Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-12
ruFsD MORNING. No
M + -
NO. 2ss.

en- morse, handle rifle, or enforce disci-
pllne among legion Of semi-savage swine
with any maidens on the frontier. They
were wont jestingly to declare that Min.
ME was ''city lady" and ought to have
been reared in New York. hot in the midst
OF the rugged freedom and coarse plenty
OF the Indian border es@ ss q
That Minnie loved me was well aware.
Her own dear lips had shyIy Whispered
the assurance OF her affection ever and
over again, in answer to q lovers coaxin2
persistency and, apart from the timid con-
tession, should have been blind could
not have seen the Frightening Of her dark
blue eyes, the sudden change Of color as
the unbidden blush suffused her pale cheek
when l entered the Fairlop dwelling. She
was usually silent and reserved, hut with
me she could talk. setting free the Rirlish
tancies, the dainty little Thoughts which
would have met with scantv appreciation
in her own narrow home circle She was
indeed, better educated, fonder Of reading
and reverie. incomparably more rs6ned
than her blunt-spoken, honest sisters, who
were, to do them justice, very fond and
proud of the slender little fairy, whose
deicacy Of aspect and address. contrasted
with their own vigorous exubernuce Of
life. Old Fairlop. widower these six
years past, considered his youngest child
as poor, helpless creature. unfit to battle
with the world. and thought It would be
the truest kindness to provide for her by
uniting her to n warn" husband. And
OF Hiram Lloyd's warmth. In a pecuniary
sense, there could be no doubt. $50
Twenty thousand dollars! Where with.
in year, could hope to lay hands on 50
imposing amount OF cashp Little beyond
q bare maintenance could be looked for
from the produce of my farm, now that
sheep-fold, horse-carral. and cattle.pen
had betn depleted of their four footed ten.
arts. The few fowls and pigs. the maize
fields and the garden that the locusts had
left uniniured. the tobacco and the mad.
der, would ensure livelihood for myself
and the hired servants, white and black.
But as for making fortune by my bucol-
cal skill, that dream for the present was at
an end. Yet fortune--four thousand
pounds sterling L must make before the
year was out, or bid adieu to the hopes of
hailing charming Minnie as my wife.
Mr.. Fairlop was one Of those stubborn
men in whose dull eyes mercy is q weak.
ness. and relenling foible. He might
not absolutely compel Minnie to marry
Hiram Lloyd, Gin America public opinion
iorbids any very violent demonstration Of
parental despotism), but of surety he
would take means effectually to prevent
any further intercourse between his
daughter and myself.-Yes, Imust become
the possessor. within twelve months, Of
twenty thousand dollars, or forever for
felt the hope of calling Minnie mine. Yet
how. without anticipating miracle to be
worked on my behalf, could expect to
become the owner of such q lump Of solid
coin? America is the traditional El Do
RADIO of the speculator. the land where for
tunes grow and dwindle like the gourd of
the Prophet Jonah; and hence. perhaps,
felt less Respondent than might have
done had bten at home In England.
But had too much experience OF the
country of my adoption. to believe that
wealth or competence can be suddenly
and easily acquired on the western side Of
the Atlantic. For commercial succenG !
was without the ladder wherewith to
climb. Politically was stranger In the
land. One way, and one alone, seemed
practicable. One ringing. tempting word
sounded in my ears as lay asleep. And
that word was-gold. Close by, among
the sierras, for hundreds and thousands Of
miles to west and south, to north and east,
gold and silver were to be had for the
gathering, for those whose luck or skill
guided them Alright. had talked with
too many miners not to know the dark as
well as the bright side Of the gold seekers
venturesome life--the chill Of disappoint-
ment, the broken health, the destitution,
that were the need of many an adven-
ture. who hogan high of heart. and strong
of mind. 1t was a lottery, with terrible
percentage of blanks. Hunger, fever,
flood, and the risks from white outlaws
and red-skinned robbers, levied. as l
knew, heavy toll on the volunteer army
of diggers. But if there were many
blanks. there were some prizes, dazzling.
superb baits that drew after them the
minds of the covetOus, and peopled Rush
after Rush. in the effort to grow rich by a
fortunate find. had spoken with men
who, in day, had been lifted from pow
erty to opulence, and had heard them de-
scribe the fierce Joy, the half-incredulous
exultation of that triumphant hour. Hith-
erto had resisted the allurements Of the
gold diggers calling, but it had occurred
TO me, more than once. to traverse the
hills in company with professional pros
pectors, men, whose restless lives were
passed in the quest for buried treasure,
and who, as we rode along, had pointed
out sundry spots, as all but certain TO har-
Dor the precious metals. Now was not,
naturally, OF a speculative turn of mind,
and it took the collapse Of my modest
scheme OF acquiring II substantial income
by agriculture. coupled with Johnathan
Fairlup's declaration that his daughters
bridegroom must be prepared with twen-
ty thousand dollars on the wedding day,
to induce me to turn my back on the reg.
uar industry of a farmers life, and 10
cast in my lot with that Of the toiling
thousands, who strive to wrest from the
stony wilderness its hidden riches. | set
to work. then, manfully. having no com.
mon inducement to sustain my energies,
and being young, strong. and Injured to
the labors which await the settler in the
backwoods, and having withal retentive
memory for the hints and warnings which
my mining acquaintances had let drop.
met with q eater success than often &C.
crues to beginner. Within fifteen miles
of my home at Burnt Flat was partially
explored region of ravines and gullies,