The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-29
SELECTED STORY.
Thirty Proposals.
A CALIFORNIA LOVE STORY.

us did; but always took his mother every
where and waited upon her as though she
had been queen of England All the girls
liked him, and ii he ever ventured where they
were, they would flutter round him, put IL
was plain that he never gave them secohu
thought. His mother used to say, III my
son ever marries," twill be very superior
woman, quite dilfrent from the glrls one ordi-
narily meets"
"When we heard at home that he was mar
ried, the girls said, little spiteiully, reckon,
'There must be one wonderful woman, in
California" and they hoped she would be "su-
periorn enough to teach the old bachelor a les
son or two How is it? Is she likely to?"
'Well, theirs more to her than you'd think
at first sight. she must be reel good herself,
or she never would have appreciated our
friend. He is solid and substantial, but not We
ry snowy; Eve known him Intimately for
years, and L never knew him to say or do
mean thing. He deserves his good luck, and
will own it; though to be honest, wanted
that woman for my wife, and have not reach
ed point yet where l can take much pleas
ure in thinking of the wedding. Come over
here under the trees, and III tell you how 1t
came about; but you'd better not let on you
know it, for tits sort of understood thin that
We are to keep it on the sqnare, and it's rath-
er a tender subject with US boys.
sit was the summer of go, we lived over
the canon l was telling you about-there
were thirty of us in the gang, and we had TOUR
cabins with storehouse, which were public
property. We worked hard through 5he week,
and on Sundays did onr washing and brought
our house work up little l suppose we
should be called hard set, but we were not
any roughrr than men generally who get liv-
ing by themselves for year or two.
Eight of us camped together, and each of us
had as distinct an individuality as though we
represented different nations. Somehow or
w nod a txxyhio
acknowledge to be characteristic, and we were
called by it in camp to the complete ignoring
of our real names.
There was Hal Wnterton,a Southerner,
and fierce secessionist; we called him "South
Carolina" Dave Austin, a Connecticut man
and regular sell, we called him Nutmeg"
"Dandie" stuck to Charlie Chaplin, for he
was regular fog. Then there was Ned Simp-
sou, a regular "Aunt Betty"-yon'd know bis
name at the first glimps without my saying
word. Otis Allen would faint if he damned
his finger or had a sight of blood. He was
"Our Baby" Jack Cummings was wag,
and he certainly deserved his coguomen,
sack the Wicked" Jim Woodruff was
known all over the country by the appellation
OF Judge" and your humble servant, from
his black eyes, swarthy complexion land jetty
locks, perhaps something, too, in my manner,
was styled "benor."
Well, we were agood natured set of fellows,
cullarlties, and never having any friction in
the camp. Sometimes used to think we jok-
ed Aunt Betty" and sour Baby" rather I'M
mefclully, but a. word from our Judge"
would straighten us at once.
"lfone was sick, we all took turn about
in nursing and watching, but the Judge was
one that knew inst what to do, and was al
ways near to do it. Tender and patient as a
woman, we all honored him, and held him
little higher in our estimation than we did
any one else in the camp.
l forgot to tell you that a month before,
and when Dandy and Aunt Betty were not
OF our number, we had in their place Will
Browning, who was equal to two men, any
day. Good to work and good to play as
smart as need be, and true to the core i
think most any of us would have been glad to
have gone with Will over the mountains, but
he SAID mo, stay where you are, boys you are
doing well, and it l find anything better, /
will let you know at once. Then come all
hands OF you, and it will be jolly time when
we get together again."
You know it wasn't the pleasantest tray
cling i'll the world to get around two wears
ago.
We hadn't heard aword from Will, though
he has been gone for q long time. Several
letters had come from him, but OF course we
couldn't forward them, having no idea of his
whereabouts, and we had come to the conclu-
time dead broke, and cured of his rowing dis
position. We had finished work one day, and
supped eff three BIS, as we called our beans
and bacon and bread; the table stood Just
where we had left it for you know that min
ers are not very fastidious in their notions.
