Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-09-29

have anything she wanted.
Life ran smoothly along for time.
One by one the boys built houses for
themselves (the first one was built for
the LADY,. Then they all gathered to-
gether and built meeting house. This
work you must know Continued the
strangely, was all done at night, be-
cause the men had to hunt and trap
during the day. Once the boat which
was to buy their furs came down from
Rock Island bound for New Orleans
and they travelled ten miles up the
river one night so that it should not
land at West Quincy, for fear that the
lady might leave them.
In three months this plan was en-
tirely changed. The men had quit
drinking and gambling, and rows OF
neat houses took the place of the rough
camp. And on Sunday the lady
But after time change came over
the place.
One day the lady went out and found
the men gambling. She rebuked them
and they gave up the game, but one
could see that she was losing her power
over them.
Still matters ran on evenly for a time
Then at length rumor reached the
lady that her men had gone back to
their old ways and were as bad as ever.
She went out fearlessly and confronted
them. But this time not a man moved
from the card table.
"What is this?" she cried, in sad
manner; "have you gone back to your
old bad ways, and will no words of
mine change you?'
The men bent over their cards in q
logged manner.
She stood in silence looking at them
for time, and then doc" came for
ward and said:
Lady, your men have gone back to
their old ways. But they have done
so on account of you"
"What have I done?" the poor wom-
an cried in alarm.
my LADY," Doe answered, "when
you came here we were all alike ready
to do you worship, because you We're
giving up your life for our good. But
during the last few months we have
found that you are not the saint we
took you for. You are mortal like the
rest of us, and you love"
turned red and then white.
Eyes, you love-" kept on Doc. "You
love, and the man you love is the most
worthless fellow in this camp of worth
less men,"
No more was said then, but the lady
and the camp knew that a contest of
some kind was silently preparing. She
went to her cottage to pray, and do
not know but to weep. In fact, [ often
think of her as kneeling by her bed
and both weeping and praying that
night The men spent the night in a
drunken carouse.
The next day no hunting or trapping
was done, and the men passed the time
in gathering in little knots about the
town. 1t was evident that something
was exciting them powerfully.
Toward dark o. committee, of which
"Doc" was the head, marched forth
from the village to the lady's house,
which had been built few rods away
from the rest, and which had been sur
rounded by high palisadc
"DOc" called to her to come out, but
for long time there was no answer.
| Then he called again and again. She
evidently had premonition of what
was coming, for she heard the voices
and still remained kneeling by her bed.
At last her White face appeared in
the gate of the palisade, and there
were tear drops on her face.
"What do you want? ?" she faltered
ave want you," dozen rough voices
answered.
But "Doc," stepping forward, hushed
them and said in his own suave way:
MY lady, the boys have called a
meeting at the meeting house and they
wish you to preside. 1t is matter of
importance. Will you Gomez"
| The lady at once expressed her will
| lingness to do SO, by opening the gate
and coming out.
What is to" she asked of 'Doc," rs
she took his arm"
docs arm quivered as he replied
"It is YOU"
The two then walked on in silence,
preceded by the men. until they came
to the meeting house in which she had
so often preached to them. Doc
thought of her as they went along as
Mary Queen Of Scots going to the
| scaff'old.
They found all the camp gathered
inside. The lady and "Doc" assembled
to the platform.
"Why am brought here?" she cried
"What have 1 done? What is it you
want?"
Madam" broke in a hoarso voice
from the body of the church, eve be-
licved in you as we believed in God,
and we find you are but woman"
what does he mean?" the lady cried,
appealing to Doc"
He means this, my lady. You love
one of us. Men have sought and killed
each other for woman, and our blood
is hot within us, for we each and all
love you. Yet we are willing to give
you to the man you love. Name him
and we will give you to him. But to-
morrow you must both leave the camp.
SO much grace We offer YOU"
The lady looked wildly about over
the angry faces that confronted her.
You do not know what You ask, 5"
she murmured to "Doc." "How can I
name the man / love when l do not
know that he loves me?'
"We all love you," DOC" repeated,
mechanically. Name him."