Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-01-24
Whisky BOb's Claim.

out his situation and what was best to
be done. He put down his rocker and
pack carefully on the grass; his blank
cts were strapped in it. with pick. SHOW
ell. tin wash-pan and frying-pan, with a
bag containing little pork, ham, -four
and pot for his coffee, and peeping from
the roll of blankets was the neck of
whisky bottle. He had stopped at the
bottom of high mountain ridge, not
far from the Yuba river, that made
long four miles. It was we'll wooded
and shaded by old trees, had little un-
derbrush. and just below him there ran
creek amid the bushes. clear and cool,
over the pebbles. which was very pleas
ant to see and hear in the hot weather
of summer.
"Here be again, the same derned
fool as ever, ruined by whisky, after
making piles of money: just deserved
it. What dog-goned jackass human
being can make of hisself with whisky"
Taking up his pack. Bob toiled slow
! ly up the ridge under the trees until he
came to the top. where it fattened out
in little level places and slight depres-
sions. Birds were singing and flowers
blooming around him +; and, as he sat
down to rest, he heard, to his astonish-
ment. not very far of, the clear, sweet
voice of a female singing.
! Peeping cautiously under the young
pine tree, there, in little open fat,
sitting on rock, was the singer. 1t
was a 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 a short calico dress,
with moccasins on her feet and a sum
bonnet thrown back from her head. Her
hand rested on long Kentucky rife.
She was representative of the better
class of western girls, who are contin-
ually arriving in the mountains of Cali
fornia from the long trip overland, en-
igrating in families from Kentucky and
other States.
Whisky Bob listened to the song
with delight and gazed at the singer in
admiration; and, then, with his pack
on his shoulder. coolly walked out into
her presence, and, putting the pack
down not far from her, sat down him
self. The young girl looked at him a
little surprised, but sat composed and
still, only putting her hand carelessly
on the stock of her rife. Then she
spoke to him.
"Well, mister, who might you be,
that walks into young lady's drawing
room without knocking. even on the
bark of tree 2"
please, miss. I'm called Whisky Bob
% Out prospecting, said he.
mo miss about it, Mr.. Bob, please.
My name. for short, is Nell Green to all
friends, and to others-well, I've a
shooting iron, said the girl, and con-
tinued: "Your name of whisky is bad
one, young man. and. | reckon, shows
you are being ruined by corn juice. Is
that so -
, "Well, Nell. that's fact-but rath-
er rough" said Bob, who saw the girl
had half smile on her face.
She was not in the least bold or for
ward. or wanting in modesty; but the
company of rough men, danger and
scenes in the wilderness, had taught her
; to be self-composed and self-reliant.
Nov, Mr.. Bob-without the whisky
: it seems to me-" said Nell, ..ye're
throwing yerself away; there might be
something better for yc, if ye'd seek
it," and she looked at him with an ex-
preston of some interest.
81 know it, Nell, If could only do
it."
"Got no folks, no family, to keer for
1 you?" said Nell.
mary oEe," replied Bob "never
had. | toted myself and pack up this
ridge to just seek my luck once more,
and quit the corn juice and reform. /
said to myself, Bob, if ye could only
meet woman anywhere in these dig
1 gings, and stake out claim where she
stood, it would bring ye 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 yonder
l see my folks are coming along, with
! their fxings and plunder, pau. mau,
and the rest ov EN-. l must put out,
stranger; but, Mr.. Bob, let me say a
kind word to ye on parting from shcrt
acquaintance. Ye say woman brings
, ye luck every time. Now 1 jest hope
I'll bring good fortune to yer and you
may take yer pile out of this ere spot
though can't see where it is. AnG
Mr.. Bob" said the girl, hesitating, --el
you do find it, and act up to yer good
intentions about the corn juiee-wel
: then. Mr.. Bob, my folks are raising LOG
houses and shed ixings down on The