Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-15


With the utmost composure he watched his
second fortune vanish in follies more expensive
than dress, and, at the end Of two years he babe
me farewell, never saw him afterward, for he
did not return to England. The events that
follow were told me by friend. who regarded
Dave almost as warmly as myself did / put
his narrative into the first person for conye-
nience.
Parsons had extraordinary lack 1t last. In
less than three months he had RENTED the full
amount due for house and half claim. But he
turned out TO be one OF the most Objectionable
diggers in camp, always foremost in making
grievances against authority. That was an agi-
tated time. Nothing had been settled as yet,
beyond the transfer Of Griqualand to the
British Empire: The commissioners might,
perhaps, be bullied or persuaded to any action.
and ''diggers' meetings" assembled almost
nightly for the purpose OF trying it on. Parsons
became leading orator at these gatherings,
spouting seditiOus nonsense from the market
table.
Nor did the surviving daughter much impress
me. said my informant. Beauty she had. be-
yOnd doubt, of higher class, / should fancy.
than those young charms which fascinated poor
Swelly Dave. Her features were delicate and
high-bred, her eyes full of life. but. / thought.
hard One could not mistake her neat, upright
little figure at any distance, 1 recognized it in
the main street one day, as drove from New
Rush home.
Miss Parsons had been shopping. and over
d
young digger. trudging dirty from the claims
with his spade upon his shoulder, gave me a
jealous glance as he dived out of sight between
the huts.
$50 Dave is coming back7" said as we
strOlled along.
81 didn't know" she answered coolly. "He
makes mistake. The diggings are not what
they were"
"Perhaps Dave is not what he was"
"Oh, Mr. Dave will never change He lives
hnvH<l h. oAl
You think that he did not feel your sisters
death muchs can assure you that is grave
mistake"
Miss Parsons face changed.
He suffered what he could, no doubt. A
few tears leaked through the box You are Mr..
Dawes great friend, are you not7"
mo. He is very dear to me, but there are
others In the camp who have known him longer
and tried him more"
"Why," she cried, her clear eyes shining with
anger "You speak of this-this Mr.. Dave as
one would speak of a hero! 1t is ridiculous!"
"And how does your father speak of him, Miss
Parsons" asked, stopping at her door.
She looked at me like little fury, and went
in.
In due time Dave arrived, hot and dusty, but
dinner to welcome him, and 1.-The proceedings
terminated" as the time honored formula runs,
at a very late hour indeed.
Next day he called on Mr.. Parsons, frankly
told his situation, and asked for the accounts of
his quarter share. That wretch pretended not
cused Dave of an attempt to swindle.
The poor fellow did not answer much, and
did nothing to obtain his rights Louey's
father was sacred. He told me the story with
his usual calmness.
at doesn't make much difference" he said;
II shall have to begin afresh. Perhaps some
one will put me into a claim"
But OF his old friends some had retired on
their fortune; others, disheartened, had gone
further north, to the gold diggings; others had
ing nearly all owned good claims, but their ar
engagements were permanently settled. People
on whom Dave had not such strong hold were
disinclined to tempt their luck by employing q
man once successful. Forthere is a superstition
In the Fields. confirmed by dozen cases in my
own experience, that the digger has only one
chance. If he trifle with it, or let it 90, fate
takes revenge.
There were many claims 'jumpable" on Du-
toitstpan and Bultfontein, and one of these Dave
worked, cheerful aud quiet; but his finds were
absolutely nothing He lived in my tent on
Bultfontein HILL At his request, I did not
speak of Parsons conduct.
The daughter noticed only by a ceremonious
bow when l CHANGED to meet her. But we
came face to face one afternoon. and could do
no less in public than grasp the offered hand.
did l not say" she began, that Mr.. Dave
had better not have returned?'
"You spoke with more knowledge of the
facts than had"
81? How?"
The girls impudence vexed me.
You have proved yourself a wise child, Miss
Parsons" l answered, IF there's truth in the
proyerb."
She colored angrily, and stared, but 1 left
her.
This incident told to Dave, of course as we
sat at night.
81 should be sorry to suspect Clara" he
said, "Of any part in her fathers conduct. We
were never friends but used to think her as
honest as high-spirited. How she loved little
Loo! Her dislike for me arose from jealousy OF
the childs friendship, though, Heaven knows,
Loo never pretended to care for me- Old fell
low, I'm tired of this place! Will Palmer has
asked me to join him, prospecting beyond the
Hook, and I've accepted. We start tomorrow"
Its hard on two of our Oldest VOOr-trek-
kers to be inspanning again!"
Read up your history Of Christopher Co.
lumbus, he answered, laughing. "That yoor-
trekker was ill treated if you like"
Two days after the pair started amid some
excitement; for prospecting expedition" had
not left the Fields these many months past, and
both men were popular.
saw Miss Parsons at her door as the noisy
little crowds went by. She knew by experience
what that procession signifed-the party laden
with tent and tools and cooking things, the
men with rife, revolver, and pannikin, Dave
was neat, as usual and eXceliently dressed,
though not in Pail Mall fashion. The wife of an
official had just presented him with superb
white ostrich feather, which he had curled round
his brOad-trmmed hat. AS he raised it in pas
sing, the girl cOlOred.
Our first news of the explorers came from the
storekeeper at the HOek. He wrote that they
had crossed the river against urgent warning
The chief Jantje and his Batlapins had lately
become more offensive than usual, and my
friend the stOrekeeper expected mischief. After
this, nothing more was heard Of Dave for nearly
two months.
We vaguely knew at the Fields that Jantie
had broken out, and was doing much injury to
his neighbOrs. But there are no white people
in his territory, and the Orange river is very
broad. Half a troop of the frontier police
marched to the Hook, for what purpose nobody
knew. The friends Of the ''prospectors'' grew
anxious
Meanwhile another attack of their periodical
fever had broken out among the diggen. New
Rush discovered, all over again, that it was
robbed by black laborers and white receivers
For the hundredth time it vowed in public and
private that this sort of thing must be stopped
with fire and blood.
SO the diggers assembled In their thousands.
burned half dozen canteens, and badly treated
their owners Then they caught some blacks.
logged them, and marched them about with
rO1lnd moi g.