, 1889-02-28

the poor fellow lying there calling for her
whom l knew could bring him JOY and
perhaps health. for though he grew no
wonderful, and did not know but II che
could only come to him. with the joy and
her care he might recover. At the same
time feared he might grow worse and
not live until she could arrive. But I de.
termined to write at any rate and did 40
telling her all the risk Of doing any good.
and OF the discomforts of the journey and
place. did not have much faith that she
would try TO come, for 1t was a good deal
for young girl to undertake, but afcer
the letter was of, it seemed more comfort
to him when I'd say "yes, have written
to Hope, she will be here soon." The
time wore slowly away, painfully for us
both. Joe grew steadily weaker. Through
the long hot days he would lay looking at
her picture, propped up before him. but
that bis eyes never left that seeming
scarcely to be alive. A longer ten days |
never knew. 1t had been day hotter
than usual, and the little cabin was siif:
dared not move him out in the evening
air, but the door and window
stood open as wide as possible.
was just returning from the
spring with some cool water. as the stage
drove up and stopped before the hotel,
and could | believe my eyesp A woman
sprang down, aud as the setting sun shone
full upon her face, saw 1t was Hope Ray.
burn. Dropping my bucket, I almost ran
down the slope. but, she was already on
curious glances and wandering comments
of the men. | met her halfway up. "You
are he who wrote to me. Is he alive yet.
Oh, tell me quickly that he isl"
The girls face was pallid and the great
gray eyes had look OF almost agony.
He is alive" | said pitifuly, as l turned
to lead the way to tho cabin, but
she spranR on before me and in a moment
disappeared within. heard u fee.
BILE exclamation, my Hope!" and
ringing one. my. darling"
As ! reached the door Joe had half risen
on seeing her, but sank back in her arms
Her hat had fallen back and her beautiful
fair hair, shaken loose in her long ride.
fell in a mass around them, the last
beams of the setting sun filed the room
with a golden glory, and reversntly
turned away.
When returned the summer twilight
had come to close and the purple gloom
of night mantled the mountain side. A
bright light cleaned from the cabin win.
dow, and as approached the door the
picture | saw was one that did my heart
good. Joe was propped up In bed, with
light on his face had never seen there
before, as he watched Hope busying her.
self about the cabin, As she passed
% tsea ssh.lv Sns wasted sss p,1i hand fell -as on
her knees and kissed the thin fingers again
and again, then nestled them against her
cheek as she leaned over the side of the
bunk, while his face grew perfectly radi.
ant. Notwithstanding his prostration she
sat by his side all night; once when he
was quietly sleeping, his thin fingers
graspinR her warm ones as though he
feared to let her 20, she turned to me and
said "ls there any hopep" | shook my
head did not dare encourage her. She
made no reply, but soon | saw the tears
shook with suppressed sobs.
With early morning Joe awoke. He
seemed better and was anxious that |
should 20 to see If the mine was all right
for fear some one would Jumpit; 1t must be
made sure Immediately, so shouderinR my
pick started by the narrow path on the
mountains, to the Rulch where his claim
was. The dew hln heavy on the leaves
and grass. A squirrel spranR TO bough
over my head and began chattering at me
angrily. But what sound was that? Some
one driving stake if was not mistaken.
Could his claim have already been dis
coveredP The question was answered in
few steps more. for there right before me
of the ground. 1t was Poker Pete. /
caught the CLEAN of gold from q mound
beside him and just then hs saw me.
You aim to balk mep" he exclaimed
with An oath, and quick as thought sprang
upon me, a cleaning knife in his hand.
We struggled fiercely for few moments
when | succeeded in pulling my re-
volver. 1t was either my life
or his. Hardly was it in my hand, when,
looking up. saw the murderous knife de-
scending on me and felt u sharp, stinging
pain IN my neck as my weapon exploded.
and fell to the ground unconscious. |
must have soon come to myself, and put.
ting my hand to my neck it was covered
with blood. was very weak, but man
aged to crawl from under heavy weight
which lay across my breast. L. was the
dead body OF Poker Pete. With shudder
| turned away and made my way as best
could, down to the town, where told my
story. was acquitted of all blame, for
by the stern code OF Western justice had
but done right. But the town was thrown
into wild excitement by the news of the
gold. Before night not miner In the
town but had staked out claim as near as
he could get to the Gentleman Joe"
mine.
Twas evening again. The sun had
sunk in more than splendor. The golden
light was fading from the farthest noun
tain top. and the valley long had been in
gloom. The moon rode high in the heav-
ems, casting her silvery light over all the
scene, making the dark pines more SOL
emn. A star cleaned out on the purple
field. There it 10, Hope. our star that
we watched so often at home; do you re-