The Placer herald., 1873-02-22
CHAPTER |.
ROSE
Written for the Golden Era,
BY GRArrAN NJ. CLAY.

Red glowed the western horizon, its refu
Icnce clohing the valley of the S S,crr meulo
nd the foothiils Of the Sierras with hues oil
crimson aud gold, which th roseate beauty
leapt from peak TO peak, from tree TO tree
rom cabin 10 cabin, until finally they sought
repose in the >ine-clid valleys which sur
rounded the town Of Dphir
1t was IA scene worthy of the poets pen or
he painters brush; IA scene for ronanciss to
dream Of, and lovers to sigh for scene ii
fact upon which Nature had lANi.hed al o.
her divine handiwork thereby giving Us q
most auspicjous opportunity for Introducing
30 the ndulgeut reader the Rose of Ophir.
Perhaps, dear reader you will scarcely
credit the assertion when | say thai there
really is such a place as Ophir, and such a
character as our Rose Such is The case
however and before the close Of our story,
Wc shall have given ample directions to the
unbelieving reader for finding her, should h.
50 desire. But we are OBTAINING you with
substance foreign to our subject, and, in as
expeditions a manner as possible, we viii
ring up" upon our little drama Of mining
life
Seated around table in the bar-room OF
Mrs. Kittles Hotel are ten orr dozen "hon
EST miners engaged in discussing the mer
is and dement's OF certain "drfts' in which
hey had been employed varying the amount
ot the conversation 10y most copious qnatir
Of beer. Thea they would shout loudly tor
Mrs. Kittle. We beg p,Tdon for not nitro
ducing her before, bat she is the hostess OF
lie hotel, stout, healthy German Woman
mrammeled 10y the rules Of etiquette, ana
he customs of society as her language very
frequently would denote.
Yes, sheu emens, vat is i; you want
she answered with her very strong Teutonie
accent.
"Nore beer!'
"Ae right, boys" (all the miners were
her bGys) She Md answer as she supplied
tLem with thei' f,vort te beverage.
"Oh Mrs. Kittle!'
"NeA p
"W here's Rose % asked two or three
iniuers in one voice.
shes gone out someveres. Oh, dert
vos no sbance for you boys nit her; she vos
sure to marry some rich man
"Yes, spoke out young miner named
Nat Harland, WHO had been her playmate
from childhood, ",he is a good gir, Mrs
Kittle, notwithstanding the evil influences
uuder which she was raised.
"lGviI influences? Dey don't trouble her
much; she Won't near the bar, and sh,
don't have much 10 do init de m ners Now
deres Scorty, he's heels by hr heat in love
ut Ter, and she dom notice him; and Mai,
dcre. believe lie is in love NIT her too.
eyes, answered Nat, II do think "a great
dead OF Rose, but she does not seem to { cro
Tor me any more than as an old friend. A
far as that goes, we all love h.r and would
die for her. Wouldn't we, boys p
"You be!" answered the rue hearted
miners, unanimously.
Mrs. Kltle, who's that young fellow
who comes to see Rose so often lie is new
in these parts
"Ah, dat's business! dat vos Harry Ash
ton, from San Francisco; and believe he Ii
half in love nit her. 1t will be grand
match.
"What!" came from a dozen ihroats, sur
| prised at such an announcement.
"Why not p answered the hostess.
"Rose is too high-toned aud delicate to
miners wife, and he is just the man fot
her.
Maybe, answered Nat Harland; "bui
these civ fellows don't make love 10 coun-
try girls for any cool p1pose.
"Oh, psh "! lou poys Is jealous.
"Never mind" Nat answered ieelmg'y
II believe speak the truth; time will tell.
Suddenly, a shrek sounded through tn
evening air, and Immediately all spr"ns to
lheir feet and rushed to the doos; for they
J all OWNED whose voice it was. 1t Was