The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-04-04
AT THE FOOT OF GENTRlEs' TRAIL.

mate and bosom friend was Charley
Despard. He was of very good fami-
lily, but not very well of, and when
our college career was concluded, and
took my seat in Bates & Blog's of
flee to court the Goodies Themis, he
went off to push his fortune in the
Golden State.
Charley was a queer sort of fel-
low-capable of great exertion, but
deplorably lazy, always making good
resolutions, and never carrying them
into execution; without an atom of
vice in his constitution, and yet al
ways getting into scrapes. After be
went to California, we corresponded
pretty regularly, and from h,s letters
learned that he was experimenting
in a new business every other week.
Now he was in soft goods store in
San Francisco; then he ran paper
in Denver; then he drove stage be-
tween Auburn and Forrest Hill; then
he was billiard maker in San Fran
cisco; and finally he told me he was
in for big thingIn gold mines at Green
Flat, and inclosed his photograph to
show how he looked in his working
clothes. l could scarcely recognize
my nstty friend of former days in the
lanky figure pictured on the card
board. A slouch cap perched on the
back of his head, wisp of handker-
chiet tied around his neck, while hir-
suit appendages of Samsonic dimen.
sions covered and encircled the place
where his face ought 10 have been.-
But his big eyes were there, looking
out Just as true and honest as ever,
and so knew it was Charley. even
though he did wear big boots, and
carried six-shooter slung at his side.
He stuck to the mines all spring
and summer, and his letters were full OF
hope and radiant with success, until at
once they stopped suddenly, aud
nothing more was heard of him. |
was wondering what had become OF
him, whether he had come 10 grief
and was ashamed to write me bad
news, or whether a worse fate bad
overtaken him in the wilds of the far
West, and made inquiries of some OF
his friends, but none of them could
tell me anything about him, so l was
fain to sit still, hoping against hope
that he would turn up.
One evening | was all alone in my
room. watching the Pickering light OF
the fire play over each familiar article
of furniture, too lazy to get up from
my chair to light the gas, when /
heard violent ring at the door, pres
emily figure stood in the doorway
At first did not recognize my old
chum, but when 1 heard the accent.
of his voice my fears and doubts all
faded away, and l welcomed him as
one come, back from the dead.
"Why, Charley. is that you? Where
eral ?"
"Yes, it is me. Got in from Cali
fornia this morning. Things is first
rate"
"Why, what swell you are. VIII,
didn't you come right here? Where
have yon been? l know there.
something up"
Guess you're about right. Hit il
thar, pard. You bet"
And then he relapsed into silence
and demolished a lavender kid glove
in trying to take it off.
"What's up, old man? Let's have
it. Go ahead"
"Well, / amt right sure what's up
I've struck lead, and it looked NJ
end of good, and now when l tak'
the dust to the store it won't SELL"
u lease to interpret; and bear il
mind that l am not so learned in min
ing lingo as you are"
"Well, then, here goes. But i
didn't 60"
Hard up? You don't look like it.
: "No. Got half million to m,
credit with Clews"
"Woman ?'
"Yes, and she's the best little wo
man IN the world-at least l though
she was" And here the other kio
glove burst up in most decided man
, ner.
"Now, see here; you have come t.
a professional man, and if you wan
solace and advice make clean breas
of it, and tell me all your story"
"Wcll, then, you know my last let
ter to you was from Green Flat, tn
one with the photo"
ayes, I got it. There you are
. over the mantle-piece, in the custom
i of the period"
"That mine turned out real goot
thing. We washed out about twent
: thousand in two months, and then W
). got rid of the concern to 'Frisca
company at million and half, SO
am pretty happy that way"
? "Glad to hear it. But about he
ladyship."
Veil, when the thing was done
: and the money was at the First Natior
= al, we all went off to the bay, an
9 Irish Ned got shot one night. II
y lived just long enough to make hi
will, and split his share between m
and old Tom Norris"
|. Il regret the untimely departure {
It Irish Ned, but congratulate you tha
be was able to dispose of his propert
. satisfactorily. But the lady ~
"I'm comm to her. There was
lot of legal foolin' after Ned's deaf
!, about the inquest and the probate {
his will, and got tired of loafng q
Frisco, SO made tracks mp countr
and had look around the Flat. Tha
g was rather worse in the way of po
f son, SO one morning I went and too
g Bucker out of the corral, hitched hir
up, got on top, and set off for slasl
e ing gallop. All of a sudden I took
notion I'd never seen the Yosemit