Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-04-27
CHARLES PROTEGE.
A Curious Adventure in the Mines.


Have any of my readers been so for.
tunate Tor unfortunately, rs to have ex.
perienced all the vicissitudes and dam
gers of a miners life If 50. 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 a cOmrade, he was
a prime favorite with all the better
class of miners that composed the null
titude in our camp.
Charlie was Il tall and handsome
man, of very muscular build, and
great strength he carried q 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 I
were OH our way to our tent, chatting
him, rs usual, in regard to a letter he
had received a few days before, and
about which he would not speak, the
young man turned suddenly to me, and
said: g.-....-.--. .....
"See here, my old friend, am in an
awful state of mind, and l must tell
you.the whole story. AS soon as we
reach our tent, I will remove all cause
for your chaff, and you will see why I
am worried, and why l never have
talked of the letters which have re-.
received
We traversed the remaining space in
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 in redemption of a vow.
will explain my meaning.
''In the City of New York, there is
an cid man who is possessed of large
wealth, but more then all, he is pos
sessed of a lovely daughter. Edith Kel-
sey, the daughter of old Otto Kelsey,
is my atfianced 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, l left New York
for these fields in the hope of a lucky
stroke of fortune, for unless I can
bring gold, old Kelsey swears l shall
not have Edith.
swell, am here, and as you know,
I have not been unsuccessful. have
prospered, and in few months time
can return to New York a rich man. .
''But here comes the rub!
"Edith writes me that her perfidious
old sire has selected 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
choice is a rough, uneducated rascal,
and that all he has to recommend him
his money "a
Il have just written to Edith to tell
her that ] can hardly come just at this
moment, butI have enclosed a. draft
fora 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 fol
the time, until can reach New York. -
30 ''This is the course / have followed,
what do you think of it Z" ;
1 pondered over the matter, and
fsaid:~
my dear Charley, / think you could
have gone and left affairs here to me
Can You not go as it is p
'sNo," he said, 1 sent my letter tt
her over week ago, and we might
only pass one another on the way
There is not much risk for herr She
will get acquainted with some miner
wives on the trip, and they will tel
her how to manage. Oh, / am not
afraid for my brave girl!''
i This he said with apparent emphasis
but Thought I detected false ring il
his voice. @s7' So
However, little more was said on tn.
/ subject. then, and Charlie and I return
ed to- our labor. se,s al q aavs.<s sss. 80
Time passed on, and no further new.
reached the lover concerning his fance
The young fellow was growing mood.
and anxious, and did my best to com
! fort him.
ID At last, suddenly starting from tn,
bench on which he had been seate<
during our morning meal, he said:
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