Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-06-20

bending over him. Then gleam OF
intelligence Illuminated his counIen- .
ance; he recognized the faithful wife
from whom he had been so long separ
ated b, singular freak Of fate. For
one brief moment soul met soul. He
raised his hand heavcnward, murmur-
ell family, Up there, Magsle,' then
earned his soubrquet Of Silent Reed.
A solemn stiffness prevailed around
Eureka camp when Flynn and bis
comrades returned from their uasuc
cessiul search for Bagly. The remain
der Of the party were sitting around 10
despondent attitudes. while Mrs. Reed,
with the sick child on her knees aud
one hand fondly resting on the dead
mans face, looked the very embodi-
ment Of iuconsolable grief. Flynn
tender-hearted om-Flynn-how his
burly frame shook with sob5 as the
touching death scene was described TO
him.
Boys, lie said hu.kily, 'Se must
face our hard luck like heroes. have
insisted all along that the Eureka held
fortune for each of US, because be-
lieyed it. But 1t cost him a strug-
Gle TO utter the next words, which
were the extinguishm Of the hope
that had enabled them 10 eud re priva-
ton aud hunger without murmur.
'But, he went on, L vas mistaken.
Alter that poor creature has grown
accustomed to her sorrow we will bury
poor 81 and pull up stakes. We won't
abandon them. boys. For his sake ne
must protect those he loved.
The others heartily agreed TO the
last clause. While arranging their
plans for the future, little Maggie
bounded down the hillside, singing
blithely, unconscious Of the beTeave.
meut that had befallen her.
Look !! she shouted gleeiully, what
nice stones l have found. Full oi
bright specks jes like eyes
Flynn took the stone she held to-
ward him. His face, rough and weather
beaten, grew pallid with sudden joy.
Boys he whispered, in a tone o
suppressed excltemen she has STRUCK
IT, Where did you find this, Maggie !:
Way up there, past the big hole'
she replied, vaguely wondering at bis
white face.
In a moment the men fell into line
Maggie leading tie way to the spo
where she found the precious stone
AS they passed the mouth of the pit
the scene Of their fruitless labors
Flynn stopped to get shovel. Tht
Others followed his example, carrying
with them the implements they hat
cast down in hopeless way the night
previous. They set to work silently
being too much excited 10 speak. Ii
disappointment awaited them now
No. two or three blows, such as hat
never been dealt before, told them
that they had struck it, at last. They
paused, looked at each other for mo-
ment, then the hills echoed and re-
echoed with the shout of triumph tina
burst simultaneously from their lips.
They returned 10 camp. Flynn car
rying Maggie on his shoulder, just a;
Bagly appeared in sight with a bag o
provisions on his back. In few words
he explained how, before daylight, hi
had started FOR Kiwanna to get .iooC
for the woman and her children. Aftel
a basty dinner some of the men wen
TO select a pleasant spot in which tC
lay the remains Of their conrade, anC
Flynn set out for town to make ar
rangements about having the camT
supplied with provisions.
Several hours later he returned is
high spirits and related how he had en-
countered Skinner in a tavern, anC
demanded the return Of the horse,
watch and pi stol that had been entrus
ted 10 him. He clustered and swort
for a while, and finally agreed TO sci
his claim for the articles he had already
appropriated 10 bis own use. Flynr
did not apprise him Of the lucky turr
of Fortunes wheel, but took precau
uons 10 have the exchange legally
drawn up and signed.
He played us a mean trick con
cluded Flynn, but | got The best o
him, and now l propose 10 transfer hl'
share TO the orphans and widow of oul
Old friend
No dissenting voice was raise
against the proposition; furthermore
they all declared that Maggie should
henceforth be called the Ward Of th'
Eureka Mining Company.
The next day 81 was buried, and
week later, when the success OF th'
mine had become an established fact
Mrs. Reed and her children were TAX
en- back 10 Sacramento. Tie sudden
change of fortune, coupled with the
death of her husband, proved too mucl
for the poor woman, and the two or
phans became the actual wards OF tn
Eureka Mining Company.
H. F~u.rIU w TauII nj A