The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-10-05
NELLIE WILDL0VE.
ArnI. Of EnrIr California.

NELLlE UIDDLONEs d .
A Tale Of EarIy California. 4 i'.
The Stockton stage-coach, drawn by
four-in-hand, was slowly vending its
way through one of the canyons of the
Sierras in the Southern Mines one beau
tiful May afternoon, loaded down with
a party of Eastern tourists, on their
way TO the Big Trees and Yosemite, BY
way of Sonora. The driver, q genial,
communicative individual, who had
driven on that line for years, glanced
around upon the passengers who sat
Uoon the top of the coach, and speaking
tc one of them, who, although not one
OF the tourists, had made himself very
agreeable by his chatty anecdotal style
oficonversation, asked if he remem-
bered the locality through which they
were passing.
al should say l did, Sam, for l
mined in this bar three years during the
big excitement in these diggings," =" re-
piled the individual addressed.
"Hudson's Bar was before my time, .
said the driver, as he threw his long
lash over the back of the near wheel
horse.
'EYes, you commenced mining IN i5F,
and the bars palmy days were in "a, "
returned the other.
"Perhaps the gentlemen wouldn't
mind listening TO that Wildlove yarn,
Bill, and as we've got an hour orsO be-
fore sundown it win help to pass the
time" insinuated the driver, VINO hop
ed to draw his friend out and keep his
passengers awake, as well as relieve
himself of the sometimes senseless ques-
tions propounded by his outsiders. y
"If you have no objection, sir, we
would like to hear the story" said a
Boston merchant who occupied seat
next to the Californian.
SWELL" commenced the passenger
address ed, "yOu probably noticed a
short distance back collection of de-
serted huts, once a thriving mining
camp, filed with men of every character
from all parts of the world, seeking
that az sbsorbing object of the day
gold. The town for it boasted of a
FBeila Union Hotel, Post-office, and a
score of saloons, besides the houses,
cabins and places of business of the in
habitants-was called Hudson's Bar,
and did not enjoy the most enviable
reputation for law and order.
"During the spring of '53 there came
to Hudson's Bar two persons from no
one knew where, who eXerted a great
influence upon the community almost
as soon as they alighted in. front of the
hotel. One of them was a woman, and
such womani Beauty was no name
for the charms she possessed. A deep
blue eye that sparkled like a snakes
and seemed to look you through and
through; n face that was that of a child s
in appearance, surrounded by waving
yellow hair, that hung like a cascade OF
amber over her shoulders, which, like
the rest of her form, were beautifully
rounded and of delicate mold HeI
companion was man whose manner
indicated the man of the world, and with,
al a sharper, one of those men who, in
cities, have the prefix of confidence to
their names. His general appearance
was not at all prepoSsessing to the read
erof human nature, although he was
well calculated to operate successfully
in his profession. The residents of the
bar discovered shortly after their arriv.
al that the names of the two travellers,
as written upon the hotel register, were
George Wildlove and lady, but as
women were seldom designated ladies
in those days, the hotel keeper said he
guessed he meant she was his wife.
"The two new arrivals soon came
out in their true colorS. He was a gam
bier, and she fiirt and coQuette In
the wild, free life of the mines such
things were taken as a matter of course
aud hundred rough men would have
given all they possessed for a smile
from Nellie Wildlove. The influence
the woman eXerted over these mer
caused many a dollar to flow into hel
husbands faro-bank at the Arcade, fol
she generally wound up lively cOnver,
sation with some Missourian or South
erner, who owned a paying claim below
The dam, by telling him that no one
knew what might happen if George:
bank was broken, leaving her victim Il
infer that if he succeeded in breaking
the financial venture of Wildlove, al
elopement might be in order. Day:
rolled on, however, but Wildlove's af
fairs only grew more prosperous, al
though his layout was surrounded nigh
and day by a crowd of men eager t
break that bank, and see what Mis-.
Yellowhair would do about it; but the
crash never came, coppered Jacks anC
three-time-loser Notwithstanding.
"Two young men had been working
together for some time on the bar in ,
good claim about one mile from town
and had, of course, heard of the sensa
ton OF the day. They had seen Nelli,
WildlOve and wondered. From won
dering they had begun to talk with eacl
other about her, for they were no ex
ception to the general rule, and ad
mired the fascinating little beauty
Then, both being men of superior sense
and education, they began to investi
gate-for neither of them believed tha
she was the wife of George Wildlove.
"When Henry Clamor and VIII New
ers commenced any thing, they gener
ally carried it through; and, working
together, they became certain in thei
own minds thst the object of their ad
miration was unmarried. Nevers final
lv asked her point-blank one night at
hall whether he was not right, and sh,
frankly replied that he was, at the sam
time giving him such q glance that lef
no doubt of the truth of the reply
Neyers repeated the conversation L
Clauor. who was wild harum-scarun
fellow, full of animal spirits, and VIII