Butte record., 1856-12-06

to you for your kind care while l wa.
tossing in the delirium of that dreadful
fever :"
"Do not mention it." said Kate.
but If you can inform me of some ho-
tel or boarding house where | can pat
up for the present and feel safe, ii
would oblige me very much"
"Surely, that 1 Will do with plea.
sure, said the stranger, fortunately
| am acquainted here with a widow
lady who keeps private boarding
house. With her you will be well pro-
vlded and cared for. California is my
home, although business called me to
New York, from whence | have, as
you know, but just returned, so that
speak from personal knowledge.n .
The manly and courteous candor of
the stranger induced Kate to accept
his proffered services, and on arriving
there she found it all that it had been
represented to be.
Fortunately there were several lady
boarders in the house, and whose eyes
were attracted by Kate's neatly fitting
and well made dresses.
81 wish | had dress which fitted
me as neatly as yours does YOU" said
one Of the ladies', addressing Kate, as
they left the breakfast room one morn
ing.
Perhaps 1 could fit you one," said
Kate.
"Oh, if you would | should be so de.
lighted" said the lady. for there is no
one here who makes dress that will
set well, and | never could do anything
of that kind myself"
In few words Kate informed her that
she would be glad of any sewing she
could. get to do, as it was by her own
exertions that she expected to live.
The dresses were made as desired,
and she succeeded in giving perfect
satisfaction. Work crowded in upon
her and she sewed very fast and was
then paid thirty dollars for making Il
plan dress, she began to make money
rapidly, and wrote to her sister "that
she could hardly realize that she had
ever made shirts for fifteen cents each. ;"
A year sped on, and Kate by her
untiring industsy had prospered well,
and now kept little store of her own,
SO that. together with her labor and
the profits on her goods, she realized
handsome income. She was already
worth more than even in her widest
dreams she had dared to hope for, and
had sent money to her sister, which
gave her the satisfaction of knowing
that her wants were also provided for.
One evening as she entered the par
lor of her boarding house, for she still
lived at the same house, there were
several strangers present, to whom
Kate paid no attention, till one of them
suddenly rising, said:
kate surely this is Kate Lans-
ing" She looked up, and wild
scream of joy escaped her. 1t was Ned
Lee, an old school-rnate, and neigh
boris son-the first familiar face sh
had met in California. fhe hours of
that evening flew quickly by, as they
reeounted the "reminiscences of child
hood, and the events of the past few
years, in which Mr.. Lee learned for
the first time of Kate's widowhood.
For two wears he had been in the
mines, and beside having accumulated
a moderate fortune, was now the owner
Of some of the richest claims in one of
the best mining localities Of the State.
Need we say, 100, that now, life in Cal
lfornia seemed more CHEEKY to Kate
than before, for now she had a friend
to speak to-one who had known her
at home, known her in the sunny days
of her childhood and prosperity.
After rather prolonged stay in San
Francisco, Mr.. Lee returned to the
mines but his visits to the Bay being
much more frequent than formerly,
some of the old miners noticed it, and
rogu:shly enquired if he went on
prospecting expedition to San Fran>
cisco or, having 'found prospect, ~
was engaged in working out claim in
the heart of some fair lady there OBJ
serving too, with knowing wink, that
Something was in the wind, they
knew"
Four years having rolled away since
the commencement of our story; let
us take peep into one of those prince
ly mansions on s. street. 1t is
furnished elegantly. The luxuries of
almost every cline seem to be there in
the richest profusion. Some friends
have gathered in to sp nd the evening
We may consider ourselves as one of
the little and select company.
The lady has just seated herself at
the piano, and gentleman, with his
flute, in clear and bird-ike notes, ac-
companies her, while the grest Of the
party have taken their places, and ar
ranged their partners for quadrille !;
but, just as they are commencing. the
loud booming of cannon announces
the arrival of the mail steamer, with
news and passengers from the Atlantic
States. Every one who has resided in
San Frncisco knows the thrill of ex-
citement generally experienced when
such sound reverberates through the
the city, especislly those who are ex-
pecting some dear old friend among