The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-06-17

former can be secured 1Or ~, anu IneiaUooA
for 81 per annum. j.. b. w.
A GIRLS PROMISE.
..And you propose to stand by what you
say SIR"
Then silence fell between the two men for
the space of a few moments.
1t was the old, old story-the useless pc
tition of poverty-strickeh youth asking OF
wealthy old age the hand of beauty.
George Santley had loved pretty Esther
Dana from his childhood up, and Esther
had returned his love in full measure, but
when the decisive moment came and ne
asked rich old Father John for his daugh-
ter, then he was told that he was too poor.
to be aspiring.
After staring a while in dumb despair at
the hard Featured farmer, where he sat In
his great chair beside the sunny window,
George plucked up sufficient courage to
ask:
"And is my poverty the only objection
sir"
sThat's about the long and short of it,
nv boy" was the prompt response; II
had to make a nest before 1 caught my
bird, and I don't quite see why other men
should not do the same"
"Quite right, SIR" said the young man,
Frightening a little; "but may l ask how
wealthy | must be before can propose for
Esther"
Farmer John stroked his chin, with a
covert smile playing about his weather
beaten features, and drawing from his
pocket an envelope which contained a 500
LIN L - ~ 49, II III pphsnh bod hnon
sold that day; he displayed the crisp note.
"When you can show 100 greenbacks like
that, I'll part with my daughter"
"All right, sir; goodbye"
"Where are you going?'
"West."
"God bless you. Goodbye"
And so they parted, and so lightly did the
old man think of his harsh treatment that,
listening to the drone of the honey-bees in
the rose-tree outside the window, he fell
asleep in the sunshine, his arm resting upon
the window sill, the envelope containing the
500 bill in his hand.
Meanwhile George had hurried to the
t~rysting place, down at the stile in the
meadow, and has told Esther his sad story.
When she heard that he was going SO far
away from her the girl burst into tears.
esther, Esther, darling, don't cry
George faltered. Cant you be true till
come again?"
II can and will!' was the passionate re-
ply;
George, l promise it on my life"
The shades of the summer evening were
closing in as George santley stood at the
| door of the cottage which had been his
home, and held his mother in his arms.
Scarcely were the last farewells spoken
when the garden gate changed and the con,
| stable of the village strobe up the path.
George" the man said regretfully, 81
must arrest you"
Mrs. Santley uttered a low cry, but the
young man laughed.
"Is this some joke, Mr.. Hardy" he cried;
'arrest me-for what?"
"For theft"
''Theft of WHAT"
"Of a 500 b~ank-note."
"From whom?"
GARNER Dana"
"Merciful heaven! /"
"Mr. Dana says that you were the only
person who knew he had the note in his
| possession, and hat after you had called
upon him he fell asleep; and when he awoke
| the note was gone"
"Why should he accuse me ?" the youns
man cried Indignantly.
because. an hour after you left the farm
you purchased a ticket for Nevada with q
500 BILL"
"But the money was mine"
"Ah, but Mr.. Dana has identified the bill
as his. I'm afraid, George, you must com
to the lookup with me until you can have
an examination"
Like a man he faced the disgrace, and was
cool and dignified until he was dismissed or
the following day, the evidence against him
not being considered serious enough to con
denim him.
So he went West with a heavy heart, to
seek his fortune, knowing that out OF al
his lifelong friends Esther and his mother
alone deemed him %guiltless OF the CALLING
charge against his name and honor.
A year vent round and it was already
the springtime of another, and Esther
prayed day and night for the welfare and
success of her absent lover.
The only happy moments OF her life were
when she sat with the widow Santley and
talked of George.
Oh, how happy the poor boy might have
been could he have heard those two loving
women talk of him and have known the
depth of their trusting affection!
Returning one afternoon from the cot
tage, Esther met her father on the veran
dah.
ESTHER" the old man said, II want to
speak to you. l nave decided to overhaul
the old house, furnish it up a bit, and lay
in a stack of new furniture"
Esther glanced up in surprise.
II don't see the use of it, father DEAR
she said.
Don't you, sis?" with a sly wink; "dt
you think the old place is fit for the wed
ding of the richest girl in Mayville?"
my wedding, father" Esther gasped.
Certainly, why not?" I've Away
L %hD,rh% Tn Po11 woo cUoof an orl RI
day he asked me for you. l could not b.
better pleased %"
Father! Hush, 1 cannot marry DR.. Bell
"Why not?"
Because l can never love him !"
ooh, that's all right. In the meantime
I'll nave the carpenters round in the morn
ing and nave them throw out a bay window
in the s~itting-room."
And with a jovial laugh the old mai
sauntered down the steps and ava,
through the sunshine.
Up in her chamber that night Esthe
stood at the window and raised a pale
tear-wet face to the twinkling stars.
II will die first" she murmured, reso
lutely, "for I have promised George that
would be true to him, and l will not breal
that promise"
Bright and early upon the following
morning she appeared at breakfast, and
though her father eyed her keenly, he neve
mistrusted the conflict she had been wagin
through the dead wastes Of the previous
night.
With a shudder of horror Esther hear
the carpenters begin work at the sitting
room window, and while her father stoot
in front of the house planning som altera
tions with the architect, she fled up to he
room to stifleher misery by reading George
letter the twentieth time.
Scarcely had she concluded the perusal o
the first page when a rap came upon tn
door, and upon opening it Esther en-
countered the maid-of-all-work.
"Please, Miss Esther" the girl said
extending something in her hand; 9TH
carpenter just found this when they tor
away the mop-board under the sitting room
window"
Esther tool the object, uttered q will
cry. and darted down the stairs.
FEATHER, father, look!" she screamed
George is innocentW
With a puzzled air the farmer took tn
=