The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-10-22

the characteristic and dcscrip
tive name Of Old Grip. and tina
the daughter was seldom seen out
side the cabin.
Weyland's curiosity was ex
cited, and the fair girls face ha,
made inetfaceble impression upol
him. A day or two later he stroll
ed in vicinity Of old Grips cabin
with a half-acknowledscd hope O
again seeing Nell. 1t was 4 cabir
Of the usual rough sort, but strong
ly fastened about The doors ant
windows, nobody seemed stirring
in or around it, and, disappointed
Weyland passed on. But . further
walk of q dozen rods brought bet
ter news, for Nell was before hia
her arms full Of broken Woo
which she had evidently gathered
and was carrying to the cabin
The load was heavy for her. and
she was painting with glowing g
cheeks reddened still more: bu,
she was about to pass with avert
ed eyes, when he stopped her.
sim afraid you have overload
ed YOURSELF he said pleasantly.
but respectfully "lct me carry /;
for you"
80, no, sir" in q low, musical
voice, with no touch of the mining
dialect in it.
90, yes," he persisted, and he
took the mass of sticks from her
tired arms. -
81 was only taking them to the
cabin" size said, passively yield
ing, land that is only 4 step. But
they were rather heavy, I confess,
and l am greatly obliged to you"
Acquaintance progress rapidly
outside the lettering lines Of civili-
zation ; and besides, in the case of
Weyland and Nell, each apprecia-
ted the unusual boon Of congenial
society. They met freely, and
quite naturally, almost daily.
They walked together, sang and
talked, and fell in love,as either
might have known they would in
the beginning.
cid Grip, now known TO Wey-
lrnd as Robert Carter was past
fathoming. He pleaded poverty
on all of the few times Weyland
convcrsed with him he lived
poorly, and did no work and he
seemed to take little notice of the
intimacy that had sprung up be-
tween the young people. Indeed
Wcyland seldom saw him.
"Father was once in afhuent cir
cumstanccS," Nell told her lover,
sand I was carefully reared and
educated. Then he lost his money,
and came here to the mines, hop
ing that good luck would regain
wealth for him, but he did not do
we'll. He became moroso and
strange. Indeed, l sometimes
think that his reverses have at:
fected his mind. He locks himself
in a room in the cabin nearl y ev-
cry dsy, and does not allow me to
enter, or to know what he does
there. The bare sight Of gold ore,
too, seems to make him wild and
irrational"
Finally Weyland asked the IA
theirs permission to marry Nell,
and gained it easily enough for he
seemed 10 care very little about it.
The day was fixed for the simple
wedding, and the simpler prepara-
tions proceeded without seeming
to awaken much suspicion in the
parental breast. He locked him
self in bis room as usual, and paid
no attention to the matters which
so absorbed the young peoples at
tcntion.
One day Weyland burst into
the cottage considerably excited.
See, Ncll," he said, throwing
huge nugget of almost solid natu'
raj gold on the rude table; "1'vc
been worrying because I had no
bridal gift for you. Coming here
through the canon l found this
nugget-heavy, solid, yellow mon.
ster he is too-worth q thousand.
A rich bridal gift, indeed, con.
siderng the surroundings; and
Nel!'s eyes sparkled with delight
as she gave her lover a kiss OF
thanks. But the most marked ef;
feet was upon Carter, whose eyes
seemed dazed and bewildered by
tbe shiny nugget. After gazing
at it in a fascinated way for a few
moments, be touched it carcssing
ly, and finally hugged it to hi;
bosom, as one would q much-loved
child. The others watched bis
movements curiously, but when
he saw their scrutiny, he seemed
70 master his feelings by an effort
Afterwards they talked Of other
matters, and then went on an er
rand to the shanty grocery, 9
quarter of mile distant.
"That nugget is so valuable
that l am afraid Of robbery" saio
Carter, when they were alone
the strange light in his eyes once
more. ave had better secrete It,
VERY WE'LL" assented Weyland
"although nobody saw me hnc
it,"
IN, ,; .~.,l T,nto, h,,.