The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-09-28
THE DOMINIE'S SECRET.
An Exciting Episode In the His
tory OF Rocky Fork.

tory OF Rocky Fork.
In q rough mining town like that of
Rocky Fork, of which am writing. any
man who happens to be a little more
refined than his associates is generally
known by some nickname. John Smith
was such man, and, consequently, be-
fore he had been in the camp forty
eight hours he had gained the title Of
s.Dominie.
Smith and myself were the only men
in the camp who had any pretensions
to an education in more than the COM
monest English branches. As for my
self, always possessed the faculty Of
making myself at home wherever l
went. and 80 l managed to win the IA
vor of my companions at Rocky Fork.
But Smith possessed different tenn
permanent from mine. He was educa-
ted. refined and sensitive, and the
roughness of his companions grated
upon him. So without making any at
tempt to overcome this natural repul-
sion. he Stunned their society, and
when not working spent his time in his
tent or in long and solitary walks.
OF course the miners were offended
by his exclusiveness. They considered
themselves as good as the Dominic, y
and bitterly resented his attitude to-
ward them.
demonstrated with them for his
conduct toward the other men, told
him it was impolitic, to say the least,
and advised him to act differently : in
the future. But his only response was:
II don't dislike the men, but don't
care for their companionship. II they
will let me alone will not interfere
with them"
Iwould have liked to have asked the
Dominic" to tell me the secret of his
life. but there was something in his
manner which forbade me doing SO.
One afternoon, when the Dominic
had been one of us for about three
months, there came into camp a man
who called himself Frisco Bill, and
who said he had been working for the
past year in another part OF the country
with very little success, and concluded
TO join US if there was room for him.
Frisco Bill was large, stout, black
bearded man, with certain frank,
hearty way about him which made him
q favorite Immediately.
He was welcomed to our camp al
once, and during that time ingratiated
himself still more in our favor by his
relation of incidents and adventures in
his career among the diggings. He
possessed rare talent as story teller
and moved us alternately to laughter
and tears.
You're the right sort of man." said
old Sam Barton, the veteran of our
party, as we arose to our feet after az
jolly an evening as we had ever spent
together; you're just the kind OF fell
low we want here. No heightened
finicky airs about you. like the Dom
inie.'"
The ,Dominie?' who's he?" asked
the newcomer with a laugh.
Hes cuss az owns claim out yon.
der. He works all day. and spends his
evenings alone in his tent. We ain'i
good enough company for him."
He must be derned hard to please,
them" said Frisco Bill, and with this
he left US.
! As passed the "Dominie's" tent on
my way to my own heard the voice o.
that individual calling my name.
paused, and an instant later wa:
Joined by Smith.
who is that stranger who was in
camp tonight" he asked, in q strange
hoarse voice.
Frisco Bill he calls himself" re
piled. Hes first-rate fellow. Why
didn't you come out and make his &C
quaintance?"
What 10 his full manner" asked
Smith, not needing my question
Il don't know" / responded. 81
only heard him called Frisco Bill
Why do you askr'
mo matter. Goodnight"
And the dominic" turned on hi
heel and re-entered his tent
i The next morning st an early hour