Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-08
WHISKY BOB'S CLAIM.

Whisky Bob was dead broke, very
tired, and wanted to sit down and study
his situation and what was best to be
done.
"Here | be again, the same derned fool
as ever, ruined by whisky after maxim
piles Of money; just deserve it. What
a doggoned iackass human can make
hisself with whisky"
Taking uplhis pack, Bob toiled slow
ly up the ridge under the trees until he
came to the top, where it ilattened out
in little level places and slight depres-
sons. Birds were singing and flowers
blooming around him; and, as he sat
down to rest, he heard, to his ast0nish-
ment, not very far of, the clear, sweet
voice of female, singing.
Peeping cautiously under the young
pine tree, there, in little open fiat, sit
ting on q rock, was the singer. 1t was
pleasant picture to look at for lonely
mana tall, shapely, buxom young girl,
with light, golden hair, blue eyes, and
very regular, pretty features. She was
dressed in short calico dress, with moe
assins on her feet, and a sun-bOnnet
thrown back on her head. Her hand
rested on along Kentucky rife. She was
q representative of the better class of
Western girls, who were continually in
those early days arriving in the noun
tains of California from the long trip
overland, emigrating in families from
Kentucky and other States.
Whisky Bob listened to the song with
delight, and gazed at the singer in adj
miration; and then, with his pack on
his shoulder, coolly walked out into her
presence, and, putting his pack down
not far from her, sat down himself. Then
she spoke to him. .a~
"Well, Mister, who might you be,
that walks into young lady's drawing
room without knocking, even on the bark
of % tree p
"Please, Miss, Pm called Whisky
Bob out prospecting"
"No miss about it, Mr.. Bob, please.
My name, for short, is Nell Green to all
friends, and to others-well, Pve shoot
ing iron,' said the girl, and continued:
Your name of Whiskey is bad one,
young man, and reckon shows you are
being ruined by corn juice. Is that sor
We'll, Nell, that's u fact-but rather
rough said Bob, who saw the girl had
half smile on her face.
Now, Mr.. Bob-without the Whisky
it seems to me- said Nell, 'ye're
throwing yerself away, and, there might
be something better for yer, if ye'd seek
it, and she looked at him with an ex-
preston of some interest.
i know, it Nell, if | conld only do it,
Got no folks, no family, to keer for.
you p said Nell.
Marry one, replied Bob; never had.
! toted myself and pack up this ridge
to jest seek my luck once more, and
quit the corn juice and reform. said
myself, Bob, if We could only meet a
woman anywhere in these diggings, and
stake out calm, where she stood, it
would bring We fresh luck and ye might
turn over new leaf, and be somebody
once more And here, sure enough, I've
met you
'Ye mean right, I'm sure said Nell,
softly. But down the trail away yon-
der / see my folks are coming along,
with their filings and plumber, pau
mau and the rest OVEN. must put out
stranger, but Mr.. Bob, let me say a
kind word to We on parting from short
acquaintance. Yer say woman brings
We luck every time. Now just hope
I'll bring good fortune to yer and you
may take your pile out of this ere spot,
though / can't see where it is. Mr..
Bob, said the girl, hesitating, 'efye do
not End it, and act up to yer good in.