The Placer herald., 1873-03-01
Continued from First Page.)
CHAPTER VI.
CONCLUSION.

Ashton Oh the night of the ball.
His conscience had sm ten him, and he
was actually afraid to meet the consequences
of the proposed alliance into which he had
drawn the unsuspecting Rose.
He had not sufficient strength Of mind to
take her into his family. and it was fear
more than his Conscientious scrrples which
prevented him from making her his mistress.
Accordingly, without word of cxtenua,ion
in favor Of his viciim he | fl her for neigh
boring mining camp, and it was while on
this journey that he came so near meeting
his death
Scotiy, deemng his victim dead. carried
him to the bottom OF IA deep ravine and COW
cred him with brush. Harry awoke to con-
seriousness to find himself exceedingly weak,
with large wound in bis breast, a broken
leg, and covered over with "A mass of brush
from which il appeared almost impossible to
extricatc himself AT last, however, 10y al
most superhuman exer,ions, he succeeded
in relieving himself of his burden. Upon
taking a view Of the situation, he had but
little hope of ever seeing Tie outward world
again. But his wounds were troublesome
AID Should be ATTENDED to. lie crept to "a
small cam which triclled down the rtvne
within few feet Of him, and Transforming,
his shirt into bandages, he began the painful
operation Of dressing his wounds.
This operation completed, he found him
self io,al Y Frustrated; and so remained for
three days, without food, the small stream
being both meat and drink to him. Finally
he found some pine nuts, which served a,
his sole sustenance for three more days, when
\ hunter discovered him and assisted him to
the road where II passing team took him into
own. At his request his deverers main
tanned The strctest stcresy, he wishing as
far as possible, to render happy those whom
he had made miserable.
lie addressed note to the jury, with
what effect we have recorded in the last
chapter.
But, to return to the discharged prisoner
and Rose.
As Nat, accompanied by the woman he
loved, came from the Court House amid the
shouts of a joyful popuace, letter was
handed hm.
y Proceeding, accompanied by Rose, to a
u more private place, he opened the letter and
read aloud:
= "NAT HARLAND:-l have wronged you,
y one of the bravest of men, and have come TO
the conclusion that am rascal, villain.
and not worthy the love Of such girl as
" ! Rose hitlc. She is rs pure as the untroddpn
! snow. Take her, Nat, and may you be
+ happy. shall never see you or her again.
HARRY ASHTON"
Nat said not word but placing the let
ter in Roses hands, he gazed into her dark, ,
! sad eyes, seemingly waiting for an answer
!, to II question: the purport of which she must
y herself divine. She looked up; her eyes met
r his, and assuming an expression which he
had never noticed before, she said
:, "Do you really want me- Nat p
"Want you? Why, God bless you,
q have wanted YOU ever since we were chill
drcn together.
. every, very badly?'
lie made no answer, but pressing her
yielding form to his, he imprinted upon hen
" lips, that bliss of blsses lie holy seal of love
y the betrothal kiss
They remained standing for a few mo
mcnts in the twill GIT, dreaming of their new
born happiness, when Nat spoke
Come Rose, the unhappy mystery has
ut last been solved. Let us proceed at once
It to your mother and make her happy"
. As "A matter OF course, Rose acquiesced
: and before long they had arrived at the ho-
> tel at Ophjr.
u They were met at the door by hundred
u smiling faces of honest miners and greeted
: by as many hearty shouts of joy.
Mrs, Kittle approached, and seeing Rose
leaning upon Mats arm, the picture of youth
{ iul happiness, she paused.
" Nat pronounced one word:
"Mo,her."
The old lady solved the problem at once.
= With happy heart she claspcd them both
Il i'll her arms, and in language more poetic
than elegant, exclaimed:
''Nat de devil have you two been doing?
Nothing much, only making little love. -
"Gimini Christmas! Boys, I'll keep open
house for a vcekl Go and CLEAN out de bar -
The boys referred to, did not require a
Il second invitation; and, before morning, the
Il many snoring forms strewed about the floor
demonstrated the fact that the "boys" had
Il more liquor in them than did the bottles on
he shelves.
Scotty? Ah yes had forgotten
lie was found few days afterward in his
cabin, dead. Near him was small vial
> which but too plainly told his sad fate. Up
on the WALL scrawled with piece of chalk
were the words
"Naf is inuoceut-I stole his knife and
killed Ashton.
Poor fellow Maddened by his furious
passion for Rose, and rendered, by Ashton :
attention, a very iiend, he had, to shield
himself, stolen Nat Harland's knife, and af-
ter performing his bloody work of revenge,
had poisoned himself.
"Let us pity and not condemn him" Nat
said, when he saw him. "Boys give the
poor fellow decent burial. ! will pay for
it,"
Not many days elapsed when Nat and
, Rose were married, and they are, | can safe