Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-11-28

ure. 1t was not customary in those days
to inquire into a mans anteoedents; in
fact, there was no time for such trihes;
that he was there and treated his fellows
we'll was sufficient guarantee, and no.
where 10 the world was the equality of
human rights more effectively observed
than in this same mining camp.
About two months after young Heath's
advent in Cariboo, there came stranger,
accompanied by his daughter, then a girl
OF sixteen years. Nothing was known of
them, and very few concerned them
selves relative to tneir affairs, other than
a casual glance at the girl, VINO was sur.
prisingly beautiful. The newcomer
built cabin, staked off claim and si.
lently took up his routine work with the
rest, delving deeper and deeper into his
drift, with what success only himself
knew. The young girl was seldom OBJ.
served in camp, and her naughty mein
prevented even the most daring young
gallant from any attempt at friendship.
Like her father she was a mystery, and
even her name was not known, conse-
quently she was dubbed one night in
Oppenheimer's saloon by an intoxicated
admirer the Cariboo Queen, and queen she
was, indeed, to the rough men whose
hearts beat secretly for her in silent
love The father was man Of gentle.
manly bearing, past the middle age, and
evidently an American, whose fortunes
had been swept away in that country.
For want of better appellation, he was
given the sobrivuet OF "Old Cariboo.
As the months passed away, it was
whispered that "Old Cariboo" had
struck it rich, and this belief became
more certain from his strange reticence.
Various were the sums attached to his
claim, and the Queen was placed
in q new light before the
camp, as catch worth having. Despite
his descent, Charlie Heath was con.
scious of all these things, and the very
exclusiveness of the Queen and her utter
indifference worked as charm to his
somewhat susceptible nature, and ere he
was aware of it the young heir OF
Heathdale was madly in love with the
Cariboo Queen. At first his wits were
severely exercised to shape excuses for
visiting old Carboo's claim, but as time
passed on the old gentleman became less
reticent, and seemed to look forward to
the young mans visits with pleasure.
Yet all this did not tend to progress his
suit, and young Heath was obliged to be
nod, which only tortured his heart. The
months passed into year, and the
young heir become so wholly enraptured
In the new-found queen of his worship
that home and friends were forgotten,
and only one letter was written to Eng
land, and in that he spoke of possibly
bringing home mistress for Heathdale.
To win his queen was his life. He pic.
tured her beautiful face in his palatial
home, and in comparison with the
great ladies of rank, he gazed with pride
on her 1.-THE and shapely form, and was
well satisfied with the comparison. 1t
was early spring of Charlie Heaths sec-
ond year in CarIboo when fate gave him
chance to WOO his love.
The winter had been unusually severe,
and the hardship was too much for the
failing strength of old Cariboo. He was
obliged 10 give up work on his claim,
and lay for several days in fever at his
primitive home. He continued to grow
worse, until the faithful daughter be.
came alarmed for his life, and sent for
young Heath as the only friend of her
father. When the young man entered
the cabin he found her weeping by the
bedside of old Curiboo, who was appar.
emily dying. She blushed as he came
up to her, and her lovely face was suf-
fused with deep color, which together
with the large, lustrous eyes, told the
secret of her heart. In that one mo.
ment he read his fate, and knew that
he had won his queen without word.
The silent love of months had grown
unconsciously until it was the one
dream of two lives. Old Cariboo called
the young man to him and tried to
speak in reference to his daughter, but
his tongue was paralyzed. As if dvin-
ing his thoughts, young Heath deliber-
ateiy asked for his daughter in mar
riage, at the same time explaining his
position in the world and revealing his
identity. Cariboo smiled sarcastically
as he listened to tie eloquent appeal,
and motioned for a pencil and paper.
upon which he wrote: "Virgie, tell him
all, and if he then desires to make you
his wife marry him" After the old
gentleman's demise, he was quietly
buried. and Heath was left alone with
the Cariboo Queen. One pleasant night t
she told him the history of her fathers
life, the details of which are irrelevant
to this narrative, and are best unrelated.
Suffice it to say, however, that old Carl.
boo was an ex bank president Of San
Francisco, who had become involved in
mining stock speculation, and was
obliged to flee the country. Love is be-
yond the common principles of life that
regulate the laws of social standing, and
young Heath heroically buried "Old
Cariboo's" disgrace in his grave. A few
weeks afterward the Cariboo Queen was
married to Charlie Heath, and became
Lady Heathdale, England. 1t must not
be supposed that she was without q
dowry, for the rumors of "Old Carl
boo's" wealth were well founded, and
within his treasure-bag many shining
nugget bore evidence of his success. In
fact the claim was so rich that young
Heath concluded to remain another year
and work it ere returning to England
with Lady Heath. A new home was
built, and despite the marriage the Car
ipOO SuOCh Wdo ah iuCui VI lildlly iltltTS,
who were Satisfied with one look at her
lovely face. A year passed and Cariboo
began to wane, the immigration ceased
and those who had only moderate sue.
cess left the camp for the new excite
ment on Skeena river About this time
an event happened in Cariboo that ere.
ated a great sensation. A young miner
called at Heath's cabin regarding certain
claim matters, and to his astonishment
the Queen appeared with little babe in
her arms, upon whom she gazed with
that indesoribable mother.love we have
all known once in our infancy. The
news spread throughout the camp that
night. and the occasion was duly cele-
brated at Oppenheimers' by jollification
during which many toast was drunk
for the little prince and his mother.
During the next fall the sad event hap
pened which caused the estate of Heath
do1a ~ M into ohnnoarv GhQrlev