The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-08-23
For TWENTY YEARS.

ees iC was more tuhu t"SnNJ !
that nv twin brother and SOLO out our
homestead in New YORK, ana Went 70
roIifornia to seek our fortunes. All the
~ ~ tho family were dead, and ,we two /
le TO- - thp mrre attached TO each other
for that .~.a
,rarvtbino we could think of, but moth
ing seemed to prosper with us; we only I
crew poorer and poorer.
FINALLY. we thought of the idea OF sep
Grating. go as to work two fields at once,
before the last of our capital was gone.
There was a great talk Just then OF some
now GOLD region, and we agreed that one
of ne should go there and try his luck,
while the other stayed in San Francisco,
and carried on a little business we had
started there.
OF course, everything was in partner
ship. / never thought of an interest
separate from his, and he, l know, felt
the same.
We'll, the question arose, which of US
should 90. It wasn't very tempting the |
mining life and neither of US was anxious |
for it. so we drew lots TO see who should |
RE lot fell to ne.
There was another reason why / didn't |
want to 90, besides the uncomfortable ]
life. but ! would not tell Rob; for
could not drive him of to the mines, and
I knew his generous hesrt so well, that l
was sure he would insist on going, II he
were aware OF all.
But-well the truth is, in word, | was
in love. aud / couldn't bear to leave my
dainty Susy to fight the world alone
she was q music teacher, poor thing =
nor for the other fellows to fall in love
With.
However, I submitted, of course, TO the
lot, and made my preparations to go. 1t
was sad heart that | bore around to
Susy's rooms that night. and | couldn't
bear to tell her; but, bless you she no
sooner saw my face than she knew some
thing was coming. and she bIaced her
self up to meet it before she asked me a
question. After we had spoken of the
weather. and the book had brought her
the day before, at last she said. quietly:
"WeIl, Ralph, what is it? | know you
have bad news for me-"
"It's bad for me, Susy, and I'm afraid
it will be bad for you; though you
know"
couldn't go on, and she spoke again,
brave as she always was.
"Ralph, you know Pm used to mis-
fortunes. Tell me at once"
So told her, and she bore it nobly--
/ as knew she would-though [ was the
only friend she had in San Francisco,
exc pit her pupils.
But had thought of a1ethe plan to
/ make my going n little easier. That was
to make her my wife before left, so as
/ to leave her in the care of Rob, and
/ relieve her from the hard lie she was
/ living.
( After some persuasion she consented to
/ it.
So, day or two afterward, we three.
/ Il had told Bob-went into quiet
/ little church, and Susy was given to me
to cherish and protect.
Brave little womanl how trustingly
she gave me her heart, and how basely l
/ tailed herl How ready ] YVES to be-
I lieve--
But let me go back. took her to our
coy boarding place, which was indeed
/ home to us, installed her az IS mistress,
made every provision that love could
suggest for her comfort, enjoyed the
/ bliss of few hours honeymoon, and then
left her.
1 needn't speak of that. 1t was hard,
tell YOU.
All, well Pm an old man now-older
by sorrow than by years; but l never
shall forget the fresh, dainty look of my
darling, as left her on the steps that
bitter day-a bride in the morning, a
widow at night, And | never did forget
/ it through all the black years, though it
| seemed as if the very memory of it would
drive me mad.
Well, went TO the mines, and tried
faithfully, eagerly, for my heart was
longing to go back to her. But l could
not succeed.
Mails were not then established, so l
did not hear from my two dear ones; but
all the harder | toiled, for never a
thought of doubt entered my mind. l
was only too glad TO have my dear
brother to care for her, and save her
! from all rough contact with the world.
! Finding no luck in the mines, / de-
1 termined to push on into the Indian
country, and try q little hI nting and
/ trapping; tor that was good business
/ then. 7 succeeded a little better a.
! that, but wandered on, ard finally came
/ out at Frszer river, where the gold ex-
element had broken out fercely.
| l don't know now whether it was
months or years-days and weeks were
| alike to me for long time-but at last |
was successful, and got together five
/ thousand dollars in yellow dust. OF
course, my only thought was of my wife,
and seized the first opportunity to send
| off my treasure.
A miner, going home, willingly took
charge of my little pile, and l soon began
to lock for letters.
Rob's l could easily imagine noble,
manly, like himself Susy's l thought
of, and tried to fancy, hundreds of times,
for I'd never had letter from her. 1
I knew it would be delicate and dainty,
and like my pretty snowdrop.
Well, well, fancies may do very well,
bat they won't feed hungry heart
Day after day passed by and no let
tiers. My soul grew sick, I made all
sorts of excuses for them. / imagined
all sorts of delays. But the long, dreary
days went by with leaden feet, and not a
word came to the wanderer.
! | grew morbid and bitter, and at last
l wrote to an acquaintance in San Fran
cisco asking for tidings of my brother
and wife.
The friend was not so neglectful as the
wife and brother
Soon-too soon-I got reply. / can
see it now, in letters of fire. "My dear
| fellow" it ran, az have made inquiries,
as you requested, about your vile and
OIOLucIi anu CAL only Huu Ludb luey
| disappeared from here few months ago,
/ telling no one whence they were going,
but evidently having plenty o money"
/ What more the letter contained !
| never knew: that much of it was burned
into my brain, and at that point 1 lost
myself. They do say l was a raving
maniac. Perhaps 80; / don't know.
/ only know l found myself an old
man, blasted before my time, like tree
struck by lightning.
Yet, could not feel angry. How
could blame him? Yves / not mad to
leave him, with his tender heart, to care
lor tender beauty like my Susy7 How
could he help loving herr Wasn't she
all that was lovely? He was not to
blame, poor fellow.
And she Did she not love me, and
was he not my twin brother? What so
strange that, seeing his love, she should
grow to return it
What should | do? Should | search
them out, and blast Their lives forever
Should come with my ignoble revenge,
and tear her from his arms? Would she
love me for it? should / get back my
wife and brother?
Oh, no / had been gone long enough
to give her divorce-she had undouht
eddy got it, and even now was his wife !