The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-01-11
A CALIFORNIA STORY.


number OF years. and at present was
working in large mine near the north
Fork of the Feather River.
His cabin was a neat, substantial, one
storied dwelling, near Coon Canon, sur
rounded by chaparrel shrubs and mad
rome trees, with their glossy foliage ike
laurel.
A mountain stream bubbled over the
stones Just before the door. Altogether,
it was picturesque place, and Jack had
tried TO make it snug and homelike.
Chintz curtains shaded the windows
within, ami wild honeysuckle did the
same duty outside. The furniture con-
sisted of some chintz-covered chairs an
lounge; crimson-coyered table, with
two or three late papers upon IL, showed
that Jack was a reader. A corner closet
held some necessary crockery ware, and
his stove, on which his bachelor meals
were cooked, was shining and clean. Tho
ad dining room held his bed, neatly
spread with red and blue blankets.
lie was more comfortably situated
than most miners and had quite an idea
OF asking a pretty girl, some day, to share
life with him; but as yet he was heart
whole, mis- dog Carlo, and a trusty rifle,
his only company.
Some nights ne walked over to the
adjoining town, others he spent at home,
intending his traps in which he caught
lux COOnS, anu OLLcT
1t was Thursday evening as the stage
coach toiled slowly up the mountain
roads, and the driver fiicked his whip
over the backs of the six sturdy horses.
to hurry them up. In the distance, on
another grade, could be seen one of the
Eureka teams, with fourteen horses, and
the "PrairIe Schooner" as they call the
high freight wagons with the tender
following; and the immense chock block,
dragging, left side track, as il smooth
roller had passed over it.
On the seat with the driver sat fair,
pretty girl-Allie Boyce. This was her
first trip to the mountains from her val
ley home She was going to visit her
cousins, at Strawberry valley; they We're
quite well Of, and kept the Columbus
House."
Allie was enjoying the scenery from
her elevated perch, the tall pines, stretch
ing con slipped branches to the sky.
Above her were snow capped peaks, and
the roadside was bordereI with bushes
covered with pink buds; here and there
were thicketS of the white azalia and
through the foliage she saw the starry
dogwood blossoms, and the dusty trails
stretching like brown ribbons up the
mountain side. There WAS no sound
save the thud and boom OF timber COM
ing down on the hume tide, or quail
whistle.
She was asking the driver what the
girls found TO amuse themselves with,
and he told her OF the frequent dances
and parties given by the Odd Fellows, or
some other society
She was very glad, as a pretty girl
should be, that she put in the little brown
trunk sHugly strapped behind her pretty
pale blue lawn, with its vario Is ribbons;
and her shapely foot tapped approvingly
tin box in which she had placed her
dainty little sapphire blue velvet bonnet;
the tin box wsls dust proof, and Just thu
thing for 4 mountain trip.
The sun was stealing over tho pine
trees, and his ardent rays shone redly
on the bluffs OF brown. The driver
could hardly see his leaders for the glare,
when suddenly there was a loud shout
and cry OF Hands upl Fargo box =
hurry -
The driver drew reins as he reached
the top of the bill, so quickly as almost
to throw his wheelers on their launches.
lie knew by experience that a refusal
meant dose of lead pills; so he hastily
seized the box, flung 1t out and whipped
up his horses before frightened Allie
realizel that not the tin express box, but
her treasured bonnet had gone fro N her
bewidered gaze 10 an unappreeiative
road agent.
The driver, when told this, looked to
was sife; thea he chuckled, and whistled
to his horses to get along there, you old
sIrdincs!"
Bat he stopped laughing when be saw
Aliiss rueful iace.
Never nina, miss; Wells and Faro
viii be good for yer bunnit, / Ii be bound,
as the money all right"
SO comiorted Allie Frightened up till
they reached the Columbus House, where
warm welcome from her cousins greet
ed her.
The road agent lifted his mask as the
tin box ieil at his ieet. He soon pried
| il open, and loud and long were his
curses as be saw no gold no bills. but A
little sapphire velvet bonnet with q
blush rose nesting in its folds. He gave
| il kick that sent 1t n the brush. out
the box cover shut and kept the dust
ont. As the agent went through the
woods he cursed his luck, and the blue
bonue. especially.
That aft rnoon Jack happened to be
returning from the town. lie had been
alter tank of quicksilver for cleaning
up. lie strobe along whistling cheerily,
with Carlo c.ose to his heels.
The sun, passing through the brush.
| lit up the tin box; and as it cleaned
| brightly, it attracted Jacks attention.
lie sprang toward II, ana his eyes grew
rom rs they saw the daintily fashioned
Veiyet bonnrt.
"A lady's hat!" he Gaspei. "Iow in
thunder did it get here Here's some
of her hair, too" he murmured. as he
drew from the lining the golden hair
that hal eau -ht there
lie care ully put the hair in his pocket
book, picked up the box and went home,
win re he carelnlly slowed i away till
| called lor.
But all that evening Jacks heart kept
warm as he fancied a gold n haired,
blue-eyed girl in the chair opposite him;
! and ario was Gale ON often TO ioox IN
| and hear, We'll, old dog she must be a
| beauty, cha regular sun cam 80
inally, tired out he sou hit repose.
only to dream OF a blue bonnet trimmed
| with golden hair, and this on Carlo 4
| head and a lin box Tor veil "Of such
! stuH dresses are made