
| "Youve. lost your bonnie bride, ;
muttered Robert, loud enough to reacl
his rivals ears.
Mike glanced It him, and the look Q
4 triumph he saw there reused every SPAR
Of energy within him. and it was in
tone Of veil assumed coumposure tia
be replied to the inspector-"My Ii
! cencs IS in my pocket, and my coat be
low there;" and without y moment
hesitation sprang into his hole to fetc