The Grant County herald. (Big Stone City, Grant County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1883, 1879-12-06


started down the ridge to the nearest
trading tent. But in his blankets, care
fully out OF sight, was a heavy bag of
gold III place ofa whisky bottle The
LOCALITY where this strange deposit of
gold was found was on the top of long
ridge bounding a little valley called
Tolls Diggings, few miles from the Yu-
"a River Whether anyone ever had the
cu'losity to prospect tic ridge further is
doubtful
ho' had a heavy load to pack but it
was alldown hill, and therefore easier
los hilli He arrived at the mining store,
or traaln2 tent 50 common i'll the noun
ta!hs IN oid,u times, where almoet any
thing could le purchased from q naner
i OF pms 10 CARGO shirt and broadcloth
! paAtaloohs' hert he rested and renovated
himself generally, found an old sailor
WHO could trim ane cut his LONG hair
ana 2eard 10 reasonable proportions, and
/ purchased some calico shirts and other
clothes, until, when dressed up nicely
he could have walked the ytroef, of anv
city, and any Of the fair seA wopIa have
said he was a very fine lookn.r fellow
II was early in the day yet, and Dob
set out to find the ranch of Nelly .nronlr
leaving his pack, except the Blankets
containing his gold, which was luno
over his shoulder on the puck handle
Ina little over 4 miles walk, he t0ula
q pretty valley at The mouth Of the creek
where some fine new Lighthouses, fences
and elcarngs Indicated Ncll's home.
Bob walked around but he could see
[ L. 4 i
lie peeped III, but could find nobody; but
tie heard, nnt far of, 4 clear, sweet voice.
that set his heart humping like the stamp
Of a quartz mill. lie knew there was
only one voice he haa ever heard like it.
and he walked quietly IN
In a back room, with her white, strong,
beautiful arms bare to the shoulders,
stood pretty Nell ut the wash-tuD, very
busy III the steam OF soap,suds and Ken
lucky Jeans. singing Us free as \ bird:
''kcntucky il my nt.tiye place, Kentucky was
my home,
And here | be across the plains in soal=sads
white as foam.
Wake snakes and clear the track
Old kentuck IS my song;
Myname is Nelly Green, boys-
ill Bob may come along"
The last Inc was sung very softly, as il
afraid some one would hear her
Bob put down his pack and walked in;
but Netl's quick ear heard, and as She
tuned and saw him, her check flushed
and her yves sparkled.
"Nhat. lob, is that you come AT last
in store clothes, toe said She glane-
ING with bright eyes at the Young man,
and with poorly disguised pleasure,
Certain sure, Nell, you said might
come"
Yes Bob, but how about the
whisky"
Neil, haven't touched drop since
you saw me:if have they may shoot me.
/ And what S more, cont mean If yoa
say 50 replied lie.
An Bob, did bring luck 10 yer.
Was there gold ap thar
Nell, thar six thousand dollars and
more, rolled in them blankets har. | owe
10 yer pretty self, ~ Ia 4 Niger And.
Nell, Just look here, and Bob took from
4 the breast Of his shllt package care
fully wrapped II paper which had rested
on the bow Of NelI,s blue ribbon lie had
found, ana which shc plainly saw. In
wrapping e. there sas / piece Of gold ii
i the shape u ! splcae eagle, almost exact
IN every par weighing over SIX ounces.
Nell, yon said | might bring yer i
specimen from my piIe, and here It's
Yes, Bob, bet What GALS lit ~ nb-
bon j. THAT S"r % Eceflnl about said
Nell, eltll i LOVING look, but turning
her face from him nf.chsevoasly, and
stirring the soap suls.
That ere, replied hc, broke loose
from the har ov an angel that met me on
the mountains, yondcr, and said some
kind words t. Il dead-bro6e man. that
gave him new lie, and what's more,
brought good luck and pile Of gold to
him, and he kept the thing as charm 10
Tighten his thoughts, when hc felt down
hearted" and Bob went close 10 Nell.
whose cheek turned red
"Ycs, Bob, said she hut amt that
talk kind o airy? Angels don't fit round
these digglns, as | ever hcerd oy."
YES, Nell, that's so; but any woman s
an angel to Il man that's going wrong,
who, in loving kindness of her heart,
encourages him to do right. and that 1
what we've done for me- Ye see Nell,
I've never had any folks ov my own
blood to keer for me; | went into ships
cabin rs 'printice boy, from an orphan
asylum. That ere gold came by luck to
me, from You, an II ye'd only take It
With something else -''
with what, Bob2" but Nell still kept
her face turned away, while lie was cdg-
ing still closer to her
"Well Nell, if must make the rifle,
lest take Bob with the dust and make q
happy man ov hlm for life; he loves yer
and would die for yer any time" and
Bob stole his arm round her slender
x,~a ,e4