The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1875-01-28
BLIZZER'S WIFE.

The mining camp of Tough Case,
though small, had its eXcitements, as
well as did many camps of half dozen
saloon-power and on the first day of
November, 1850, it was convulsed by the
crisis of ty far the greatest excitement it
had ever enjoyed.
1t was not lucky find," for some of
the largest nuggets in the State had
been taken out at Tough Case. 1t was
not a grand spree, for all sprees at Tough
Case were grand, and they took Ilace
every Sunday. 1t was not a fight, for
when the average of fully developed
fights fell below one a fortnight, some
patriotic citizen would improvise one,
that the honor of his village should not
suffer.
No; all these promoters of delicious
and refreshing tumult were as nothing
to the agitation which, commencing
three months before, had increased and
taken frmer hold of all hearts at Tough
Case until, to-day, it had reached its
culmiDation. Blizzer's wife had come
out, and would reach camp by that days
boat.
Since Blizzer had first announced his
expectation, every man in camp had
been secretly preparing for the event;
but to-day all secrecy was at an end and
white shirts, standing collars, new pants,
black hats, polished boots, combs, brush
es and razors, and even hair oil and white
handkerchief, so transformed the tremu-
lous miners that smart detective would
have been puzzled in looking for any
particular citizen of Tough Case.
Even old Hatchetjaw, whose nickname
correctly indicated the moral import of
his countenance, sheepishly gave Moc=co,
the old Frenchman, an ounce of gold
dust for an hours labor bestowed on
Hatchetjaw's selfasserting red hair.
Bets as to what she looked like were
numerous; and as NO one had the slight
est knowledge on the subject, expert
enced bettists made handsome fortunes
in betting against every description
which was backed by money; for each
man had so long pondered over the sub
iect that his ideal portrait seemed to him
absolutely correct; and an amateur
phrenologist who had carefully studied
Blizzer's Uranium and the usually &C
cepted laws of affinity, consistently bet
his last ounce, his pistol, hut, frying pan,
blankets, and even pack of cards in a
tolerable state of preservation.
Sailors, collegemen, Pixies, farmers,
clerks, loafers and sentamentalists stood
in front of Sim Ripson's store and stared
their eyes into watery redness in vain
attempts to hurry the boat.
A bet of drinks for the crowd, lost by
the non-arrival of the boat on time, was
Just being paid when Sim Ripson, whose
bar-window commanded the river, ex-
claimed:
"She's comin'p'
Many were the heeltaps left in glasses
as the crowd hurried to the door; nu-
merous were the stealthy glances be-
slowed on shirt-cuffs and fnger-nails and
boot-legs. Crosstree, dandyish young
sailor, hung back to regard himself in a
small fragment of looking-glass he car
ried in his pocket, but was rebuked for
his vanity by stumbling over the door
sill-an operation which finally resulted
in his nose being laid up in ordinary.
The little steamer neared the landing
whistled shrilly, snorted deiantly, bur
led her nose in the muddy bank in front
of the store, and showed out plank.
Several red-shirted strangers got of, but
no one noticed them; at any other time
SO large an addition to the population oi
Tough Case would have justified an ex.
ira spree. Sundry barrels were rolled
out, but not even old Guzzle inspected
the brands; barrels and bags of onions
and potatoes were stacked on the bank
but though the camp was sadly in need
of vegetables, no one expressed becoming
exultation.
All ewes were fixed on the steamer-enC
of the gangplank, and every heart bea
wildly as Blizzer appeared, leading ;
figure displaying only the top of big
bonnet. and blanket shawl hanging OIL
one arm. They stepped on the gang
plank, they reached the shore, and thel
the figure raised its head and dropped it
shawl.
Thunder r' calculated Fourteenth
Street, and Immediately retired anC
drank himself into a deplorable condi
ton.
The remaining observers dispersed re
spectfully; but the reckless manner il
which they wandered through mud pud
dies and climbed over barrels and pOtat
sacks indicated plainly that their disap
pointment had been severe.
After another liquid bet had bee
paid, and while sleeves but lately ter
derly protected were carelessly dryin
damp mustachios, an old miner remark
ed " Reckon that's why he left th
States" and the emphatic " You bet
which followed his words showed that th
Tough Caseites were unanimous on th
subject of Mrs. Blizzer.
For she was short and fat, and had
pug nose, AMI a cast in one eye; ht
forehead was low and square, and ht
hair was of color which seemed fug
tive" as the paper-makers say. Ht
hands were large and pudgy, her feet a
forded broad foundations for the stru
ture above them, and her gait was NJ
suggestive of any popular style. Beside
she seemed ten years older than her hu
band, who was not yet thirty.
For several days boots we're allowed {
grow rusty, and chins unshaven, as ii
bows gradually drank and worked then
selves into a dumb forgetfulness of the
lately cherished ideals. But one evenin
during temporary lull in the convers
ton at Sim Ripson's, old Uncle Ben, e
deacon of a New Hampshire churc
lifted up his voice and remarked:
"'Pears to me Blizzer's beginnin'
look scrumptious he used to be Il
shabbiest man III camp"
Through the open door the boys sa
Blizzer carrying pail of water; al
though water carrying, in the Americ;
manner, is not an especially gracef
performance, Blizzer certainly look
unusually neat.
Palette, who had spoiled many CO
vases and paint brushes in the East,
tentively studied Blizzer in detail, a
found his hair was cembed, his sh
buttoned at the collar, and his trows
lacking the California soil which alws
of Arfh hN1