San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-05-31
A Matrimonial Boom.
By G. H. sANDISON.

the valley, only to he chased away by
the swift sunshine. The stream, I'M
vexed by Che miners. ran as clear as in
the days before the white man sought
out that lonely, auriferOus spur of the
western hills in his hunt for gold. Jack
and Lispenard were up betimeS and not
ed the unusual aspect of the place. 1t
was the strange calm only to be found
in New England Sabbath transplanted
to the mining camp.
But it did not last long. Before 9
o'clock the whole of Bedrock was astir.
The stare was due at .. At the hotel the
hum of preparation was still in the air,
and the major wore "a satisfied look as he
trod the piazza. The mine superintend-
ent, too, was early on the scene. lie
was a young Englishman-a globe trot-
ter once; but he had now settled down
to extract the wealth that lay hidden in
these hills that Overhung the Little Colo
RADIO and its feeders. "Cy' Whipple had
been the majors lieutenant in the prepa-
rations for the coming event. The greet
ings he received from the men every
where showed how well they were salts
fled with their blonde bearded and
brOnzed superintendent.
At noon precisely, according to the
majors old fashioned timeplece that
faced you as you entered the parlOrS,
there was a small cavalcade assembled
in front of the hotel. 1t was composed
of the major, resplendent in a somewhat
faded suit of what might once have been
white duck. but which was white no lon
ger: Cy Whipple, Jem Gillip, the time
keeper at the mine, and Jack and his
friend Lispenard. All were pretty well
| mounted At the ma or'S CHEEKY signal
they started off at a round pace for Pine
| Spruce Pass, to meet the stage which
would come round by Chino. a half
hours ride brought them in sight Of the
stage.
Now, boys" said the major, "let's
give EN- the proper s'loOt. Draw up on
each side the road and don't let's block
up the drivin' path, like everlastin, stage
| robbers"
Accordingly the five drew up and as the
stage approached Sile Bagley, the driver,
recognizing the portIy form of the major,
| pulled rein, just as the latter with a
courtly flourish took the middle of the
| road.
Hello MAJOR" called Sile ANY
thing wrong down at the Springs"
NO, Sile; the Springs is takin' leetle
holiday, and we thought as how we
would come down and meet some stran,
gers you're bringin here. Theirs two
Young gentlemen here as would be
mighty pleased to sea two ladies as was
a-cOmin' to Bedrock about this time o
ear. Maybe We might lev them as
Passengers, Sile?"
There was f1utter at the stage win
.ow, and a feminine face peeped out.
Jack saw it and sprang forward in an in
2tant.
EN- and you, too, Mile! How is
inother?'
"Oh, Jack! And we all thought you
vas dead! Jack! Dear jack
And the door was opened and the fair
girl was cIasped in her brothers strong
arms. Another, slenderer and taller,
followed.
''lIillie, dear kiss, how is mother?
FELL me how you left herr"
"Why, Jack, we were told you had
oh, it was terrible, Jack. And poor
mamma! She took on so about you,
to think you were dead, all alone here,
out in this dreadful place! Oh! how
glad she will be to find that it isn't truer
"Of course it isn't, Mile" said her
brother. But we'll talk about that
later. Mother was misled by some scamp
who wished to do me an injury and
didn't care how he did it; that's all.
Meanwhile let me introduce you to these
gentlemen. Here, you know LiSpenard
already as the latter came forward
and greeted the new arrivals warmly.
The others who had dismounted stood
by in a group little way off, the major
with a red handkerchief to his eyes, and
evidently deeply affected by what he had
just witnessed. Introduced, seriatm,
they paid their several respects. Then
the ladies re-entered the stage, and the
Gavalcade wheeled about in the direction
of the Springs.
"Well, I'm bowed" muttered Sile
9agley, the driver, as he remounted his
box and gathered up the lines. This is
a queer party as I've got aboard, just as
! suspicioned from the fust Whatever
brought them gals out here beats me all
10 pieces.
And he tried to engage the major in
conversation, but he might as well have
n5sayed to talk to his coach wheels. The