Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-06-01
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"PlP.S
| have knocked about good deal il
my time, and seen many ups and downs
for a man who has led such Il nomadi,
life as myself, would be singularly
lucky person if he never found himsel
minus a meal or dollar
In "a, was in California and prett,
wealthy, for had been fortunate ir
the diggings. In '5S. | tramped from
Ballarat to Avoca, in Australia, without
a cent in my pocket, for luck had de-
serted me. and | could not hit on q
claim in Victoria that half repaid me
for my labor in working it,
One chilly evening in June winter
month in the southern hemisphere-I
halted, after a long days march, 1T the
door of little shanty near Avoca. over
which was a rudely lettered sign board
indicating it store.
"You're welcome, chum, even if YOU
haven't a grain O dust or q sixpence in
your pocket; for you don't look like a
lag and the best of us sees hard times
now and then. Come inside. Is that
your dorg? Well, he's welcome, too,
poor creetur-though he amt noways
handsome. like a man better when
| see dorg at his heels, for a felIer
amt bad enough to be outlawed if one
of them poor dumb brutes loves him, :"
said a bright-eyed, buxom, garruous
matron, who answered my appeal for
supper and & nights lodging.
My dog was not one that would have
taken a prize for beauty at any show in
the States. He was a brindled bull
terrier, and his pugnacious propensities
had cost him an eye: but he was true as
steel. and, like most Of his breed, was
keen and quick-witted as human be-
ing. | loved Pip, for he stuck to me
through all my mistortunes, and was
almost the only remaining tie that
bound me to the world.
Our kind hostess uchered us into a
small kitchen that was a model of clean
illness, and presently set before me an
abundant supply of succulent viands,
which | ate with avidity.
Neither was old Pip forgotten. He
came in for share of the good things,
and received more caresses from our
hostess and her two sprightly young
sters than had Aeen..bestowed upon him
during his lifetime.
"Where's Maggie, Mrs. Hyatt ?''
asked a tall, handsome young man ;
evidently a privileged person, for he
entered without knocking.
"Shc went to Cartcr's this afternoon,
and hasn't returned yet. wish she'd
come back, for it's bad road she's got
to travel. You'd better 90 to meet her,
Ned. If you are not too tired; for my
old mans away at the Ovens still"
"All right! I'll 60, for want to see
her." said the young man, grutily, as he
took his departure.
Maggie is my eldest girl, and Ned
Vance is her sweetheart" explained
Mrs. Hyatt.
| smoked my pipe, and chatted
famiiarly with my hostess until about
ten o'clock, when Vance suddenly en-
tered the room, hot and breathless.
Hasn't Maggie returned?" he IN
quired, excitedly. "She left Carter's
soon after nighttall, for went all the
way there, thinking to find her. kept
sharp lookout for her on my way
back, but, not seeing her, thought we
must have passed each other on the old
Swan diggngs, and she would have
arrived here before me. What can
have become of her, wonder ?" he
added ..ra. -
You haven't got time to wonder,
Ned Vance! If you love my girl half
as much as you profess to, you'll 90
seek her at once She's lost her way,
and, maybe, has fallen into one of the
Old sinkings on the diggings. Get a
lantern out OF the storeroom. aud be
quick about it! for some Of those holes
must be half full OF water, after all the
rain that fell last week"
volunteered to aid Vance in the
search Tor his sweetheart SO we set ont
together.
1t was a bleak, dreary night. A
strong breeze was blowing, and sable
clouds yelled the stars from view.
We searched the Swan diggings care
fully, and more than once were in
danger OF precipitating ourselves into
the deep shafts which go!dseekers had
sunk, and finally abandoned as non
auriferous.
Vance at last became so excited as ap.
parently to lose all control over himself.
and he wandered backward and Tor
ward, from one hole to another. in a
manner useless and absurd.
Let's try further to the right. It's
pretty certain the girl isn't in any of
the holes hereabouts," SAID.
but my companion insisted that it
was absolutely impossible that Maggie
could have strayed so far from a road
that she was familiar with, and would
not allow me to proceed in the direc-
ton indicated.
a bright idea suddenly dawne upon
me, and | proceeded to put it into ex.
ecution forthwith.
quilted Vance, and ran back to the
store, where found Mrs. HYATT crvino
bitterly, and evidently much perturbed
at the non-appearance of her eldest
child.
Haze you got a pair of old shoes be.
longing TO your daughter?" / asked.