West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-10-11
N early Too Late.

was left an orphan at the age Of four.
but was brought up 10y kind aunt and
uncle. My childhood passed mcrrily
enough until ! was about eight, when my
uncle, hearing Of the Australian gold fields,
determined To seek a fortune abroad, in
stead Of toiling for "a mere pittance at
home.
SO ] was transferred TO "A family by the
name of Graham. They were middle class.
plain, hOmely people-working goldsmiths,
i'm fact--and lived in Northampton square.
Clerkcnwcll.
They had but one child, daughter,
named Lily, who, being only three wears
younger than myself, we became great
friends il was natural also that as I grew
mp and went proudly ont to earn my few
shiliings a week, and drew nearer 10 man
hood, should learn to love my pretty little
playfelOw.
Circumstances went on thus happily un-
til was twenty and Lilly seventeen years
OF age, and then a communication from
my unlce in Australia informed me that
they had capital opening for me.
/ was loath TO leave Lilly; yet, rs ! was
dong very inditferantly and had heard of
snch great fortunes acquired in such short
spaces of time by energetic men, sum
Grahams and poor ljltlc Lilly | was deter
mined TO 90 to Australia.
sl,all never forget my parting at Black
wall Pier. | shall never forget my pretty
little Lilly cliDging to my neck, and sobbing
aloud, and imploring me not to 60, and ],
struggling between the influence OF love and
enterprise, trying not TO be coward when
felt already that l was one.
1t was in vain | tried to cheer her; |
think ! did not look so very comforting,
though, if remember rightly, / recollect
saying:
'Never mind Liliydarling, shall return
one day and make you grand lady. I
shall be sure 10 succeed, and shall return 20
make you happy!"
My tears, ] know, wcro threatening 90
break the feeble barriers that held them
back, and when she said:
''Ahl but suppose you never do return
shall break my heart, Robertw
Why, then think did shed a tear or so
only to keep her company.
At last the boat pushed off, and Mrs.
Graham-good, kind old oul!-still kept
her arms around Lilly, as she waved her
final adicu to her orphan protege.
] arrived at last at Melbourne / went
miles overland, and at last reached my
uncles settlement, but had not long been
there efe found life in Australia less easy
than had anticipated stayed with him
for a little time. until took "a dislike To
farming for that was what my uncle had
made most Of his money at-and joined "a
party Of young fellows starting for a now
gold field farther mp the country.
Three years passed slowly away, and ]
began ~ get along much better, and had
sent many nugget TO Melbourne. / had
only received one dear cherished letter from
Lilly, written on her eighteenth birthday,
and sending me q lock Of hcr pretty chest
nui hair: yet ] thought ] had no cause TO
fear, ~ knew that writing letters docs
not give young ladies half the JOY of ro-
ccving them, and J wrote often enough
Well, time went On. ] had found %
staunch, tuc friend about my own ago and
we were like brothers. We always worked
together. and when we had been ont four
years aud a hail. Tom Thompson for lhet
wns The name OF my faithful fricnd-and J
were getting rich.
knew that ] was nCnYcT home and more
likely to- gain my dear little Lilly every
month ] worked; but ] also was aware ol
the desperate crimes and terrible deeds
that were being committed around us by
The rangers and other villains. ! knew that
our reputation was as dangerous as crafty
ing md so it was; perhaps ! should not
mc1u0B tbc incident, as 1t seems 10 pro
song a pat Of the story that needs most
brovity, bur, ~ II bears directly upon the
ulumatum of tbe t8lc. ! shall trcspass upon
your kindness Ca give 10 m full
One night Tom and had retired to the
bedroom we had built above the basement
NJ our little house, and ] was already doz
ing, while Tom, having carefully secn tO
ihc revolvcrs (fOr ] need not tell YOU hOg
necessary they are in a country where JUS
iicc Is obtained in such "a rough and ready
manlcr), was also yielding to thc dr0wsy
god, when VIC fancicd we heard something
move I'm the room below.
Both were quickly, though silently. ON
the alert for we knew that, though not
much, we had still some gold that had not
been dispatched to Melbourne. We knew
that somebody, acquainted with its hiding
place, had, escaping our notice, secreted