The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-23
THE MINERS STORY.
[From the New york olIppar.l

good a fellow as ever lived, and as true
as steel. Well, it ehanced (Pye often
wondered ii 1t is chance, or what it.
really is, that directs a fellow in these
matters )-anyhow, chance OF luck, or
something, gave US a lift; and, after a
hard seasons work, l, all by myself, one
day, made rare strike, and came full
upon a pocket" A pocket as perhaps
you know, is miners term tor sur
face deposit OF gold. It's a very rare
thing to come across, and, when / did
strike it, it seemed to knock me all in a
heap, and first sat down and cried like
baby. 1 was all alone with the 'ind,'
but, of course, wasn't me an enough to
crowd my partner out of his rights; SO
called him, and we 'panned out the dust
share ana share alike. That very night
we disposed OF the whole pile, receiving
the yellow boys inie exchange, and found
ourselves the proud possessors of "a cool
ten thousand apiece, all told. Well,
was for pulling up stakes, and going
back to civilization at once, but Bill
would not hear to my proposal for him
TO accompany me; SO, MS L was deter
mined on going, we shook hands ana
parted. There was something bright
and shining in BilPs eyes, and a suspi-
cious moisture in my own, as we pledged
each other in a foaming egg-nog, with q
sad fare thee well.'
81 don't know but I would have re-
Tented, even then, and stayed behind;
but before my minds eye there arose the
vision of taIr, tender, face, violet eyes,
golden hair, and all that sort of thing,
you know. Twas woman, OF course.
There's always woman at the bottom
of every mans trouble; at least, THAT'S
the general and convenient cry; but 1T
t,.tI,, hain a nj o
woman. 1t isn't in nature to under
stand exactly how they are responsible
for all our sins and misdemeanors-es-
pecially as we're the stronger sex, and
generally follow the bent OF our own in
clinations. Certainly, if it is true, the
women have the worst Of 1T. But, if they
are always to blame for every foolish
and wicked act committed by the mascu-
line gender, don't see but that makes
it all plain as regards free moral agents !;
for if the women force or lead us to do
that which we do not desire to do, then
men can not be rational and responsible
beings-at least, that's the way 1T looked
10 me when l tried to reason it out; but
most likely made a muddle of it. Men
generally do when they attempt to argue
on the subject OF womankind.
sBut there was lIJtle GIRL, away off
| l. II w
six mouths before had promised to be-
come my wife just as soon as was in a
situation to provide for her comfortably.
You see, in those days was little ver-
dant, maybe, and actually believed that
woman was going to do all she promised.
think If any man about that time had
yenLlred to insinuate that the little
woman that was dearer to me than all
the gold ON the lace OF Gods footstool
! was going TO 60 back on what she had
promised me, and break her plghted
word to me, I-Well-I rather think the
man who dared 10 breathe such hint
| WoulPt attempt it second tlmel
"You see, know better now. Eve
learned the lesson of life pretty
| thoroughly since then, and Ive found
out how long time six months Is
| how long time for u woman 10 be true;
and-yes-now that think it over, it's
a longer time still for mani Somehow
| or other, don't believe there's 80 much
| difference between the TWO sexes, aNel
| all.
"Well, L lett old Bill leaning on pick
ak, looking sadly after me, as l said
good-by to the scene OF our late labors,
and, striking out for the nearest town,
I turned my back on the old diggings
forever. had long, lonesome journey
before me, for in those days there was
no Pacific Railroad, and travelling was
not the easy thing it is now. A great
deal OF my journey must be performed in
numbering old stages, to reach WHICH
must first travel some thirty miles on
loot. My route lay over rough and hilly
roads, and for miles and miles not q
human habitation within sight. / seWed
UP my gold-my whole little fortune
inJoa 1eathern belt, which l wore fol
safety about my waist, under my outer
clothing, and, equipped with only q
valise as baggage, and a fine new pair Of
pistols as ballast, l was ready for any
emergency.
LAS for that money, I'd fight to the
death to keep 1t safe, for it was the nest
egg from which all my future gains were
to be produced-the gold with which
was to purchase my future happiness
my blue-eyed bride. In those old days
L had little knowledge of the world.
did not know how only the highest bid
der wins the prize; that money alone
can bring us happiness, and all doors
open to golden keys, even the sacret
portal of a woman's heart. And when {
man does know, wonder If he is any
better any purer, for the knowledge
Slowly l trndged along the rough ant
lonely road. 1 was very tired and hun
CRY, and consequently discouraged anC
blue when, just at dusk, l approached
a building which bore the appear
auce Of country tavern. 1t strucl
me at once as a gloomy place, stu
ated on the edge of the forest, ant
instantly there few into my mind hun
dred tales of wayside murder and rob
! berry in desolate inns. But l was tot
| tired and hungry to resist the tempta
ton, of supper, and SO l paused at the
wide, low entrance. just then there
fell upon my ears terrible shrek, fol
lowed by another and another, and wo
mau's voice, imploring mercy. Without
ceremony rushed inJo the building. Ii
one corner OF the room crouched u Cir
Of probably eighteen or twenty. Her
long, dark hair fell over her slender
form, and her large, frightened eyes
peered forth wildly from its tangles
| Over her stood a burly rufian, who, with
horsewhip in his huge iland, was rain
| ing blows upon the helpless girl. Ny
blood boiled. With one bound i 'sprang
forward, and catching the whip from his
hand, 1 tossed il through the open door.
Hike d wild beast he turned OH ME; but
L stood boldly on the defense, When, to
Imy astonishment. he changed his threat
lening manner into obsequlous seryility
and exclaimed: ''
ss.Not SO fast, eomradel Why, blast
my eyes, III 1t ain't the cove tffat found
the golden egg over ~ The gulch. Which
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