Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-07-12

turn to the camp with them; promising
that one OF the miners would go the follow
ing day to Kiwanna, about ten miles dis
tant, and make inquiries concerning the
person she supposed was her husband.
Without further ceremony Flynn wrapped
the boy in the blanket he had brought for
the purpose, and Bagly trudged along with
Maggie in his arms.
When the party reached camp it was
past the time set for Skinner's return, but he
had not arrived. A bed of brushwood
covered with Blanket was arranged for
the guests, and after they had lain down
the men lighted their pipes and gathered
around the fire, cOnversing in low whispers
and listening eagerly for the sound of the
horses footsteps.
''He oughter bin here long afOre this"
said Bagly, rousing himself from a brown
study. "Boys, he's scoOted."
The suggestion fell like a bOmbshell; no
one spoke for moment then Bagly re-
sumed:
"He's got your watch, Flynn-my pistol
and Fleetfoot. He's gone sure as shootin'.
l saw the cussedness q shining in his eyes
when he drew the slip,,n',
The others were 10th to accept their COM
rade's suggestion, but all crept to their rest
ing-places with heavy-hearts.
"We kin live on beans, muttered Bagly,
'but what will become of the womanan' her
kids ?"
In the morning there wasconsiderablee
cftementin Eureka camp. Two OF the men,
Bagly and Reed, were missing. After a
protracted search the latter was found neara
unconscious. state, having apparently fallen
in fit. They carried him back to camp,
laid the limp form on bramble bed and
gazed at each other in blank dismay.
."Call the woman; p'raps she'll know
what to do," advised Tom Knowles.
The woman did not wait to be called. See
ing that something was amisS she approach
ed the group. The next moment a heart
rending cry burst from her lips. Falling
upon her knees she threw her arms around
the sick man and kissed his still, white face
in wild distracted way. A slight tremor
passed over Reeds frame. He opened his
eyes, looked Wistfully at the woman bend
ing over him. Then gleam ofintelligence
illuminated his countenance; he recognized
the faithful wife from whom he had been so
long separated by a singular freak of fate.
For one brief moment soul met soul. He
raised his hand heavenWard, murmured
family, Cup there, Maggie" then earned
his soubriquet of Silent Reed.
A solemn stiffness prevailed around Eure-
ka camp when Flynn and his comrades re-
turned from their unsuccessful search for
Bagly. The remainder Of the party were
sitting around in respondent attitudes,
while Mrs. Reed, with the sick child on her
knees and one hand fondly resting on the
dead mans face, looked the very embOdi-
ment of inconsoable grief. Flynn-tender-
hearted Tom Flynn-how his burly frame
shook with sobs as the touching death scene
was described to him.
"Boys," he said, huskily, "we must face
our hard luck like heroes. | have insisted
all along that the Eureka held fortune for
each of us, because | believed it. But" it
cost him struggle to utter the next words,
which were the eXtnguishment of the hope
that had enabled them to endure privation
and hunger without a murmur. "But," he
went on, 81 was mistaken. After that poor
creature has grown accustomed to her sorrow
we will bury poor ST and pull up stakes.
We won't abandon them, boys. For his
sake, we 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 hill
side, singing blithely, unconscious of the be-
reavement that had befallen her.
"Look" she shouted gleefully, "what
nice stones l have found. Full of bright
specks jes like eyes"
Flynn took the stone she held toward him.
His face, rough and weather-beaten, grew
pallid with sudden joy.
"Boys," he whispered, in tone Of sup
pressed excitement, "she has struck it,
Where did you find this, Maggie?"
"Way up there past the big hole," she re-
piled, Vaguely wondering at his white face.
Ina moment the men fell into line, Mag
gle leading the way to the spot where she
found the precious stone. AS they passed
the mouth of the pit, the scene Of their
fruitless labors, Flynn stopped to get a
shovel. The others followed his example,
carrying with them the implements which
they had cast down, in a hopeless way, the
being too much excited to speak. If disap-
pointment awaited them now! No, two or
three blows, such as had never been dealt
before, told them that they had "struck it"
at last. They paused, looked at each other
for a moment, then the hills echoed and re-
echoed with the shout of triumph that burst
simultaneously from their lips.
They returned to camp, Flynn carrying
Maggie on his shoulder, just as Bagly ap-
peared in sight with q bag of provisions on
his back. In few words he explained
Kiwanna to beg food for the woman and
her children. After hasty dinner some of
the men went to select pleasant spot in
which to lay the remains OF their cOmrade,
and Flynn set out for town to make arrange
ments about having the camp supplied with
provisions.
Several hours later he returned in high
spirits and related how he had encountered
Skinner in a tavern, and demanded the re-
turn of the horse, watch and pistol that had
been entrusted to him. He clustered and
swore for while, and finally agreed to sell
his claim for the articles he had already
appropriated to his own use. Flynn did
not apprise him of the lucky turn of For
tunes wheel, but took precautions to have
the exchange legally drawn up and signed.
"He played us a mean trick" concluded
Flynn, "but l got the best of him, and now
| propose to transfer his share to the Or
phans and widow Of our old friend"
No dissenting voice was raised against
the proposition; furthermore, they all de-
clared that Maggie should hcnccforth be
called the Ward Of the Eureka Mining
Company.
The next day ST was buried, and week
later, when the success of the mine had
become an established fact, Mrs. Reed and
her children were taken back to Sacrament
to. The sudden change Of fortune, coupled
with the death Of her husband, proved too
much for the poor woman, and two Or
phans became actual wards Of the Eureka
Mining Company.
WORDS OF WISDOM.-It is upon the
smooth ice we slip; the toughest path is
safest.
There is always hope in Il man that ac-
tually and earnestly works.
Vivacity in youth is often mistaken for
genius, and sOlidity for dullneSS.