The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-02-28


they wandered about the horizon, drink
ing Ill the beauty and the grandeur of the
scene. She had some light, tieecy ar
rangement-a nubia, [ believe 1t Is call
ed-wrapped loosely about her head and
shoulders, and her hair, IN whose meshes
the sunbeams seemed to have caught,
peeped from beneath, helped to frame a
face stamped with innocence and purity.
Young people always get sentimental IN
the evening. when surrounded by quiet,
and | WAS no exception to the rule, and
almost before knew it Twas toying with
the little hand, so white and soft, lying
carelesslv on the tiinty quartz.
Nellie, l said, after few moments,
don't you ever long to leave this rough
place and 60 back to the east 2"
Not now, she said, slowly, Though
| might under some circumstances.
Why not now a.
oh, because-because- dou't wan I
to leave papa"
is that the real reason? ?" [ asked.
her shyness and evident avoidance OF
my eyes giving me hopes that set my
heart beating with quicker pulsations.
" Let us go down, she said, quickly,
as she arose.
No, not until you answer me, and
| caught again the little hand
She drew II from my grasp, and, with
saucy . Come, started down the trail
and | fastened to follow l made sever
al attempts to renew the conversation on
the way, but Nellie always turned it off
from the subject nearest nv heart; and
yet when | left her at her fathers door
she shyly extended her hand, and
thought | detected q soft pressure as [
took 1t III mine. 4 moment, and she had
vanished, and | noticed a rosy flush on
her pretty cheeks and an unusual light
IN her tender eyes. [ went back to my
little cabin with a strange admixture of
certainty and doubt in my feelings, and a
quickening of pulse that made me oblivi-
GUS to my rough surroundings
After supper | lit my pipe and sat
upon my roughly-hewn door step. The
sun had gone down, but yet there was
light enough for me TO see her cabin and
notice her father standing in the doorway
chatting with Mineral Bob, the best
prOspectOr III camp and the third owner
with Stacy and myself In the Ajax.
turned my head and saw the lights in
the shaft-house of the Big Giant mine on
Red mountain cleaning way IN the dis
lance; | heard the changing blows of the
blacksmith at his forge as he sharpened
the tools for the mornings work, and the
deep boom Of the blast in the Little
Emily mine came floating through the
still night air. Then my eyes wandered
back to the cabin which held Nellie.
Bob was still there, his tall figure and
broad shoulders contrasting greatly with
the little old man In the doorway. What
was he doing there 50 long, / thought
and | pulled my pipe viciouslv az / saw
Nellie moment later Join the two. The
night settled down and the cabins faded
from view, their presence only revealed
by the lights shining through the little
square windows or the sparks streaming
out OF the stone and mud cIimneys It
was getting cool, too, and | knocked the
ashes out Of my pipe and re-entered my
little home and stirred up the shoulder
ing embers on the hearth. An hour went
by and the moon sent its beams across
my little table, with its tin plates and
cups; across my earthern and rocky floor.
touching lightly my books on shelf at
the head OF my bed and resting softly on
the rolled-up coat that served me for
pillow. | turned on my stool and glanc-
eli out OF the window. The top OF the
surrounding timber were silyered by the
moonlight; and the cabins stood out
against the dark background OF the tall
spruces. The sound of singing came up
from the saloon, and the wind sighed fit
fully now and then. And SO / fell into a
sombre REVERE, and Nellie was the CEN
ter about which all my thoughts revolv-
Ed. Presently there was q knocking at
my door, and at my invitation Mineral
Bob entered
Hello. Philadelphia, he said, Il
kinder thought YOU wasn't in.
Why" | asked, rather sorry of the
interruption, though Bob was good COM
pany, and no one could look into his
merry, blue eyes and pleasant face, COW
cred all over with luxuriant, rich
brown beard, without feeling better and
less ont of spirits.
"Oh, 1 sort of calculated you'd be
somewhere around the girl How's
your chances, partner? Good. eh?"
Come IN, Bob, and stop your non
sense. Here, ill your pipe aud sit
down.
Bob laughed good-humoredIy and,
pulling up a stool, sat down near the
uiF ana, dS ut ul1ttt LIS IIpe, SdIu:
I've dropped in on little business
about the Sunshine, You know" allud-
ing to mine OF his and one Of the best
in the camp. You know I'm obliged
to sink-ain't got no chance to tunnel,
aud the surface water is getting the best
Of me. Must have a pump, if want to
DO anything-this bailing water ont by
the hucketful when she's coming in near
as fast Is OF no account. You know
that?
| nodded assent.
We'll, then, Philadelphia, as he
lighted his pipe and gave two or three
vigorous putfs. q want 10 see what
kind of Ghcker | can make with You about
running the niue | amt got the money
to get an engine or pump, though |
guess | could borrow 1t. aud besides I've
got 10 go east on business inside of a
week, and / don't want to leave the
Sunshine idle-I can't afford it
. Why don't YOU sell II to old Stacy p
[ said. He's got some ready money"
But he's going out shortly and wants
to sell his own mines.
Going out-Stacy ?" | demanded.
wondering why Nellie had never alluded
TO it.
a4Vou r,ri,C, ;, -oI-o -ba+ cya1 o+ his