The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-09
AN OREGON ROMANCE.

AN OhEGON ROMANCE.
The lives of the pioneers in the re-
mote mining districts of California were
generally devoid of romance or excite
ment, save that Witnessed at the gaming
tables, and to relieve the monotony of
mountain life they generally passed a
4 few months IN Frisco (San Franeisco).
or soiourned for a season with the Web
feet, otherwise known as Oreoonians.
Mr.. Charles Bradbury, of Indian Town.
northern California, had been fortunate
IN mining, and as winter was approach
| ing, when little could be done in his
claim, he left it in care of his partners
and set out to visit a relative who resi-
| ded in the Willamette valley some three
hundred miles distant. A party had
been made up to cross the Siskiyou. on
i the summit of which the snow already
lay deep. This, it was understood,
would be the last party which would
undertake the passage of the noun
tains before they should be closed for
the winter.
Near the time of starting they were
/ Joined by young man named Alfred
/ Boise, whose parents resided in Oregon.
! He had recently been suffering from in
| disposition and was cautioned not to un-
/ dertake the trip, which was sufficiently
/ arduous even for the most vigorous
I but his anxiety overcame his prudence
and he set out with the others. Before
/ the summit was reached he became
/ quite exhausted, and had It not been
/ for the kindly assistance of Bradbury
| he must have persisted. From this oc-
currence they became strong friends,
and at young Bosses urgent solicitation
! Bradbury accompanied him to bis home
( near the head waters of the Umpqua,
where he was cordially welcomed by
the family. A sister of his friend,
named Adaliza, was a charming girl of
seventeen or eighteen summers, and at
once won the admiration of the suscepti-
bic Californian. His stay was length
ened from the few days which he at
first puTposed remaining, to several
weeks. Not wishing, however, to pro-
long his visit to q visitation, he bade
his new-found friends a reluctant adieu
and continued on his way to the Villa
mette. Here he purchased a fine horse
and not unfrequently tested his speed
with that of the best horses in the
neighborhood, and always to his entire
satisfaction.
Bradbury remained a few weeks
with his relatives, but the spirit of un-
rest possessed him, and he soon turned
I
that his business at Indian Town de-
manded his presence. His business,
however, was not so pressing but that
he turned aside to halt awhile at the
rancho Of his friends. the Boises. His
admiration for the fair Adaliza had
deepened to the tender passion, and
this fact he was not slow to declare.
But she replied;
'' You oaIifornians like nothing bet
ter than 60 come here and make love to
us web-foot girls, and when you have won
our hearts, you go off to your cabins
aud your claims and never come back. =
J" But" said Bradbury, 81 viii
marry you before go back, and when
have provided home for you, You
shall come to me, or I viii come after
you"
But she would give no direct answer,
but remained on very f. iendly terms
with him, and they often rode together
80 the neighboring village and to other
points about the valley.
One day they were slowly riding to-
ward home, and Bradbury was urging
his suit, and pleading for an answer to
end his suspense. They were nearly q
mile from the rancho, near which grew
two large live oak trees, standing velg
near each other. Said Adaliza
eff you viii pass those twin live
oaks before 1 do, I will go with you to
California some day"
Bradbury prided himself upon his
forsemanship, ssand accepting the chal
Ience with q wave of the hand and a Ia
comic, I'm your man dashed spurs
| into his steed and sped like an antelope
over the plain. The girl was taken by
surprise at his sudden movement, but
gave her horse the word, and he too
/" stretched neck and nerve till the hoi-
| low earth rang" 1t has already been
intimated that Bradbury was we'll
mounted: 1: his companion was no less so,
and they rode on as only those can ride
/ who are at home in the saddle.
Bradburys sudden movement had
/ given him the advantage by few rods,
but he soon realized that it would be no
easy matter to maintain it. The girl
was urging her horse by whip and voice,
/ and having been the winner IN many
hOtly contested race, he bent to his
/ work in true race-horse style, reach
/ ing long, breathing loud like crevlced
wind blows"
Little more than one-half the distance
was passed, when Bradbury became
aware that his competitor was pressing
1 hard upon his flank, and he knew that
| his weight was b ginning to tell on the
i noble beast, which seemed to realize the
value of the stakes for which he ran.
For q quarter of a mile he held his own;
| Miss Boise, however, coming once or
/ twice very near. but not maintaining
her position st Bradbury's side. The
goal was almost reached and he was
confident OF victory. But he had not
counted on his opponents skill as q
race-rider. She had restrained her
horse for the final dash and now came
on with a burst Of speed that placed her
/ fairly at Bradbury's side and seemed
sure to give her the victs ~. Indeed,
the victory seemed already hers, for
with long and steady leaps her horse
was sweeping past at the moment they
were to pass the goal. At this period,
/ however the fore-feet of Bradbury s
! horse went down IL the burrow of a
gopher, he stumbled upon his knees,
the oirth parted and Bradbury went
over the hokse's head and into the air
I like a rocket, landing beyond the goal
and a yard or two ahead OF his fair
competitor. Striking upon the mellow
earth he performed a series of evolu-
tions, but regained his feet with no IN
jury save a pretty severe shock from
The abrupt manner of dismounting.
he had sufficient presence of mind to
excIaim With his first breath - be-
heve you're mine T. while Adaliza, rein
ing in her steed with q steady hand,