Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-26
E N M A S O U E.
A STCaY OF AUSTRALIAN MINING LIFE

By B. j. FARJEON
Jackass Flat, large plain Ia the vicinity of
the Cast ie.nalne gold field, was riddled with
holeS, each shaft employing two men, who
Worktd from sunrise TO sunset, In the hope OF
coming upon rich pocket AS a rule they had
little TO grumble at. When the rush first set
In, the half dozen gold Iuiners working on the
HAT had succeeded in unearthing some toler-
ably large nuggets, and were making hundred
pounds week man. All were not so fortu-
nate, but there was scarcely a claim on the fiat
IN which fair wages were not being made, suffi-
GENT 10 pay Tor meat three times day. drink
TOBACCO, AID for an Indulgence In the newest
fashions III Water-tight boots fine flannel guern-
says, and cabbage-tree hats. The sinking was
formation 10 get through, and the golden quit ar
was generally reached at a depth OF from twelve
70 twenty feet from The surface. lie occupied
CUT lew hours TO peg your claim dig your
SHAFT. erect your wfndlaSS and lay bare the
precious gutter In which the gold was found
some OF the wash dirt yielded two pennyweights
70 the JuO. some two ounces OF JackaSS Flat
there were many prizes and few blanks
AS consequence. therefore, every body was
IN The best OF spirits, and men sang over their
Work: The finest singer on the Flat was Shad
KyIey, whose top would have made a profess
sionai tenor mouth water Shad did not know
The value or that c, as he had not been brought
up 70 the stage, out there is no doubt that, had
MS voice been cultivated he would have male
SENSATION In fashionable circles He hal
every thing in his favOr-voice hyure face He
STOOD SIX leet in his stockings, was broad In the
H..
laughing mouth that women that way in-
cllned could scarcely resist. Between him
and his brother Pat there was a won
uer1ul resemblance, but Pat was built
On smaller scale He stood not
more than five feet three, he was simmer In
nmo, and his features were more delicately cut.
III was true there was an important gap In the
ages or the brothers. Shad confessed 70 thirty
Snd Pat 10 not more than twenty though the
young Fellow was rather shy about his age;
boys hkt to be considered men before they have
and ms hlUa hAon
the case with Pat. He did not look twenty and
lC was plain there was plenty of time before
MN for bis whiskers to grow. Shad had fine
pau OF them, and could have grown noble
houstache. Perhaps 1t was vanity that pre-
vented him; 1t would have hidden his laughing
mouth.
The brothers were among the fortunate ones
On Jac6aSS Flat. Their claim paid them at the
rate OF twenty ounces per week, and their hearts
were light and merry. The first fifty ounces of
gold they made went flying 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
lever than seven young Irish laSSieS. every
mothers daughter OF them. With tears and
Smiles they babe adieu to their native land, and
turned their faces 10 the gold fields where they
were 10 make their fortunes and live happy
ever afterwards.
There were no greater fayorites on Jackass
FIAT imam the RyleyS, and It was pleasant to
see the care the man took of the lad, giving him
all the light work 10 do, although Pat was not
behindhand in Willingness Win everybody
VINO Knew Them II was Pat and Shad to their
races. ana oehlnd their backs they were spoken
OF a the Ryley boys Shad of course, stood
Tor ShadTach, and Pat for Patrick, but 10 have
called either OF them by their full Christian
name would have been like giving them a slap
IN the lace, which would lead to a shindy.
