The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-10-22
. ssIsstso Story. s
TIE NUGGET OF GOLD.
BY Z. Il. SANDERSON.

4 graduate from one of the best
Of the three or four really good
scientific schools of the country,
Charley Weyland at the aye of
twcnty-two took his way to the
far West. His course Of thorough
study had endcdin his graduation
as i mining engineer, and now he
had resolved to put his theoretical
knowledge to some practica! use
in the gold mines Of the Pacific
slope. With poverty to spur him
on, he felt an incentive for haste !;
and'so rather hurriedly made the
tour Of the various mines.
One day he found himself at q
place known among the rough
miners rs Smiths Digging-aplacc
that had been among the first
"worked" by the pioneer California
miners, after time it had been
abandoned as unproductive but
more modern appliances and pro-
cesses, taking the place Of the
primitive "washing" and surface
digging, had again revived its
former glory. But instead of be-
ing surface-worked by scores Of
independent adventures, u stock
company had secured all the priv.
i!eges, and introduce the best
appliance for rock working and
quartz working.
By this company Weyland WIS
offered a desirable situation an en-
gineer, and he at once accepted
Thoroughly conversant with the
theory Of mining, and versed in
the science Of mineralogy, he i'm
mediateiy mastered the work to
the satisfaction Of himself and his
employers.
Sitting At the door Of his cabin
one day, he was surprised at the
sight Of a girl. Not that women
were so much Of g rarity in the
diggings, but this gir!-young,
beautiful and cultivated in appear
ancc, wasin striking contas to tho
rough wives and un Il ca G d
daughters Of the miners. With
the young girl was man of fifty
a bent, grizzIed man, as different
from the typical miner as possible,
but still wearing the rough grab OF
that class. The girl, too, was
closely clad-leaving, as Weyland
was shrewd enough 20 see, what
ever Of beauty Or grace she pos
sessed no dependence upon the
adIuncts Of Of dress. True enough
her cheap straw hat was set CO.
quetishly upon her neatly-arrang-
ed brown hair, and a few bits Of rib
bon showed that she had brought
into the wilds the touches Of civ
ilized female taste but her dress
was of the commoncst calico. her
shoes were coarse and no stockings
covered her shapely sun-browned
feet.
The man and the girl passed
closer to Weyland; and the girl
meeting bis halfinquisitire gaze,
blushcd slightly as if in depreca-
tion of any criticism OF her prim
tive toilet.
"She has worn silks and .laces
sometimes" was Weyland's men
tai remark, saud she'd be queen
in them, if I'm judge of points
of feminine beauty. I wonder
who they are p
The latter was easy OF ascer:
tanning, certainly, and Weyland d
promptly called in the aid of Jack,
his cook and man-of-all-work, who
was busy inside the cabin.
aWho are they y?' be asked.
"Why, that's Old Grip" was
Jacks prompt reply; that's the
only name the boys has got for
him-and the gals his darter,
Nell.'
"Where do they 1--we, and what
sdo tbey do?"
..aWal, Old Grip used to be 6
sas ger on bis own HOOK, fore com
.sosn Il got hold of the diggings.-
aE aeay he hadn't done nothing 0
re Ne Thav liva-he'n Mel