The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-08-07
SHAD., PATSY AND RACHEL.
BY b. J. FARJEON.

Jackass Flat, a large plain in the Vi
cimty Of the Caatlemainc gold field, was
riddled with holes, each shaft employing
two men, who worked from sunrise to
sunset, in the hope of coming upon IL
rich pocket. As q rule they had little TO
grumbIc at. When the rush first set in,
the haIf-dozen gold miners working on
the flat had succeeded in unearthing
some tolerably large nuggets, and were
making ElOO week man. All were
not 40 fortunate, but there was scarcely
a claim on the fiat in which fair wages
were not being made, sufficient to pay
for meat three times a day, drink, tobac-
co, and for an indulgence in the newest
fashions in water tight boots, fine fan
mel gernseys and cabbagc-tree hats The
sinking was shallow and easy; there was
no rock, or tough formation to get
through, and the golden gutter was gem
orally reached ut a depth OF from twelve
TO twenty feet from the surface. 1t Oc-
cuptcd but q few hours to peg your
clam, dig your shaft, erect your wind
lass, and lay bare the precious gutter IN
which the gold was found Some Of the
wash dirt yielded two pcunyweights to
Flat there were many prizes and few
blanks.
As Il consequence, therefore, every
body was in the best spirits, aud men
sang over their work. The finest singer
on the Flat was Shad Riley. whose top
c would have made a professional tcnor's
mouth water. Shad did not know the
value OF that G, as he had mot been
brought up. to the stage, but there IS no
doubtthat, had his voice been cultivated,
hc would have made a sensation in fash
ionahle circles. lie had everything III
his iayor-yoice, figure, face. He stood
six feet III his stockings, was broad in
the shoulder, had IN eve rs bright as
sunlight, and laughing mouth that
women that way inclined could scarcely
resist. Between him and his brother
Pat there was q wonderful resemblance,
but Pat was built on smaller scale
He stood not more than five feet three;
he was simmer in limb, and his features
were more delicately cut. 1t was true
that there was important gap IN the ages
Of the brothers. Shad confessed to thin
tx, and Pat, t. not more than twenty,
though the young fellow was rather shy
about his age; boys like to be considered
men before they have arrived ri that
estate, and that may have been The case
with Pat. He did not look twenty. and
it was plain there was plenty OF time be
fore him for his whishers to grow
Shad had tine pair OF them, and could
have grown noble moustache Perhaps
i was vanity that prevented him; il would
have hidden his laughing mouth.
The brothers were amOngt the fortunate
ones on Jackass Fiat. Their claim paid
them MT the rate Of twenty ounces per
week, and their hearts were light and
merry. The first fifty ounces Of gold
they made went flying away across the
water in the shape of a draft, payable to
the order Of a certain Matthew Brady;
and its mission was to bring out whole
family OF Bradys, blind mother, lame
father. their son Matt, and not fewer
than seven young Irish lasses, every
mothers daughter Of them. With tears
and smiles they la { adieu to their
native land and turned their faces to the
gold fields. where they've to make their
fortunes. and live happy ever afterward.
There were no greater favOutes on
Jackass Flat than the Ryleys, and 1t was
1tttStIlt ~ SIT lliC OttIt AIiC man ltCh u
the lad. giving him all the light work to
do, although Fat. was not hehindhand in
willingness. With everybody who knew
them it was Pat. andShad. to their faces.
and behind their backs they were spoken
Of rs the Rvley boys Shad., OF course,
stood for Shadrach, and Pat. for Patrick.
but to have called either of them by their
full Christian name would have been
like giving them slap in the face, which
would lead to shindy. They had Irish
spirit with their Irish blood, although,
singularlv enough, they haden't much of
the broguc. just the slightest touch Of
it. 10 render 1t captivating to the ear.
The favorite resort of the gold diGCeTs
after sun down. when their work was
done. was the Rose. Shamrock and
Thistle. a wooden hotel, the master Of
which was a woman. This WAS rs it
should be, as most OF her customers were
Irish. She herself, Rachel Cary by
name, was woman OF Devon, C.mely
creature, not more than twenty-five wears
Of AGE. Her brother had built the hotel
in the township adjoining Jackass Flat,
and. catching colonial fever. died Of ii.
He left the hotel To his sister. who
proved herself 4 capable woman, and
conducted the Rose, Shamrock and
Thistle with spirit. She was not ex-
actIv 4 Boadicea, for she was tender
hearted and had fallen a victim to the
snares Of Cupid. She pinned TO change
her name. Cary was good enough III ITS
way, bat not to be compared 70 RyIey.
Ii YOU have au idea that she fell IN love
with the proper man Of the two, the one
who was suited to her IL wears and
strength, you are mistaken. She fell III
love with the wrong man-too often the
case with wIllful women. Over head
and ears with Pat Ryley she fell, the
foolish creature, swapping her fingers at