They had Irish spirit with their Irish blood.
anhough slngulariy enough they hadn't much
OF the DrOgue. just the slightest touch of IL 10
render II captivating to the ear
The 1avortte resort or the gold d1ggers after
SundoWn, when their work was done, was the
hose, Shamrock, and Thistle, wooden MOTEL,
the master OF which was woman. That was
as IL should be, as most OF her customers were
IrlSn. She herself Rachel Cary by name was a
woman OF Devon a eomely creature, not more
than twenty-five years OF age. Her brother had
built the hotel In The township adjoining jack
ass Flat. and catching colonial fever died of tt
lie LETT the hotel 10 his sister. who proved her
sell a capable woman, and conducted the Rose.
shamrock and Thistle with spirit. She was
not exactly Boadicea, for she was tender
hearted, and had fallen victim to the
snares OF Cupid. she pinned to change her
name. Cary was good enough In its way.
but not TO be compared to RyIey. ii
you nave an idea that she fell In love
with the proper man OF the two, the one who
was suited 10 her in years and strength, you are
mistaken She fell In love with the wrong
man-too often the case with wiIiful women.
over head and ears with Pat Ryley she fell. the
foolish creature, swapping her fingers at the cir
cumstance OF his being mere STRIPPING while
she was fullgrown woman, at least 1Ve years
order OF things, but what are five years or fifty
for that matter, or five hundred, IL YOU please
when Cupid Is playing pranks with you? It
Is game, however, that two must play at
IL II Is 10 lead TO agreeable and sattSf actory
results
Rachel Cary made hot love to Pat. and Pat
pushed, and twiddled his fingers, and held
back and was ashamed. (as sometimes. NOT al
ways, happens with raw la1S,) and absO-
lutely had scarcely a word 10 say for himself
What made the matter worse was that it might
m ltcf0r H.
Ior Shad Ryley was as much In love with Rachel
Cary as that headstrong woman was fn love
with PAT; II was In every bodys mouth and no
man Oh Jackass Flat could see how IL was going
TO end. Shad Ryley told Rachel SO.
"EyeryboS's talking about IT," he said to
her. "
Let them talk she replied, with toss of
They say they don't see how it is to end, y
u know how it is TO end.H she said, softly,
ana turned away with Sigh-not an unhappy
one. by any means. for she had made up her
mind TO be Mrs Ryley, and despite Pats shy-
ness she was confident that 1t would all come
right. $3.50 ''''''
-, - In matrimony, suppose" said Shad Ry-
1T shan1 be my fault If it DOESN'T she re-
IOrted as bold as brass.
They had grown into the habit OF talking IN
each othor In this fashion she knew Well
enough that Shad Ryley loved the very ground
s s Nv, walked upon and that she could be as saucy
mat IL would not do TO be soft and confidin0
with THIS strong man, who was ready TO take
advantage OF any feminine weakness fnt0 which
she might be betrayed " A''n
Rachel" said Shad, "don't You see thar PAT
Sht exactly-lSn't-that Is to say
lsn IN love with me?" interruptad Rache,
say" o a'AnS "
1eS-that Is what was trying TO saw
Don't you think can make him I'm love with
Shad. 20 upon
Indeed, and think he replied, with much
tenoerness. that you could make stone love
you you cared 10 try
eli. Them" she exclaimed, as though that
Staueu the question She was secretly pleased
Win MIN Tor his fattery, which was at once in.
Stdi0uS and sincere " w 0AAoo III
ne grew cool presently, and returned to TIT
But don't you think, Raehe, thu, Won ora
ntte too-that Is, that Pat is little too
She helped him out OF the difficnity again
THAT am little too old for Par, Ia tho;
what you are trying TO Say?D - su"'
He needed, somewhat terrified for he exnoc,a,
storm. No small matter to trifie wttb 0o y
woman's age. But she met the attacI hrava,
THAT Is our affair, Pats and mine Jf We ~
satisfied whose business Is it?n "
Nobody" said Shad Ryley. s.and I'm q ,oo
for my pains Forgive me- he held onf hi,
hand; she accepted it He gave her ringers !
Orotherly squeeze; she returned It with Sfstar
ly pressure. 80 you have finally and posifiveIy
made up your mind TO be Mrs. Ryley?s
THAT Is Just IL, Shad."
SAY II az aim" he cried. 1t was the first tins