Richland beacon., 1878-09-28

which way the wind blew. She was
the only woman in camp, and could
have the pick. and picked Hez.
was bout staring mad first time l
met them two together-she bang
ing on his arm. and looking up in his
face. worsbipins him. like some Of
them women can worship a great, big
strong fellow; and as soon as they
war got by / swore a big oath as
Hez should never have her, and l
plugged my six-shooter, give my
bawie a whetting, and lay in wait for
him coming back.
1t was a nice time that, as l sot
there. seeing in fancy him kissing her
sweet little face. and she hanging on
him. If l was most mad afore was
then ten times worse now and when
/ hcered Hez coming. stood there ON
q shelf of rock, where the track came
along. meaning 10 put half dozen
plugs in him, and then pitch him over
into the Gulcb. But l was that mad
that when be came up CHEEKY and
singing, forgot all about my shoot
ing-iron and bowie. and went at him
Ike a bar, hugging and %rast!ihs
bin, till We fell together close to the
edge of the Gulch, and ] had only TO
give him a shove and down he'd ba
gone kelch on the hard rocks ninety
feet below.
Now, Hez,' l saws. bow abort
your darling now? You'll cut in
afore better man again, vii! you =
Yes, If live!' be says. stout-like.
SO l couldn', help liking tic grit he
showed That's right be says;
pitch me over, and then go and tell
little Jael what you've done. She'll
be 6ne and proud of yer then, Abina-
dab Scales!"
He said that as I'd got him bang
ing over the rocks. aud he looked the
full 10 the face, full Of grit, though be
was ss helpless as baby but
didn't see bis face then, for what l
seen was the face Of Jael, wild and
passionate like. asking me what I'D
done with her love. and my heart
swel!ed 80 that gave q sob like q
woman, as / swung Hes round into
safety, and taking his place like
shove me over. and put me out o.
my misery" | says.
Poor old He's! hated hir' lik.
pyson but he wasn't that sort
Stead of sending me over, now hs
Rad the chance, he claps bis hand OF
INV shoulder, and be says. says be
Dab, old man, give it a name, ane
let's 90 and have drink on this
We can't all fnd the big nuggets
old hoss; aud if Im 10 luck, don't b
bard on yer mate"
Then be held out his fist, but
couldn't, but turning of, | ran hare
down among the rocks till | dropped
bruised aud bleeding. and didn't g.
back to my tent that night.
Igo, bit wilder arter that. Hei
and Jacl were spliced up, and I allu
kept away. When | wanted an ounc
or two of gold worked. aud when II
o OF it | used to drink-drink, becaus
/ wanted 10 drown all recollectiOns Q
The past.
Hes used to come to me, but
warned him of. Last time he cam
across me, and tried to make friends
says, "Hez, keep away. Pm des
prit, and l won't say shan, plu
yerp
Then Jael came, aud she began t
/. talk to me about forgiving him; bu
made me more mad nor ever. and 3
went aui pitched at the lower en-
Of the Gulcb, and they lived at totbe'
Times and times I've felt rs Id &
and plug Hez on the quiet, but
, never did, though l got to hate hi'
, more aud more, and never 80 much q
, l did two years srter, when | cam
t upon him one day sudden. with b
, wife, Jael, looking pootier than eve
. With q little white-baircd squealer o
q her arm. And it riled me above
/. bit to Gee him so smiling and hapP.
r aid me turned into q blOod-sho
i drinking, raving savage, that bali II
, Gulch war feared on, and tother ha
}. darent face
e 1 bad been drinking barj-6er
!. Bourbon, sou bet for about wee
o whcu early one morning, as / lay
). Inv ragged bit Of teut. / woke :
Y sudden-like, to roaring noise I'LL
n thunder then there came g whirl NJ
z q rush, and was swimming for jill
half cboked With the wcter that b'
e. carried me off. Now it wss hittfl
e my bead. pisyfuliike, sgen the bar
it est corners Of the rock it could hnd
d the Gulcb; then it was biting me
" the back or pounding Iue 10 the ff'i
Il With trunks Of trees swept down fro
,e the mountains. for something b.
a. bus,-a lake. or something high up
re and 10 about wink the bull set,
ID ment in Ysller Gulch was swe
er away.
% "Wsll,' l says, getting hold oi
l branch and drawing mvself ont. 'so'