Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-10-26


Frazer River, whore the fever of the
gold excitement had just broken out
most fiercely.
l Cont know whether it was months
or years-days and weeks we're alike to
me for long time-but at last was
succ es.iul and got together five thous-
and dollars in yellow dust. OF course,
my only though. was OF my wife, aud J!
seized the first opportunity to send on
the treasure.
A miner at homo willingly took
charge OF my little pile, and soon be-
gan to look for letters. Rob's could
easily imagine-noble, manly, like
hinse Susy's though of, and tired
to fancy hundreds of times, for | did
sever have letter from her. knew
| il would be delicate aud pretty, and
like my snow drop.
| Well, well, faacies may do very well,
but they will not feed n hungry heart.
Day after day passed 81 and no letters.
Nv soul grew sick. Imade all sorts OF
excuses for them. Imagined all sorts
OF delays. But the long, dreary days
went by with leaden feet, and not a
word came to the wanderer from his
loved ones.
grew morbid and bitter, and at last
| wrote to an acquaintance IN Fan
Francisco, asking for tidings OF my
brother and my wife. The friend was
not 30 neslectful rs the wife and broth
er. Soon--too soon--I received reply.
/ can see it now in letters of FIRE.
| my DaAa Fellow have made inquiries
as you requested, about your wife and brother
and can only ind that they disappeared from
here few months ago, telling no one whittier
they were going. They seemed at that time to
he in possession of plenty OF money"
What more the letter contained
never knew; that much WAS burned in.
to my brain, and at point lost myself
They say was raving maniac. Per
haps SO; don't know. l only know
found myself an old man blasted before
nay time, like Il tee struck by light
ming.
Weeks. months, years dragged on.
scarcely knew how they passed. Me
chemically | worked Oh. Fortune, nc
longer sought, showered gold on me. ]
cared not for it, but instinct prevented
me from throwing it away. Gambling
was utterly repugnant to me. No
form of dissipation lured me. l was
an old man at thirty. only worked
and thought, and lived over the old
days--and my one brief day Of un.
clouded joy
/ never curse them. The hurt was
too sharp and too deep for curses
From the depth Of my torA heart !
pitied them.
Well, twenty years rolled on, and
had got to be forty years old, feeling
and looking more like sixty-tive, bent
and stiff and gray-haired. One day in
my wanderings came on travelling
party of miners, bound to the gold re.
gions. joined them, frontier fashion
and was soon seated at their fire. ex
changing news with the Indians and
those from the states. l CHANGED &c
mention my name
We've got namesake of yours il
camp" said one fellow.
"Have you? 1t isn't common
name," l replied carelessly.
mo, and there's where it's odd" he
replied. "Beside, you somewhat re
mind me Of him, though you're much
older than he can be. By the way
there he comes"
turned--something, 1 knew not
what, seemed to shoot through me.
rose, and recognized Robert, my broth.
er. My heart gave one bound. for
got my wrongs, saw only my dear
other self, the beloved companion Of
my boyhhood days. sprang forwar d
eagerly.
Robert, dear old boy, is it you ~
He looked at me incredulously.
"Ralph, can it be you ?"
at is" cried; and-Hell, | don 7
know rs am ashamed of i'll EN-
braced him like schoolgirl and
wept.
And so did he, poor fellow, though
he could hardly believe the wrecked
old man was his brother. But what
struck me even then as strange, was
that he did not shrink from me, nor
act as though he had injured me.
| Robert" | said, When we were
alone and calmer, "I've forgiven you
long ago. We won't speak Of the past.
Let me be happy in the bliss of seeing
you once more. will never com G
round to trouble You, brother"
Forgive me?" he said inquiringly,
81 don't understand You'll never
trouble me and we won't speak of the
past? Why didn't you write to usY
Your poor wife"
"Do not speak of her, Robert" I in.
interrupted in sudden agony. II can
bear anything else-spare me that"
Bat, Ralph, there's something very
strange here. Why didn't you let us
hear from your Why can't speak of
her? Since you are not dead, as We
supposed, why did yon desert herr"
Desert henry wifel My Godp
and | fairly laughed,
A horrible laugh, dare say, for
Robert turned pale. I could see he
thought was mad. resolved to con-
troll myself, and, shine we must have
it out, TO talk it over. So after turn
or two, | came back and stood by