Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-15
BESIDE THE FLUME.

Tn the spring Of 1852 four miners
,,ilt their cabin on the bank ol
brawling stream that, with frothinS
lins. leaped down from one of the grauu ,
rnonntain Businesses of the 'oiuen
State. ,a,nb bri,t
Then they constructed solidiy Ou,i'
lam 6f logs completely across 'no
tom which they named Clear river
'hns shutting off the water from 'ts
NOD the overflow escaping by a long
race,way or iume.
In the dry bed of the river was 10
,oted Clear River Mine, and the nm
srs soon found all their labor wen r.
warded; for the sands of the mountain
torrent literally shone with golu' .h"'
nd been torn from some crumoling
onartz ledge that had barred It's orea''
- tho turbulent waters for centuries
; ~ from many a atortured bowlderwhirleo
d along in a crazy dance in the river
cold embrace.
i. sr,,,. ,a.t. ounce of shining dust hal
been ti;ikrs1 from tne aeAAessNe scuAe
and the four men grouped around u
rude table, looked into each other
eyes that shone brighter with the ligh
Of success, than the gold for whic
they had SO patiently toiled.
Ten thousand dollars, boys 49, so
sharel" laughed one of the brown
faced miners "That's pretty goo
showing for month of rocking tn
cradle. A few more dividends lik
that and then | reckon that I'll Q
N home. There's little woman in a Ii
tie brown house / know of that wi
be glad to see me-bless her brave Ii
tie heart
Home The four partners in tn
I' Clear River Mine were all from the fa
;, .way East, and at that word ster
faces softened, and more than nehan
'uvoluntarily sought ragged breas
o wherein was concealed precious pack
ct of well-worn letters from love
- ones over the mountains.
Il But one of them-a frank face
y young fellow-arose from the table
. glanced half-anxiously, Misunderstanding
a Iy at his companions, then turned fror
/. them and went to the little cabin win
dow and looked out into the night.
"What's the trouble with you, UI
: ton?" was the general inquiry.
: Upton strobe uneasily toward hi
fellow-miners.
81 cannot answer your questions
Z ooys; for, the truth Of it is / don
know myself. l can only say that
feeling as if we are in mortal DANCE
thissvery moment is upon me, and
can't shake it off! "
A laugh went around the table,
& hearty. ringing laugh-the laugh O.
men who scorn the thought of danger
, and yet they could not but feel i'm
pressed by the young fellows earnest
ness.
Upton joined in the laugh at his ex-
pense; but that strange, far-otf look as
10 of one whose spirit is not with the
body, never left his face.
He went back to the window again.
< and then threw open the cabin door,
turned his head and said, pleasantly
ON be with you in short time, boys
n and then the door closed behind him.
There was neither sparkle of star
nor the faintest CLEAN of the moon TO
q tighten the shadows into which he
plunged. The air wss soft and warm
against his face as woman's brea'n'
ls No sound came to his ear save the roar
of the frothing fume, which was the
width Of the river bed from the caOih.
, Upton descended the steep bank anu
began to pick his way over the rough
:, stones of the claim, with the great lace
y of the dam rising up at his side Ike
some huge prison wall.
!. lie stopped and listened a mon'tn'
He heard queer little gurgles -ialn'
soft, tapping sounds-a soft Suoaue'
swish, as Of hurrying waters; and yes
D aftI IL, there was a certain ruthie,s
calm abort those strong. unseen lloOO'
nd behind that cool, dark wall, that Dois
- evidence of immense power.
Thld! 1t was as if some mgn'!'
Titanic missiles had been hurled agali''