Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-11-04
Selett Sturp.
1T MINERS LUCK.
BY CLARA sPALpINe BROWN.


woman buried in Miners Luck ? Yes.
'Tis small circumstance to stranger,
but tragic one to those who knew
the occupant of that humble grave.
1t was two years ago that | first saw
her, but the memory of that pure face
hsunts me still, as it will haunt me to
my dying day.
beautiful faces are those that wear
1t matters little If dark or fair
Whole.souled honesty printed there"
And her face, amongst the motley set
which crowded the old stage coach,
cleaned like milk-white pearl amid
group Of rough cobble-stones, with
the dark soil of the wayside clinging
to them. She was like fair, fragile
lily among those burly miners and
ruthless gamblers, yet she showed no
fear or thought but she was as safe in
the quiet, neat little home she had left
left for loves sake, to go where God
was forgotten, and dreariness lay on
every hand. And she was safe. Those
were unscrupulous men, but they could
not harm one who bore Gods mark
upon her brow. Coarse in their jests,
betraying in look and act their fallen
estate, they yet We'd with each other
in awkward attempts to make their
delicate fellow-passenger comfortable,
and their voices sank into softened ca
dence as they respectfully addressed
her from time to time in the tedious
ride over the dusty prairie and up the
rugged hills. beyond which lay Min
ers' Luck. She was worn and weary
with the long journey from distant
State, but she was happy. Every
mile left behind by the numbering
coach increased her joy and brighten
ed the eager sparkle that fatigue could
not Danish from her eyes. For she
was going to meet her husband, whom
she had not seen for a whole year--a
year of watching and waiting, of lone
illness and longing-and he did not
expect her. She was going to give
him delicious surprise. Over and
over again she pictured the meeting
to hsrself-his blank astonishment at
sight of her, then the flash of joy that
would irradiate his countenance, and
the fervent embrace as he would clasp
the unlocked for treasure 10 his heart
the treasure which was come to
share his lot, for veal or woe, and
brighten the dull routine of miners
life. How happy he would be to
know that their separation was over
at last, and how joyous they would
take up new life together among the
gulches. She would be so economical,
almost anything would do for home
at first, and she would add to the in
come, rather than decrease it.
She would have gone to James long
ere this, but money had been scarce
and James had written that she had
better wait until he could get good
start and save enough to send for her.
Ah he did not know her little Sc
cret which was enabling her to fly to
him without. infringing upon his
scanty savings. He did not know
that Uncle John had called to see her
on his way back to Australia, and had
given her the passage money, with his
blessing, as he said good-by-yes, and
enough besides to help consider
ably in setting up housekeeping
with careful management. Bless
ings on warm-hearted Uncle John,
who had provided her with so much
happiness She had not heard from
James very lately, but she did. not
mind that now. 1t had been weary
waiting, but the poor boy had to VI
hard and could not write often. Id
few hours she would see himl She
grew restless, her fingers interlacing
and her head turned from side to side
eagerly noting the changes in the
landscape which showed that they
had entered mining region.
The glowing sun sank behind the
western hills, gray twilight crept on
and fingered awhile, then darkness
fell over the lonely road. Lights
were twinkling here and there over
the hilleides as they neared the camp,
and it was nearly 9 O'Clock when,
with a rattle and a flourish, the coach
sw ept around the corner by the post
Office and came to stanj.still before
the shanty digni6sd by that name.
A throng of blue-shirtsd miners
and prospectors crowded around the