San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-31

The weeks slipped away at the
Springs. En- and Mile, under the
agreeable guidance of Cy Whipple, Lis
penard and Jack, had surveyed almost |
the entire region, and seen all there was |
to be seen on this side the MOgollOns |
Mining was to them no longer mystery, |
and they showed a surprising interest
and aptitude in everything that related
to sluices, placers, pans, gravel, dredges
and all the other paraphernalia that COM
pose a miners equipment. Cy was, Of
course, an indispensable party in these
little excursions, and the girls saw much
of the tawny mustached Englishman,
The major, too, had his rig constantly
at their service, and allowed no one else
to hand the ladies in or help them out.
Still when Young Whipple would come
around the major would Obligingly
yield him a seat 10y either lady. 1t was
clear, thought Cy, that the gallant vet
eran, while he might have been in a
frame of mind to lose his heart, was not
yet quite decided to which charmer it
ought to go, and was letting things take
their course.
One perfect afternoon in early July,
Just after the midday meal which the
Springs had not yet begun to dignity
with the name of lunch, the stage was
seen wheeling around the curve, just
east of Chino Gap, and on the top of the
rise Long before the dust covered and
thirsty driver had pulled up in front of
the hotel piazza a considerable group of
miners had gathered. The major, as
usual, stepped forward and opened the
door of the coach, while SiIe held col
loquy from his box with the barkeeper.
'Only one passenger this trip, Sim,"
said he. Mother lady. tell ye, Red
rocks a-looking up. At this rate we'll
soon hear of you folks bein' incorporated
into a city and runnin' the major for
guv'nor of the territory" he added, with
a chuckle.
a pretty scream from the window of
"the parlors," a wild fiutter of dresses
and responsive screech from the in
terror of the stage interrupted Sile and
made every body look. The major had
but half opened the door when the occu-
pant of the coach Topped out and into
the arms of Mile. EN- was painting
close behind.
"Oh, mamma! Goodness! Who ever
thought of seeing you here? However
did you come, and all alone, too!' cried
the girls together in breath. Jack"
called En-, as that youth appeared on the
piazza, there's mammal
The widow Browning, who had been
hugging the girls for a minute, raised
her eyes. She reached forward without
speaking and gasped as if about to faint.
Jack sprang to her and clasped her in his
strong arms.
They said you were dead, my son.
It's you, Jack, isn't it? Thank God!
Thank God for his goodness! But oh,
Jack, it was cruel! How could they say
it,"
And she sobbed quietly on her sons
shoulder, with her head modestly averted
from the crowded piazza.
Hush mother; calm yourself, I'm
all right, as you see, and so are the girls"
But the fountains of long repressed
grief, once opened, were not so readily
stemmed. EN- and Millie added their
tears to hers, and Jack found himself in
somewhat embarrassing position. Here
he was, with three weeping women, sob
bing as though their hearts would break,
and there was fully one-half the popula-
ton of the Springs gazing straight at
them wOnderingly.
Suddenly he heard a loud and vehe-
ment blubbering proceeding from the
other side of the stage coach.
Major! Major" he cried, with a
shrewd guess at the author Of the sounds.
1t was indeed the major, whose sus-
capabilities had again been deeply
touched by the sight of lovely woman in
tears. He edged around till he came
within handshaking distance. when.