Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-03-31

WORKED oQLlI SuDSots only uuoiAe
abou. six bis of coarse gold, but
10 his last bucket, when washed
out, he found a good solid piece of
gold weighing three ounces.
Iu the morning be arose by day
light, aud after his breakfast OF
(, led pork aud coffee, ending with
the usual smoke of his pipe, be
went to work again, deter mined to
work the gold out for Nelrs sake,
if he did net make fortune.
He worked hard and steady
though the day, only stopping at
noon for some coffee and smoke
beneath the pine tree camp, The
sun was very hot, but he didr't
mind it. At night, when he wash-
ed out the result of the days hard
toll, he only had dollars' worth
of coarse gold, but he found lit
tls piece of blue ribbon Nell had
lost from her hair. This consoled
him amply, as he kissed it and
said to himself. Bob, better luck
Tomorrow His claim was what
miners call very spotted for gold
was scattered in spots here and
there. The next day and the next,
his labors brought him the came
result-about enough to pay ex-
penses, Or as the miners call it,
grub money
The fourth day, just before he
washed out, in his last rocker of
dirt, at sunset, he found two pieces
of gold, one worth $3.50, the other
fully 5000. Bob was happy that
night, and tied the blue ribbon with
leather string round his neck, so
that it could rest on his heart. The
next two days brought no big piece,
but the seventh he took pieces of
! gold from the clay-like cement
, weighing about $500. 1t was dark
colored gold, pretty solid, and twist
ed into strange shapes, with holes
i'll it, but not appearing much worn,
; or, i'll mining parlance "washed."
When the miners passed him
daily OH their way to the divide,
they stopped to ask what his luck
, was, and when they saw very lit
tie coarse gold in his pan, they
E, l..u shcd at him. But Bob kept his
Jumps of gold in his packet, or bn-
ried them beside the rock in his
; camp. In this way he worked on.
taking sometimes large pecies Of
= gold out, half as large as NeIl's
little list, and then for days very
= little.
He now examined and weighed
his gold, and found that he hac
g about $4,000, mostly in heavy
d pieces. This was pretty gooc
if fortune for seven weeks diging
i and Boo felt an unconqucrablt
k longing to 90 ami tell Nell al
u about it. The next morning by
daylight he cleared up, packed NJ
J his things and started down th'
ridge to the nearest trading tents
T But in his blankets, carefully strap
ped ont OF sight, was II heavy BAY
'r of -old in place Of whisky bottle
y 1t was early in the day yet. ane
Z Bob set out to find the ranch .
. Nclly's people, leaving his pack
. except the blanket containing th
q geld, which was slung over BIZ
a !. shoulders on his pick handle,
d In little over miles walkin.
d he found a pretty valley at tn
d mouth of the creek, where SOM
new log houses, fences and clear
d ings indicated Nell's home.
II In back room with her white
% strong, beautiful arms hare to tn
. shoulder, stoop pretty Nell at tn
% washtub, yer busy in stream q
;, = soapsuds and Kentucky jeans, sing
ing free as bird,
- Bob put down his pack an,
- walked III, but NeIl's quick ca
n heard, and she turned and saw him
"a and her eyes sparklct.
t, what Bob, ia that you com
r. at last . in store clothes too 2 sal
Of che, glancing with bright eyes 9
Dr. the young man, and with poorl
n disguised pleasure.
SeFto'u, sure, Nell you salQ
ID might come
e Yes Bob; but how abon. til
re whisky 2
- Nell, l have Il touched a dro
y since you saw me If have Sthe
~ may shoot me. Ard what's NOR
% l don't mean to-if You say so
)" replied he.
fe 'An' Bob, did I bring luck t
yer? Was there gold up thar =
IN sNell, thar's six thousand dollar
a and more, rolled in them blanket
II thar, owe to your pretty self, c
is I'm q niger. And, Nell, jul
n, look here and Bob took from til
10 breast Of his shirt package care
er fally wrapped in paper, which ha
rested on the bow of NelPs blu
y ribbon he had found, anG which ell
t. saw. Unwrapping it, there was