Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-13


get on and get money-and she has got
it. She went about from camp to camp
of the miners and others with stationery
and various articles needed by them
sold them these things, wrote letters for
them, sang to them, nursed them when
sick, and carried their letters express to
San Francisco to be posted. For all
these services she received large pay
ments-money is not much value, you
know, over there-and she had also had
a good deal of rough gold given to her as
specimens. Did she like that kind of
life, asked her, SO contrary to her early
habits, and she answered me quickly:
1t is not what we choose that we do in
this world, but what fate chooses for us.
| have made a competency, and gained a
rich and varied experience. Life may
not be what [ once pictured it would
be, but [ am content She sighed
as she said it, and didn't believe in the
content"
"But what had brought her to you
that day."
She had not told me herself then
Presently 1 asked her why she came to
see me. I never shall forget the smile
with which she turned to answer. 1t
pretty nigh disarmed me. We were sit
ting somewhat close, too; her flowing
gown touched my knees. Altogether, |
beeen to think of those useless pegs in
my house down in Rough River Valley.
But what she had said pulled up my
wandering thoughts, and turned them to
present things.
"Shall you be surprised to hear that |
have come to do you real service?' she
said.
And she went on to relate that, hay
ing to pass the previous night at a place
not many miles away, in house where
partitions were thin, she had CHANGED to
overhear plan for my murder and rob-
berry, the william in chief of the plot
being the starved and naked wretch
whom / had sheltered and sent away re-
! joicing not many days previous. All in
moment, while | was bordering on the
doubtful problem of gratitude, fancy
came over me that she might not be tell
ing the truth; that it might be just an
excuse got up to justify her own en-
trance, and l playfully limited so.
GA woman does not trife with sub
iects like these, nor deceive when she
goes out of her way to do q service" she
answered. 81 rode off from that house
the other way this morning, made a de-
tour, and came here to warn you. And
now that I have done it, if you will
please to get my horse, | will ride away
again.
All fair, that. |, full of thanks and
repentance, requested her to stay longer
if she was not perfectly rested; but she
declined, and l brought the steed round
and helped her to mount him. Once in
the saddle, her humor changed; she
smiled, and reminded me that had not
been polite enough to invite her to re-
turn. A few days of reading, talking,
riding, fishing, and romancing up in
those splendid mountains would be very
charming; perhaps she might come if |
asked her.
"And did you ask herT'
q did not. A young man, with a
reputation to sustain up there in the
mountains, couldn't invite young lady
to stay a week with him, could he now?'
cried Elan, quantity, which set us both
laughing.
as | could, and she rode away. In 60
ing slowly down the trail, she turned
and kissed her hand to me with a gra-
cious sweetness. | assure you the strug-
gle within my own mind was great at
that moment, and I dom know whether
[ have forgiven myself yet for what hap
pened afterward."
What did happen?"
"She came back again. She came back
again, and I drove her aacay. That is, I
made the best excuses I could for not re-
admitting her, saying we should perhaps
have fighting and murder-and what not
in my fort that night, and it would be
no place or scene for a delicately bred
woman. The pretty and modest girl,
who was to come from Wallamet Valley
and hang up her pink garments on my
pegs, had rushed into my mind, you see
but [ never like to confess to this part
of the story, because I get laughed at.
But don't you think [ did right, having
my reputation to keep up?"
While we had our laugh out Elan was
pushing his soft, fine light hair eff his
brow with those slender fingers that
looked as if no rough work had ever
come near Unonl-dnQ WndU muSJ Uney
have been before it did come? He went
on thoughtfully:
"She' finally rode away, not having
been invited to get off her horse, leaving
me in anything but a pleasant frame Of
mind. From telling myself was bear,
[ turned to the other subject-my prom
ised robbery and murder. Had she sim
ply invented that little fable, or was it
true bill? | felt inclined to believe it
the latter. Anyway, I deemed it we'll to
be prepared for all contingencies, barring
and boiling my fort against intruders,
and sitting up late over the fire. This
was Sunday night. On the Tuesday
morning three or fourplounted men rode
up, one of whom w the traitor, my
former naked and hungry protege. He
no longer attempted to conceal his true
character from me, but said he and his
comrades were intending to clean out
the Chinese camp, and he asked me to join
them IN the raid. [ was on my guard in
answering him, simply saying that I
would have nothing to do with robbing
+bo Tb1,,oco thot tbo1r yuoro p,xy ~; A.