Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03

proportions, struck rich lead Of mar
vellous proportions and containing i'm
mense wealth.
At once the almost unknown camp
became famous, and his name all un-
consciously to him became almost as Il
household word in all mining commu-
mites as associated with one of the
largest strikes of the year. Fame Of
this kind travels far, and even after n
time reached the quiet farm in Chester
Valley where he had spent his happy
childhood days and afterward wrecked
his manhood. One day, while in the
cage ascending from che bottom of one
of his deepest shafts, shadow cast
over the top caused him to suddenly
look up, and the face he saw caused a
thrill of horror to pass through him,
his hands relaxed his grasp of the rope
and he had narrow escape from
falling to the bottom. Arriving at the
top more dead than alive, he gave one
hasty, frightened glance around him,
saw the face again and swooned away
The owner of the face, tall and
handsome man, evidently stranger in
the camp, sprang forward and caught
his falling body in time to prevent it
from being dashed to pieces in the
botton of the shaft, at the same time
circulating, "Oh, William" The
miner was taken to his cabin, and,
after the application of reStoratives,
slowly revived "Where is it?' he
asked, at which the stranger slowly adj
vanced and said softly, Brother, don't
you know me?' With u still half
frightened look in his wandering eyes
the miner ga2ed again at the face
which had so startled him, and gradu-
ally realizing the fact that II was real,
living flesh and blood, again relapsed
into a swJon. For days he raved in
the paroxysms of fever, living
the hideous chapter of his life over
again, until at last the fever exhausted
itself by its very force, and the sick
man sank into deep slumber.
At last the invalid awoke, weak and
helpless as a child but in his right
mind. Instantly the cause of his ill.
ness was by his side, and taking his
hand tenderly in his own said, evil
liam, my poor brother" 1t was James
Samuels, the brother who was suppooed
to have been dead, but who was here
alive and we'll and in the full enjoy
ment of manhood. as it a miracle? ?"
calculated William, as soon as he could
speak. at is no miracle, but a sad
mistake under which you have labored
and from which you have undoubtedly
suffered much. When you get strong
er ] will tell you ALL" The next day,
William having so far recovered as to
be able to sit up, his brother sat by
him and said, Notwithstanding my
injury, which was not nearly 50 serious
as you imagined, l regained conscious
ness shortly afterward, and our father,
who entered the barn ut that moment
assisted me to the house. The news
was broken to your mother and Hattie
as gently as possible and | really think
their sympathies were with you more
than with me. The matter was kept
as quiet as possible in the neighbor-
hood and | soon recovered from the
injury, and everything went along as
usual save that you were grieyed for
and lamented by all. Notwithstanding
all the inquiries which we had quietly
set on foot to discover your where
abouts we utterly failed to discover
any trace, and mourned you almost as
one dead. About two weeks ago pick
ed up an old newspaper and saw your
name for the first time connected with
the story of your big mining strike. 1t
was at once resolved that | should
come to you. Istarted that very night,
and | am here"
But Hattie?" asked William, with
a wistful look from his eyes.
Isle is well, and would be happy
were it not for worrying about your
fate"
"She and you got married, of course?'
There was pain in the very tones in
which this was asked
"No, indeed. After you left she con-
lded to me her secret-thlt after all
she loved you and always meant to
marry YOU" A dazed look came over
Williams face, and gasping, at cannot
be-" he very nearly relapsed into
another swoon, the joy of the announce
ment being almost too much for him
in his weakened state. At last, after
having been assured again and again
by his brother of the glad truth, he ex-
claimed, "Oh, let us 20 home at once"
Arrangements were made at once to
start, and with a new life in his veins
the invalid recovered his strength so
rapidly that they left the camp on the
second day after, and reached home in
side of week. OF the meeting and its
joys words could not give an accurate
description. Aquiet wedding followed
within one short month, after which
the miner returned with his bride to
Colorado, furnished her magnificent
! ho,,,n IN nnnvar md |, now N ot nnly