Daily Republican., 1878-12-06
MY GREAT MISTAKE.

tell, though II was a terrible one t,
| live. You see that it was more thar
twenty years ago that my twin brother
aud sold ont our homestead in New
York and went to seek our fortune. All
the rest Of our family was dead, and
we two were the more attached to each
other for that.
Well, We tried mining, and We tried
everything We coull think Of, but
nothing Sc ,med to prosper with us; we
only seemed to grow poorer and poorer.
Finally We thought of separating, and
one Of US trying the gold Regions, but
the question arose which one of US
should 60. tn. lot fell to me-.
There was another reason why |
didn't want to 90. | was in love, and
! couldn't bear to leave my dainty
Susan to fight the world alone-she
was a music teacher, poor thing!--nor
for other fellows to fall in low. with.
However, | submitted of course, to
the lot, and made my preparations
I" 90. 1t was sad heart bore
around TO Susy's that night, and |
couldn't bear to tell her; but sh. bore
IL nObly---as knew she would--though
was tn. only friend she had in san
Francisco, except her pupils. Bat |
had thought of another plan--,o make
her my wife before left, 80 as to
leave her in care OF Bob, and relieve
her from the hard life sh. WAS leading
Alter some persu asion she consented 10
1t.
So, day or two ait.rward, We three
Il had told Bob--went into a quiet
church, and Susie was given to me to
cherish and prot.c, till death.
Brave little woman! How trustingly
she gave me her heart, and how basely
! failed her! How ready was to b--
lieve-
But let me 20 back. | took her to
my cosy boarding place, which was in
deed home to us, installed her as its
mistress, made every provision that
lov. could sugges. for her comfort, en-
joyrd the bliss OF a few hours honey
mWU, anu tfltH itll HeT.
Well, | went to the mines, and tried
taithiully, eagerly, for my heart was
longing to get back to her. But | could
not succeed, so deter mined to push on
INTO thu Indian country, and try lit
TIE hunting and trapping-:or that was
good business then succeeded lit
tie better at tllat, but wandered on, and
finally came out at Frazier's river, wherr
the gold excitement had broken out
hercely. Here at last succeeded and
got together five thousand dollars worth
Of the yellow dust. Of course my only
thought was ofmy wife, and seized
the first opportunity to send OF the
treasure. But day after day passed by,
40 letters came. Ny soul grew sick.
| imasiued all sorts ef delays. But the
,ong drrary days wrnt by with iraden
t"rt, and not word CANE to the wan.
derer
grew orbid and bitter, and at last
| wrote to a friend in San Francisco, ask.
my tiding cf my brother and wife. The
friend was not so n-glectfu As the wife
and brother. Soon, too soon, got a
rrply. can See it now in letters OF
fire. my dear fellow" it ran, Il have
made inquiries,as you requested, about
your wife and brother, and can only
find that they disappeared from here
few months ago, telling no one where
they were going, but evidently having
plenty Of money"
What more the letter contained
never knew, tina: much Of it burned in
to my brain, ard at that point lost
myself. They do say that was raw.
ing maniac. Perhaps SO; don't know.
lonly know that found myself al
old man, blasted before my time, line
a tree struck by lightning, yet could
nc. feel angry. How could | blame
him 7 Was | not mad to leave him,
with a loving heart, to ARE for a loy
ing beauty like susyf How could he
help loving her : Wasn't she all that
WAS lovely! Did she love me, and was
not he my twin brother! What so
strange that seeing his love, she should
gr0w t. return itY
What should do : Should search
them out and blast their lives forever'
Should come with my ignoble revenge
and tear her from his arns' Would
she love me for it ? Should | get my wifi.
and brother' Oh, no! | had been
gone long enough to give her divorce
-~-she had evidently got it, and was
even now his wife! Oh, Goi, and |
could still live.
Weeks, months, years, dragged on,
| scarcely knew they passed. Mechan.
ically | worked on. Fortune no lon
ger sought, showered gold upon me.
cared nonght for it, but instinct pre-,
vented me from throwing it away.
was utterly repugnant to