Richland beacon., 1873-06-21

! ing, while am growing old before NV
! time. while rust is corrOding all the fac
ultieS of my mind. Have patience, TO
endure the horrible sameneSS of exist
cncc in this miserable town, in gaiet re-
-pcctahili,y. No, no; cannot endure
simply to be. | must live; must have.
If the society and surroundings crave
are denied me. will make the most of
what is at hand. | will not be immurcd
i'm living tomb. Society is here
chaos. but there shall be balls and gath
crings."
Then John would answer, dreamily.
Happiness is from Within"
Margart fuliilled her threat. Ball sue
cee,led ball. Motley crowds of people
were drawn together, and over the AS
semblages she reigncd queen. AT her
house was found a welcome for all those
brilliant men with whom the mines - ere
infested, who. their imaginations being
i'm the ascendant over their judgments.
suffer Shipwreck early in the voyage of
life, and ever after live by their wits.
be ..oning gamblers and sharperS. For
time, TO save appearances, Hemming
escorted his wife when she went ont,
and tolerated at his own house the
presence of unwelcOme guests, but this
could not last. The time came when he
said to her. that. for the future, he should
neither do one nor the Otncr.
LAS YOU please" said Margaret; and
the evening following, with other escort,
she attended dance. The next morn
ing, Margaret saw that a storm was at
hand, ami she braced herself for its COM
ing.
John said. 81 have interests at Jasper
Creek. shall go there to attend to them,
and shall be absent some time, perhaps all
winter"
VERY WE'LL" said Margaret; "you
cannot 90 too sOOn.'
II shall t,ke Johnny" said he.
Margaret smiled incredulOusly.
John repeated. 81 shall take Johnny"
"Do not think" said she, " to fright
en- me with an lille threat. Let me al
least retain what respect now have for
your good sense. l am not child, to
be frightened into compliance with your
Wishes
at is not an idle threat" returned he ::
.nor do appeal to your fears to control
YOUR actions. 1t is my fixed purpose
that the boy shall go with me, and |
only speak of it that l may not be appa-
) rently guilty Of the meanness Of stealing
him away"
Margaret rose to her feet, and said "ls
it possible, that beneath all that show OF
: homely goodness turks spirit so mean as
to take from miserable woman all that
/ she ha,? That child is miLe, John Hem
ming, not yours-nOt yours. A wander
er and an adventurer, you noted not the
weary months of toll gave to him: the
sleepless nights and patient days, when |
stood alone, with only him, in condition
more desolate than that Of widowhOOd.
Human law is with you, but there is a
higher law that will overtake. and,
with inexorable clutch, squeeze dry the
hearts and lives of those who come iD
between the mother and the child She has
borne"
John was unprepared for this cry of an
guish from his wife. For moment his
: resolution wavered, but the purpose which
: had been months in crystalliZing, could
q not easily be shaken. He could but give
, his reasons for so decided step, which
. he did, gently but firmly: - Margaret
we have no thoughts or hopes in common
: nor can we labor for a common purpose
n hence, it is best we part. 1t is inevitable
), if not to-day, another day. 1t is Gus
tom of the country that wives from the
States shall seek divorces and form
:, new alliances when they come into th'
!, mines. | accepted the common fate TO-
= yOu months SINCE"
- Margaret covered her face with he
. hands, and John continued: "For this
if for 70 other reason, go now; but, be
fore | 90. let me say, that, cOnceding you
: superiority in all things that strike tn
a world, 1 envy not what you are. Coul'
" y |, bv mere effort of the will, place my
,e self on a level beside you, the effort woul.
:, not be made. There is higher know
~ edge than comes from bOOks-a bette
!, grace than is learned i'm society. do no
=, take the oOy to be avenged on you; no
I" !, b cause think you will lead he life OF
=. wanton, for have no such belief; but bt
X cause his character is to be formed, and
'o weuld not have it developed under you
~ Influence, even at your best"
na Margaret sank into a chair. and CAV
az way to flood Of tears. When sh
,;s aroused herself, it was to find that he
lis husband and little Johnny had disal
>, pearcd. A letter she found, cOldly sta
.. ing that her checks would be hOnored {
90 90 the bank for monthly sum sufficient IL
her needs.
-, When Margaret realized that there w;
=, a. a separation, her first impulse was to CO..
~ tinue her wayward course OF life, b!
~. somehow, she could not tell why, Il
IN ,,,- spirit was wanting. Balls were held, b'
IJ. she was not present; and her doors we
g.; closed to all visitors. COmpanionle
II III save her maid-servant of all work, who
Ia Ia stout husband served as warder to h
or- castle, Margaret sat down to cOnsld
on whether there were things in life Tn
~, ~" had so far escaped her notice.
W John Hemming, at the newly disco
N cred mining. camp of Jasper Creek
i, ,hs busy i'm the daytime with his mimi
+ interests, and in the evening with t
o,,a recitatiOns of his son, to whom he
.@ue @ teacher 1.-THE school-master. in the a
nAe sence of children at that precinct, bel
oh abroad)-tried to think himself happy
~ w. tried to think himself content with
U uS inevitable; but the consciousness OF
o" oor inevitable heals few griefs, and John "
orc sad.
az Not sad was little Johnny. Rosy w
,"r ,a,1 health, exuberant with the joyous spir
S;,, "a" of childhood, idolzed by his father,
, ,art pet and special care of the packers a
.iaS miners. life to him so abOunded in pie
',vu o ures that he had no time to grieve for
ona loneliness of his mother. 1t is inher'
"ii' in the nature of man to love children, a
,.u Johnny was the recipient of the affectit
,r ,ros of a camp and SO it was when the d'
'S grew short, near the close of the year g
ILLS the boy fell sick of the mountain few
~ the labOrs of many were forborne
Un .ut business was in part suspended, that
'n' miners might sit watching around ms
,,-o bed, or stand waiting in the hope OF
,erv ,erv opportunity to do him service.
-, Nhnd n