Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-30

didn't mind it. At night when he washed
out the result of the days hard toll, he
only had dollars worth of coarse gold:
but he found little piece Of blue ribbon
Nell had lost from her hair. This con-
soled him amply, as he kissed it and said
to himself: "Bob, better luckito. morrow"
His claim was what miners call ''very
spotted,'' for the gold was scattered in
spots here and there. The next day and
the next labor brought the same results,
about enough to pay expenses, or as the
miners call it, "grub money"
The fourth day, just before he washed
out, in his rocker of dirt, at sunset, he
found two pieces of gold done worth
hundred and fifty dollars, the other, full
two hundred. Bob was happy that nj ght,
and tied the blue ribbon with leather
string about his neck, so that it could
rest on his heart. The next two days
brought no big pieces, but the seventh
he took pieces. of gold from the clay-like
cement weighing about seven hundred
dollars. 1t was dark-colored gold, pref
ty solid, and twisted into strange shapes,
with holes in it, but not appearing much
worn, or, IN mining pa1lance, "washed."
When the miners passed him daily on
their way over the divide they stopped
to ask what his luck was, and when they
saw a very little coarse gold IN his pan
they laughed at him. But Bob kept his
Jumps of gold in his pocket, or buried
them beside the rock in his camp. In
this way he worked on, taking sometimes
large pieces Of gold out, half as large as
Nell's little fist, and then for days very
little.
Wien he went down to the nearest
trading tent for his supplies, it was some
temptation to see and smell the whisky,
as the miners were drinking and carry
ing it off IN bottles. slowed away in their
pockets and under their shirt bosoms
But Bob could feel the bow Of blue rib
bon over his heart, and resisted all temp
tation; and as he went up his steep path
on the mountain side, beneath the pine
trees with a heavy sack on his shoulders,
he could look down, and see altar IN the
break of the forest where Nell's home
was; and telt that he had kept his prom
Use to her. And, besides, was he not
proving he could be a man again? But
re determined he would not seek Nell
for some time yet.
The days and weeks passed by: bnt
Bob toiled on, determined to work out
his CLAIM thoroughly. He dug down
stream, until over the edge of the fiat it
became so steep no show Of gold could
be found, and then dug holes and cross
bitches to see if the little depression of
the mountain had any more chunks of
gold buried under the grass roots. But
he had worked 1t out, and what was bet
ter he had kept his word to Nell, his re-
solution with himself to reform, and had
taken out his pile at the same time.
He now examined and weighed his
gold and he found that he had about six
thousand dollars, mostly in heavy pieces.
This was pretty good fortune tor seven
weeks digging, and Bob felt all uncon-
querable longing to go and tell Neil all
about it. The next morning by daylight
he cleared up, packed his things, and
started down the ridge to the nearest
trading tent. But in his blankets, care
fully out of sight, was heavy bag of
gold in place of whisky bottle. The
locality where this strange deposit of
gold was found was on the top Of long
ridge bounding Il little valley called
Tolls Diggings, few miles from the Yu-
ba River. Whether anyone ever had the
curiosity to prospect the ridge further is
doubtful.
Bob had a heavy load to pack, but it
was all down hill, and therefore easier
for HIM He arrived at the mining store,
or trading tent so common in the noun
tains in olden times, where almost any
thing could be purchased-fro paper
of pins to calico shirt and broadcloth
pantaloons. Here he rested and renovated
himself generally, found an old sailor
who could trim and cut his long hair
and beard to reasonable proportions, and
purchased some calico shirts and other
clothes, until, when dressed up nicely,
he could have walked the streets Of am
city. and any Of the fair sex would have
said he was a very fine looking fellow.
It was early in the day yet, and Bob
set out to find the ranch Of Nelly's people,
leaving his pack, except the blankets
containing his gold, which was slung
over his shoulder on the pick handle.
In little over miles walk, he found
a pretty valley at the mouth of the creek,
where some fine new Lighthouses, fences
and clearings Indicated Nell's home.
Bob walked around, but he could see
no one at home; the doors were all open,
he peeped IN, but could find nobody; but
he heard, net far off, a clear, sweet voice,
that set his heart humping like the stamp
of a quartz mill. He knew there was
only one voice he had ever heard like 1t,
and he walked quietly IN.
In back room, with her white, strong,
beautiful arms bare to the shoulders,
stood pretty Nell at the wash-tub, very
busy IN the steam of soap-suds and Ken
lucky jeans. singing as free as bird:
"Kentucky is my native place, Kentucky was
my home,
And here l be across the plains in soap-suds
white as foam.
Wake snakes and clear the track,
Old Kentuck is my song;
My name is Nelly Green, boys
Till Bob may come along"
The last line was sung very softly, as if
afraid some one would hear her.
Bob put down his pack and walked in ;
but Nell's quick ear heard, and as she
turned and saw him, her cheek flushed
and her eyes sparkled.
"What! Bob, is that you come at last?
in store clothes, tool" said she, glanc-
ing with bright eyes at the young man,
and with poorly disguised pleasure.
"Certain sure, Nell, you said 1 might
Gomez
eyes, Bob, but how about the
whisky?'
"Nell, haven't touched5sa drop since