Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-11-06

He was stout, compact, well-built man.
apparently of thirty, black eyed, black
bearded, a clear, singularly white COM
plexion, and an expression Of more than
ordinary refinement.
In tone very different from that Of the
reckless humor he had at first assumed he
nid: II beg your pardon but lost my bal
ance in trying to get this COMPOUNDED boot
off, and, Us you see, tho wall between us
proved flimsy; and, as they say in the play,
Here ann"
"No offense under the circumstances, I'm
sure," was my reply.
II bought these boots in the Mines" said
he; paid two ounces for them, and they've
given me no end of trouble. They object
seriously to going on in the morning, and
when once on object as strongly to going Off
at night"
This was Mr. William Broener. He was
from tho mines, and mining was his business.
We dsifted into sociability that night. The
rent in the wall was not repaired next day,
and remaining open soon developed a certain
companionship between u.s. He seemed to
like my company; certainly he was attractive
10 me We went about much together, and
within the week our intercourse had grown
to something beyond that of a mere pass
ing acquaintance" -
There was much in Broener attractive to
men and women. Physically he was as fine
specimen of manhood as ever ] laid eyes on.
| He was generous, and had an easy manner of
dashing into peoples companionship and con-
| fdence. which to me was both a source Of ad-
miration and irritation, since / lacked it en-
tirely. Broener seemed at home everywhere
and on relatively familiar terms in any circle
to which five minutes previous he had been a
total stranger, while writhed in the bonds
| and letters of a certain awkwardness and re-
serve which at times seemed to compel me to
| do and say the very things most calculated
to keep me outside that atmosphere of socia-
bility which desired to enter and breathe.
| Yet this to an extent constituted the bond
between myself and Broener He, Knowing
his power and keenly alive to its recognition
and appreciation by others, liked to have
about him an admirer like myself, whom
in sense he could take under his wing
and protection.
"Come with me to the Mines" he said, a
few days after our acquaintance had COM
menced. 'Tve bit of a claim left and
Wen work partners"
l assented. To go to the diggings, direct
ed and befriended by an experienced and
lucky miner, was an opportunity seldom
found in those days
/ lay more than usual stress on the phrase
'lucky miner" Gold diggers were com
PEELED to believe in luck. Lucky mer
struck it rich wherever they went Thes,
were sometimes in character the extreme;
of recklessness and dissipation No mat
ter. Their steps seemed directed, and wher,
they went they turned up gold-often t.
be spent within few hours. But tn
spree over they went plodding, pokinl
about bar fat or crevice, turning up NOR
of the yellow metal in dust or chispd
while regular habits and sobriety worries
hard and could barely make both end
meet So marked were these phenomena
that the inquiry was not uncommon on tn
part of those who had ventures to max
regarding the leading prospector; SIS he
! lucky manr