Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-10
ACHAPTER OF ADVENTURE.
How an English Noblemau Won an
American Queen.

of an sexiled" American banker figure,
is entertainingly given by writer In the
Victoria B. c. Colonist. Nearly twenty
wears ago Sir Charles Heath of Heathdale,
England, left the old country upon a
Measure tour, and until recently very lit
tie had been known of his whereabouts
nv those interested in his welfare. He
was immensely wealthy in his own right,
handsome to degree and generous to a
fault. He was a splendid prize in the
matrimonial market, and when he left
England there was much disappointment
In many household with marriageable
daughters.
For the first three years nothing could
be learned OF his movements. After that
his solicitor Rscertained that Sir Charles
visited British Columbia In the year 1858,
and being fond of hunting and adventure,
sought the widest spots for sport in the
Selkirk range with small hunting party.
His companions were Americans, and not
wishing to be received with that hides
eribable feeling OF distance which title
places between man and man even under
Inc most favorable circumstances, he
dropped the Sir from his name, concealed
his real identity, and was known to his
companionsAas plain Charlie Heath, a
iovial, kindhearted fellow, brimtul of racy
"reminiscences of travel, and generous to q
fault 1t was about this period that the
Cariboo excitement was at its height, and,
ike thousands of others, Charlie Heath
and companions were drawn thence by
stories OF fabulous wealth. The cry of
gold! gold! rang through the country,
echoing in the dark ravines, over the
glacial peaks, down the great Fraser, and
on to the outside world, bringing hopeful
mon from everywhere.
TO those who visited Cariboo in early
DAYS the exciting times are yet pictured
in their memory, and there are people in
British Columbia to-day who no doubt re-
member the genial Charlie Heath, who
came TO Cariboo, and catching the gold
fever staked out his claim and worked as
hard as his partners in their endeavOr to
wrest from the graved It's hidden treasure.
Ii was not customary IN those days to in
ouire into a mans antecedents: in fact
there was no time for such trifles; that
he was there and treated his fellows well
was sufficient guarantee, and nowhere
in the world was the equality of human
rights more 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 l6 years. Nothing was known of Them
and very few concerned themselves rela-
tive to their affairs, other than casual
glance at the girl, who was surprisingly
beautiful. The newcomer built a cabin,
staked Off claim aud silently took up his
routine work with the rest, delving deeper
and deeper into his drift, with what sue
cess only himself knew. The young girl
was seldom observed in camp, and her
naughty mien 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, consequently she was dubbed one
night in Oppenheimer's saloon by an in
toXIcated 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 gen.
tlemanly bearing, past the middle age,
and evidently an American, whose for
tunes bad been swept away in that cOun-
try. For want of a better appellation he
was given the sobriquet of sold Caribou"
AS the months passed away it was whis-
pered through the camp that "Old Carl
boo" had struck it rich, and this belief be-
came more certain from his strange ret
icence. Various we're the sums attached
to his claim, and the Queen was placed IN
q new light before the camp, as a catch
worth having. Despite his descent,
Charlie Heath was conscious of all these
Queen and her utter indifference worked
as a 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 eX-
cuses for visiting old Cariboo's claim, but
as time passed on the old gentleman be-
came less reticent, and seemed to look
forward to the young mans visits with
Nofo oil 10 fO
gress his suit, and young Heath was
Obliged to be content with an occasional
smile and nod, which only tortured his
heart. The months passed into year,
and the young heir became so wholly en-
raptured in the new found queen of his
worship that home and friends were for
gotten, ana only one letter WAS written TO
England, and in that he spoke of possibly
bringing home a 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 sat-
lshed with the comparison. 1t was early
spring of Charlie Heath's second year in
Carlboo when fate gave him q chance to
WOO his love.
The winter had been unusually severe,
and tile hardship was too much for the
obiCus III vi Olu NdTlOOOs ne WAS
Obliged to give up work on his claim, and
Jay Tor several days in fever at his prim-
1--WE home. He continued to grow worse
until the faithful daughter became alarm
Ell Tor his life and sent for young Heath
as The only friend of her father. When
the young man entered the cabin he found
ner weeping by the bedside of old Carboo,
VINO was apparently dying. She blushed
as ne came up TO her, and her lovely face
was sutlused with a deep color, which,
together with the large lustrous eyes, told
tne secret OF her heart. In that one mo-
ment he read his fate and knew that he
had won his queen without word. TIE
silent love OF months had grown uDcon-
sclously until 1t was the one dream oftwo
nVes. Old Cariboo called the young man
10 MIN and tried TO speak in reference TO
MS daughter, but his tongue was para
Iyyzed' AS II divinlng his thoughts young
meath deliberately asked for the daughter
IN marriage, at the same time explaining
MS position in the world and revealing
ms Identity. Cariboo smiled sarcastic
cally as he listened to the eloquent ap-
peal, and motioned for pencil and pa
per, upon which he wrote, "Virgie, tell
MIN all, and IL he then desires 20 make
you his wife marry him." After the old
Rentleman's demise he was quietly buried
ara Heath was left alone with the Carl
200 queen. One pleasant night she told
nlm the history Of her fathers life, the de-
alls OF which are irrelevant TO this mar
ratiVe, and are best unrelated. Suffice il