The Portland daily press., 1873-03-22
SELECTED STORY.
The Lost Cabin.

The Lost Cabin.
liz. EAtsa tt
had the "blues.'' For already had be-
come satisfied that the young metropolis of
the Northwest, which Hope. with the typi-
cal vermilion finger, had pointed out to me
as the city among ten thousand where crowd
ing cases and flowing fees would oyerwhelm
the ambitious disciple of Blackstone, had
really more 'law' tnan it could conveniently
carry with any prospect of municipal pro-
gress. Had every inhabitant OF the place
given himself up entirely to the acrimonious
and impIacable litigation, the ielicltous equ-
poise OF demand and supply would not yet
nave been restored; on the contrary, a gaunt
forest OF legal ''limbs'' would have remained
idie and unappropriated-wavin beakly in
Inc winter OF Inevitable decay. A "heart of
pax, supposing it to have been in the law
business, could not, under these circnm-
stances, have been joyously imponderable;
aAd II was no wonder that my own, being OF
very common timber, weighed heavily on
snls April night; aud dragged me down into
.atnoAless depths OF dependency. What
n was 20 DO when the few hundred dollars
drought with me had wasted utterly away?
ane iiterrogatory rose upon me again ami
"sain Win sphinx like emphasis that was
"ppahihg. WhIie amusing myself with rev.
cries o. this cheerful nature, some one raped
q. my office door and in response to my
come ln," not uttered in the gentlest of
sones, tail young man, of dark complexion,
anu naDiteQ IN suit Of heavy brown cloth,
Su efeu. recognized him, after the usual
salutations had passed, as a person who had
t toi sever az weeks been sojournlng at nv ho-
1ei, Ine g. house. Taking the chair 7
pronefed, he seated himself near the stove.
Hnu, Dending upon me from under a pair of
3leavy, Dlach eyebrows glance, glittering and
Aeen with scrutiny, said: Its a nasty night
SIT is, indeed" replied, stopping to re-
plenish the stove; "and you seem TO have
had the benefit of It,
YES, had some difficulty in finding your
ofice-and that reminds me that did not
come here to discuss tue weather, but to talk
business
lie bent his head for moment, as if to re-
he-t, and fixed myself in an attitude of re.
spectful attention, my first fee being the idea
which was uppermost in my mind.
':Are you satisfied with this ?" and as he
spoke he waved his hand satirically toward
the single Falstafian column of law-books.
largely recruited from the patent-office de-
parrment, on shelf against the wall oppo-
site.
L smiled, and without waiting for further
answer, he proceeded.
ut you succeed at all in the practice OF
the law in Portland, it will be after years OF
patient, persistent labor and a life of hideous
economy and privation. | believe that YOU
realize this yourself, and for that reason |
come here to share with you valuable secret
and to solicit your assistance in project
which. If successfully prosecuted, will enrich
us both" al E wfR
A suspicion of double-barreled burglary
da he'd across me, and I SUPP ose he must
have seen something of the kind in nv face,
for he resumed Immediately, with an impa-
tient gesture, 'Nay, it is honorable; and all
ask you 10 return for the confidence am
about to repose in you, is pledge of secrecy
in the event that you do not Join me in the
project to which have alluded"
Having received every assurance of good
faith on my part he drew his chair closer to
mine, and then looking toward tie door, sug-
gested that had better lick it. got up to
attend to that, and when resumed my seat
beside him, he had lighted a cigar, and was
evidently going to be comfortable. He held
his cigar-case toward NE, and asked:
Cabin?'' --0S'
never had.
NO? Twill tell it to you. In the spring
OF 1856, while the southern border of Ore
gon was ringing with the battles of that men,
orable war between the heroic settlers of the
Territory and the Shasta and Rogue river In
dams, two brothers by the name of Wilson
james and Henry-arrived at Jacksonville.
and getting together small party of hardy
and experienced miners, set out, fully armed.
to prospect for gold along the rivers and
among the broken ranges Of mountains south
ward OF that then prosperous mining town.
The party had been out tor several weeks
meeting W tn but little success, and had iust
lost one OF their number in skirmish with
the Indians, when council was called. and
all but the Wilson brothers concurred in the
opinion that it was hest to return to Jackson
vile and wait for the conclusion of the war.
1.-The Wilson's were of naughty, obsti
nate spirit, thorough in mountain craft, and
brave to recklessness. With them daring
was habit, and danger luxury, and they
held out against the entreaties of their
more prudent comrades, until it was agreed.
finally, that they should have the greater
part of the provisions, ammun ton. etc.
and continue in their search, while the 9TH
ers would retrace their steps by tine shortest
and safest route. -rll... Ia 1a--ta se.
On the morning Of parting James Wilson
rose in his stirrups, and swinging his rifle
aloft with an arm splendidly muscular ex-
claimed: "Good-bye, boys! and good luck
to you, but we can't 20 lack There is gold
somewhere yonder behind that smoky line of
mountains, and we are going to dig it cut,
though all the redskins of the wilderness
stand guard over it. Well come back rich
as kings, boysl or leave our bones to bleach
there; it's glorious battle-ground
This high speech fired the hearts of the re-
treating party for a moment, and some of
them turned, as though they, too, would fain
peril their lives for that without which life is
more bitter than death; but the momentary
fash of heroism went dowD, and, shaking
their heads in denial, they went away, shout
ing hack rude words of cneer. - "
voato Tbo
reachet Jacksonville after many DAYS of
wearisome and perilous travel, and waiting in
vain through frightening months for some
tidings of the Wilson's. Their story is sealed
to all, save me. / owe my own knowledge of
their future progress and final fat to the fact
that we were cousins and confidential friends.
With this word of explanation will give you
SO mucn OF the history Of the brothers as
came to me in the letters of James. written
at San Francisco in the year 1850 baTa
them here"-and, as he talked, be drew forth
a packet of perhaps dozen letters. mnch
worn. creased and soiled, and held them in
his hand-'but have no need to recur to
them. as have read them many times.
swell, from the point of separation the
Wilson's continued in a southeaster,y direc-
ton. They at first traveed with every pre-
caution against surprise, but finally relaxed
their vigilance, as they were seemingly be-
yond the range of the hostile tribes.
AT last they reached green and narrow
valley. walled in by precipitous mountains,
around which meandered, over and among
powders of richly-colorad rock and across
peas OF smooth and shining pebbles, the lin
Pio @a!ers OF snow fed stream, Here they
determined to rest and recruit themselves and
their Jaded animals, while thew ieisurely and
tnoroughly prospected for gold the region i'm
Desiring to remain in tho vo,,or CO.. ,,,o
time, they concluded to put M a ride t e0 Ioe
cabin, which would protect their camn ue eo,,ip
age, and, pierced with loop-hoIes, fortlfasbion
would serve as defense in case Of an Indian
attack. AN'"AA
''On the morning after their arrival Henry
began to cut timber, out of which to con,
struct the temporary home and fortress :.
while James went forth, gun in hand, to re,
plenlsh Their Impoverished larder Abont
dered and started for camp. He reached tho
little stream, perspiring and thirsty. for tb bo