We were sitting on rude bench which reach
ed across the end of our rude cabin, talking
over our days work, and specializing on what
the boys were doing over to the left side of
us, when all all at once a young woman
stood right in our cabin door.
Now woman ia those DAYS was a curios-
lty among bucks here among the hills, and
there were men in our camp who hadn't set
eyes on one for better than two years. She
stood still, just looking at u.s. don't know
what the rest thought, but Aunt Betty said
afterward shat it seemed like warnin' to
some OF u.s." and he was wondering whose
time had come. The judge sat on the edge
OF the bench, and he arose and took off mis-
hat. One after another following his exam
pie slowly, each one getting up in turn and
taking off his hat.
We must have looked comical, for we all
had on wooden shirts, our sleeves were rolled
up and our collars turned back. Our pants
were tied about our waists, and tucked in no
very careful manner into our rubber boot
legs. Add to our costume eight faces un-
shaven and unshorn for weeks, and YOU catch
some idea of our general appearance.
Inc pale light of our sputtering candle adj
ded to the weirdness of the scene, and when
Jack the Wicked murmered, ''TO your
knees, boys, all at once" guess we were all
more than half inclined to obey. The Judge
recovered himself the quickest, and advanced
toward the door.
~ wish to see my brother, Will Browning;
L heard he was here" said the most musical
voice ever heard.
HE was here few months ago." replied
the judge, "but we do not know where he is
now. How did you come, and where are
your friends ?"
of death, 1 should think, for am nearly dead
with hunger, and for friends. have the
gloomiest old teamster you ever saw, though
L thought 1t was rare good luck when found
him, and he engaged to take me up here 70
Will. paid him every cent of money had,
and L haven't had mouthful for days but
bad bacon. Is there any hotel within short
distance? If not, perhaps there is some good
woman who would let me stay with her until
can get word to WILL"
l guess every man Rugged to himself the
thought that she would be obliged to stop
with US, even for short time; and the Judge
didn't look very sorry, though he professed to
feel dreadfully for her dilemma.
lie said, and L am sure his full rich voice
must must nave seemed tower ofstrength to her.
wv IL is dear friend of ours, and if YOU will
Kindly allow us the honor of protecting his
sister until he can be Communicated with
we should be under great Obligations to Won
we must look very odd to you; but we claim
to be gentlemen, and assure YOU we can and
Will make you comfortable"
She bad perplexed look on her face when
the Judge told her there was no woman liy-
ing near; but she was mistress of the situa-
ton In moment, and said very demurely
though with rather sly sparkle, "Oi., 1 shall
De quite comfortable, but Pm afraid shall be |
troubling you terribly"
=, Every one spoke at once, mo trouble, not |
me least. And then Dandy said: "Judge, if |
you were to Introduce us to the lady, perhaps |
sue wo9iu feel more at ease with us
The Judge must have been awfully smitten
az hrst sight, or he would not be guilty of in |
Producing us by our camp titles. AS it was.
ne SAID, MISS Browning, allow me to intro |
duce you to Wits friend, Mr.. South Carroll
ma" he advanced as he was called, and in |
the most chivalric manner bowed over the /
lady's extended hand. "This is Mr., Nutmeg. |
another friend of your brother"
He bowed stiffiy, and everywhere but at |
her. "Aunt Betty, did you know Will? | |
believe you didn't; but he will be friend all |
the same to you, Miss Browning"
gu can bet your life on that every time" |
saiu aunt Betty, aud we were all ready to /
spliC ny mat time, the judge looked so digni- |
lieu ooing the honors of the occasion in sI1cb /
a manner, as he no}doubt THOUGHT
lie continued: "'rhis is Mr. Dandy ~ T r,;s,,
you could see the bowling and scraninn Dr.
that time she had taken in the droliery of tI
thing, and when Dandy bowed so profoundiu
swept him a courtesy that lilyad - - ~ Il