Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-12
:: al sSe ga e hired handel built ),

Nitn xhe aid az hired handel built q
7 an ,AcroSs 6Inountain stream, never yet
known to run dry-in the sultry season, set
ND cradle. ssieves, and the other rude plans
ofthe solitary adventurer, aud erected
A.hanty OF bark and pine saplings to serve
as a shelter bynight. This done. ] sent
back nv men to the farm, and applied
myself seriously to the almost hopeless en-.
tsfpsise. Not that my hard exertion-
and worked very hardware unreward.
ed.-The daily yield of gold-dust washed
from the sands of the river, was rarely
less than one, occasionally of three, four,
or eve ounces. Twice, among the broken
quartz stones of q reef, ! came upon a
pocket Of nuggets. the net value of which
Amounted TO several hundred dollars, and
often, when seeking for gold, | met with
unexpected Jumps Of virgin silver, well
worth the cleaning. But all did not 60
smoothly with me, in spite of those happy
sccidenfs. My dam was preached by
sudden flood, and il cost me nineteen days
10 repair the damage, which the turbd
water had done between sunset and moon
rise. / sank two shafts. and never extract
ed from either of them rs much gold as
would make a lady's wedding ring. Twice
HcdTQ u pdUluCi SuhiithS ubn
around nv door of tough bark, and an
other time / ran some risk OF being rob-
bed and maltreated. If not murdered, by
. party Of Indian plowlers who infested
nv lonely station, begging. Dragging.
them off with my rifle. made some
money, however, and on my occasional
visits to the township in search of provis-
ions. was warmly greeted by my we'll
.wishers, and much encouraged by Minnie.
who had the spice of romance in her nature
which is seldom, think, lacking in that
OF woman, and who was at first very
confident and sanguine as to her true low
er's speedy and complete success.-Ihere
were croakers, however, who shook their
heads. and pithily remarked that twenty
thousand dollars could not, like peanuts
or cloud berries, be picked up every
where.
The prophets of evil, in the long run,
seemed likely to prove themselves accu-
rate, for month after month slipped by;
Autumn gave place to Winter, Winter to
Spring. and was far from my goal. Mr..
Fairlop began to give ominous hints that
the day Of grace was almost spent, and
Hiram Lloyd's hateful shadow frequently
darkeped the door Of the rich settler; while
Minnie, who had learned to look on my
undertakings as all but hopeless. grew
pale and thin, and there was at times
weird, wan glance in her dear eyes,
hectic crimson on her pale cheek, which
bodied no good. Even old Fairlop saw it,
and gruf1y told me that his daughter was
a"fretting herself ill., and uselessly. Still
he would not relent, neither would de-
sist, 80 long as strength was spared to me.
from tolls that every day grew more re-
len,ing. At last acknowledged to my
self that che task was sheer impossibility
/ had but short week or two left out OF
my year of probation, and little more than
one-third OF the large sum was ,forthcom-
ing. The rest lay hidden in the rugged
depths of the sierra. Yet, desparingly,
half mechanically, l labored on, deaden-
ing thought by downright bodily exhaus-
ton, and adding, every day. to the shin
ing heap that lay buried beneath the rude
hearth Of my howell.
It was now some time since had WIS.,
tied either Burnt Flat or Fairlop's Clear
inQ.--The torrents were full OF melted
SHOWS, and the bride road difficult. while
was averse TO discontinue my toll, even
for few hours. But three days remained
TO me, and, unless in tina, brief spece some
extraordinary strobe of good fortune
should befall me. farewell to all my bright
day dreams Of happy life with Minnie.
had laid down to sleep, worn out with
toll and slept soundIy, wrapped in the but.
falo robe that did duty for a bed, my head
pillowed on my saddle, and my weapons.
rifle and revolver. by my side. was
awakened, abruptly, by the sound of my
own name, SO it seemed to me, uttered by
a female voice, unlikely as was such a
contingency in that remote nook.
IcoxrINUED TOMORROW