The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-05-21
ANGEL OF ROCK CAMP.

Kit Oliver, an old mOuntalneer, scout
and Indian-fghter, as he played nerv-
ously with the lock of his rifle, "and |
wouldn't like ter risk it, eff [ war in yer
place, Milt."
'But only think how lonesome Nelly
is so far away from me. !"
And the face of the honest-spoken
Young miner was covered with bushes
like that Of schoolboy when his first
love is mentioned.
81 know it am kinder lonely for both
of yer. But this am er wild country ter
bring er young and handsome woman
ter, and it's my erpinion that they am
much better off in the settlements.
EDO you think there is any one here
who would harm her?"
"Not as I knows on. Their boys am
mostly good-hearted, and would be more
inclined ter look upon her as er angel
than anything else. But they am er ruff
set-hain't much used ter women, and
then yer'd have ter leave her alone much
of ther time, or else give up Their Dig
ging, and that wouldn't do.
ono; I came to get gold-both Nelly
and land the sooner we get it, the
sooner we will be back again to civiliza-
ton"
"War she brought up in city,"
"No-in the West. But why did you
ask the question? It is a strange one. :"
Because I want ter know eff she war
one Of ther skeery kind-one that got
frightened at every shadder.
"Not she. She is as brave as any
woman ever saw.
"Tm glad ont. But thar's plenty ter
make er man feel of his ha'r to see eff it
am safe, now and egin, what with wild
beasts and Injuns."
"There are none of the latter near
here-haven't been more than half
dozen in the gulch where we are working
for the last two months.
l." It am fact that they am pretty well
driven off, but they come sometimes,
and, as | have said, yer'd have ter leave
yer wife clone, fer yer couldn't take her
with yer when yer working"
GIVE explained all this to her, but
she insists upon coming and sharing my
lot, whatever it may be. Besides, she
would make the old cabin so cheerful
and so comfortable for us"
"It would be like er sunbeam on er
dark day, and make us all more human
like and better. [ noticed how things
changed when ther wives and darters
bergan ter come ter ther Bay (San Fran
ciscO), and am sartin it would be Their
best possible thing fer all on us.
"Then you do not see any particular
roOcO,o 11,bxv ho oh O,,1J MT oo,ooo
emo; only it would be mighty hard
fer her. You wasn't married when yer
came from ther States ?"
found my wife on the way. We
became acquainted on board ship She
was an orphan. Her aunt died her
uncle with whom she came) went to
the bad, and she, poor thing, was left
alone, and M fried her"
"That war right, Milt-right for a
thOOsand ounces
"Well, the last time I was down to
see her, she begged so hard to come and
live here that [ couldn't find it in my
heart to refu,e her, and I've fixed up
the cabin the best / could, but and
he looked sorowfully around" it is
poor indeed"
"It ant much like what city folks
have, that am er rational fact, but it am
Their heart that makes home, after all,
and reckon she'll be happier here than
pinin' fer yer"
There was truth in the rough words
OF the old mountaineer, and it was not
not long before pretty Nelly Martin was
settled with her husband in the little
cabin that was perched like an eagles
nest above one of the canons of the Stan
islaus river. A little town of miners
huts had sprung up there, but until her
advent no woman had ever been seen
within its limits, except some almost
disgusting squaws, whose object was
beggary or theft, probably both. AS the
old scout had said, they looked upon
Nellie Martin almost, even if not quite,
In the same light that they would have
done an angel, having, like most of us,
very confused ideas upon that particular
subject. They were Woodworking,
roughly-dressed men, who had but one
object, and she instantly brought to
their hearts some dear recollection or
hope. Their language was softened,
their garments somewhat improved, ana
In the evening they gathered around to
hear her singing, and respectfully adj
mlre, or. it may have been, envy the
husband the possession of such prize.
1t was true the surroundings and the
utter want of others of her sex made her
shine to better advantage than she would
otherwise have done-that the jewel was
far more dazzling from the uncouth set
ting Of timber, rock and ravine-rent
mountain. But Nelly Martin just
missed being a beauty, and would have
found but few dangerous rivals in any
community. She chained the heart of
every one in the little settlement, and
she came to be Familiarity known as ''The
Angel Of Rock Camp"
Ey degrees Nelly Martin lost all fear.
She learned to look upon those around
as friends, and she soon saw her husband
depart for his daily labors without even
tremor. Her ambition, like his, was
to accumulate suficiency Of gold to