Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-22
NEARLY TOO LATE.

OUT was Drought up Oy Il KIM aunt anu
uncle. My childhood passed merrlly
enough until was about eight, when my
uncle hearing of the Australian gold
fields, determined to seek a fortune
abroad, instead Of tolling for mere pit
lance at home.
So was transferred to family by
the name OF Graham. They were mid
dle-class, pinin, homely people--work
ing goldsmiths, in fact-and lived in
Northampton Square, Clerkenwell.
They had i,,}r one child, a daught er
named Lilly aod she being only three
years younger ;han myself, we became
great friends It was natural, also, that
as / grew up and went proudly out to
earn my few shilIings a week, and drew
nearer to manhood, should learn to love
my pretty little playmate.
Circumstances went on thus happily
until was t,enty and Lilly seventeen
years of age, and then communication
from my uncle in Australia informed me
that they had capital opening for me.
was 10th to leave Lilly; yet, as l was
doing very indiffercntiy and had heard
of such rapid fortunes acquired IN such
short spaces of time by energetic men, l
summoned enough courage to tell the
Grahams and poor Lilly that was de-
termined to go to Australia.
l shall never forget our parting at
Blackwell Pier. shall never forget my
pretty little Lilly cllnging to my neck
and sobbing aloud, and mploIing me not
to go, and l, struggling between love and
enterprise, trying not to be coward,
when l felt already that | was one.
It was IN vain that tried to cheer her
think l did not look so very comfort
ing, though, if remember rightly, 1 re-
collect saying:
"Never mind, Lilly darling, shall re-
turn some day and make you grand
lady. l shall he sure to succeed, and
shall return ~ make you happy
My tears. knew, were threatening tc
break the feeble barriers that held them
back, and when she said:
'Ah, but suppose you never do return
1t shall break my heart, Robert
Why, then l think did shed tear o.
so; only to keep her company.
At last the boat pushed of, and Mrs
Graham-good, kind old soul still KEEP
her arms around Lilly, as she waved he
final adieu to her orphan protege.
I arrived at last at Melbourne. Iwen
miles overland, and at last reached m,
uncle's settlement, but l was not lon;
there ere found life in Australia les
easy than | had anticipated. l stavet
with him for a little time, until l took
dislike to tarming-for that was wha
my uncle had made most of his money a
-and joined party of young fellow
starting for new gold field farther u
the country.
Three years passed slowly away, and
began to get along much better, and ha
sent many nugget to Melbourne. ha
only received enc dear, cherished lettt
from Lilly, written on her eighteent
birthday, and sending me lock of ht
pretty chestnut hair; yet thought
had no cause to fear, as knew that wri
ing letters does not give young ladit
half the Joy of receiving them, and
wrote often enough.
Well, time went on. I had found
stanch, true friend about my own ag
and we were like brothers. We alwa7
worked together, and when we had bee
four years and half, Tom Thompson
for that was the name of my faithf
friend and / were getting rich.
I knew that was nearer home, ar
more likely to gain my dear little Lii
every month l worked; but l also W
also aware of the desperate deeds al
terrible crimes that were being comm
ted around us by the rangers and 9th
Williams. / knew that our reputation W
as dangerous as gratifying; and 80
was; perhaps I should not mention t
incident, as it seems to prolong part
the story that needs most brevity; hut,
it bears directly upon tire ultimatum
the tale, shall trespass upon your kin
ness to give it in full.
One night Tom and had retired
the bedroom we had built above the bas
ment of our little house, and l was ,
ready doing, while Tom, having caref
ly seen to the revolvers (for need L
tell you how necessary they are in
country where justice is obtained In gu
rough and ready manner), was a
yielding to the drowsy god, when
fancied we heard something moving
the room below.
Both were quickly, though silently,
the alert, for we knew that, though !
much, we had still some gold that h
not been dispatched to Melbourne.
knew that somebody, acquainted with
hiding place, had, escaping our mott
secreted himself in the cabin to e
possession OF it.
When we heard him move again, a
as we correctly thought, he had gair
our hidden nuggets, we crawled silen