The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-26
CHARLIE'S PROTEGE.
A Curious Adventure in the Mines.

Have any of my readers been so for
tunate Tor unfortunately, as to have ex-
perienced all the vicissitudes and dan.
gers of a miners life If so, they will
know how to sympathize with my he
70, in the following little ''o'er true
tale.''
Charley Carroll was one of the most
frank and Open-hearted young fellows
that it has ever been my good fortune
to meet. Always in good spirits, al
ways ready to assist comrade, he was
a prime favorite with all the better
class of miners that composed the null
titude in our camp. :
Charlie was d tall and handsome
man, of very muscular build, and
great strength he carried six-shoot-
er, as did all the rest, but he very sell
dom had occasion to bring it into re-
QUESTION, being quicker to use his fists
than to draw a deadly weapon.
One noontime, as Charlie and
were on our way to our tent, chatting
him, as usual, in regard to letter he
had received a few days before, and
about which he would not speak, the
young man turned suddenly to me. and
said
''See here, my old friend, am in an
awful state of mind, and must tell
you the whole story. AS soon as we
reach our tent, will remove all cause
for your chaff, and you will see why
am worried, and why [ never have
talked of the letters which | have re-
received
M 1n I'M,
silence, and after having finished our
coffee and lighted our pipes, my chum
commenced as follows:
''My dear boy, have often told you
that | came here to win gold for set
purpose, and i'm redemption of a vow.
i will explain my meaning.
sin the City Of New York, there is
an old man who is possessed Of large
wealth, but more then all, he is pos
sessed of lovely daughter. Edith KEEL
sey, the daughter Of old Otto Kelsey,
is my af1ianced wife, All that human
art in coaxing and persuasion could do,
has been done both by Edith and me ;
but in vain. Her father was inexora-
BILE, and at last, with my darling girls
promise of fidelity, I left New York
for these fields in the hope of q lucky
stroke of fortune, for unless I can
bring gold, old Kelsey swears 1 shall
not have Edith.
'Well, am here, and as you know,
I have not been unsuccessful. [ have
prospered, and in a few months time
can return to New York rich man.
"But here comes the rub
''Edith writes>lne that her perfidious
old sire has selected a husband for her
among the numerous wealthy ward
politicians of the neighborhood. The
poor child writes me, in despair. and
begs me to hasten home and save her.
She says that the man of her father S
choice is a rough, uneducated rascal,
and that all he has to recommend him
his money =
II have just written to Edith to tell
her that can hardly come just at this
moment, but [ have enclosed a draft
for good round sum Of money, beg
ging her to buy a ticket: and come on
here, and that if she finds that impos-
sible, to run away from her father for
the time, until can reach New York. -
ssThis is the course have followed,
what do you think of it g.
I pondereq over the matter, and
said:
*'My dear Charley think you could
have gone and left affairs here to me.
Can you not go as it is =
':No," he said, l sent my letter to
her over a week ago, and we might
only pass one another on the way.
There is not much risk for her. She
will get acquainted with some miner s
wives on the trip, and they will tell
her how to manage. Oh, I am not
afraid for my brave girl!''
This he said with apparent emphasis.