The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1873-09-25
Gold at | p. IN. Ill "a
A Western Romance.

II there had not been something good aud
true at the base Of the literary idea which
placed . laurel on the head of Mr. .ABret
Harte, and sbowsred gaudy tbougS less
lasting fowerson score of imitators, II had
not appealed 80 warmly to the sympathles
OF the public, nor met with praise that
was ct one time almost irenzied. Briefly
the theme We mention was that of hero C
seIf-sacrifice glowing through nature out
wardly rugged, perhaps debased, and oil
tho brighter from Its tswdry surroundings.
It wss not that the spasmodic virtue excused
the life OF vice, but rather that the vice
made brighter the virtue, as the frovzy hair
OF gypssy adds ten fold to the gleam Of
her brilliant eye.
We are led to this utterance by q story
which reaches us from San Jose, California,
and which better pens might fail to deal
with as tsnderly as 1t merits. They were
cousins, 1t seems, carried west by their pa
rents 10 the great geld excitement Of 40
Fate threw them early apart, and upon
their resources. They could not we'll have
fallen lower than they did. Whether from
simple necessity, or from the evil bent Of
unregenerate minds-that we may leave to
the theoiog ogians-msnheod found ] i'm . ras-
oal OF the worst border type, and Ellen
seeking her bread among the lowest OF a
class that seem to have lost every trace OF
wOmsnbood In their horrible trade. A few
months aso, and they met again. There
were no questions asked OF their past lives,
no inquiries ss to character aud occupation,
but jim took quietly back to bis hovel a
welded wife, and the woman strove in her
unlea,ued way, to make him both help-mste
and drudge.
There was no romance about their life
God save the mark! Jim still stole for q
living, and the cupboard was often bars
and their stomachs empty; aud not unfrr'
quently there were angry words, and curses
and may be blow, but still they were not
weary Of their partnership. The end came
quickly. Some unusually daring robberies
in the vicinity had reused the Vigi.ence
Committee, aud Jim found 1t necessary 10
absent himself for short time from that
section of the country. Ellen could not &C.
compsny, for q reason that brides Of many
months standing may guess at. In hs ab/
sencs the Regulators, convinced that many
Of their horses had gone into Jim's hands,
got hold OF Ellen and gave her the choice
OF hanging or informing them of ber husi
bands retreat. She had only six hours to
decide, but she did not aluch. The sun was
Fastening seaward, and death was near,
when word came from Jim by . dirty half
breed:
Don't bert the gal ON lie bring yer horses
tomorrer. Jim Welch.
The letter that gives the story tells o.
Jim's reckless manner as he rode into camp
with the sd critters that wasn't worth
steaiin', no how" and how he went 10 bis
death with curse on his lips and q chew
of tobacco in his mouth; but 9; says nothing
further Of the woman. 1t 10 probable that
she was token care Of, for even Judge
Lynch's court is kindly when out OF session.
1t 10 a harsh story and more plsinly told
than we have given It, and 10 is doubtful u
QUE Of the rough participants ssw IN It any,
ttius ont ot the common way. Yet many a
famous epic lacks lts simple pa.bos.