The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-09-26
n @. g.

If would. I only wish you may he
happy together--all Of you. Had known
you better I might say more. After it
is all over I can 60 back to my home in
San Francisco; but will return alone.
p
She would have fallen had not the ma.
jor, who had been an interested and not
wholly unaffected spectator OF the scene,
caught he- with his strong arm, and
gently placed her in chair.
After c moment Mrs. Browning look
ed up through her tears. Her hand
still rested in that of the major, who had
somehow forgotten to let it go. The
girls, neither OF them dry eyed, but both
radiant. now that the ordeal was over,
stood beside her.
"Mr. Browning" said the major, in a
voice that sounded as husky as though it
came from tho bottom of the Shaggy
Peak mine, II think 40 how l might
make bold to ask yer permission to say
something personal to yer mother. She
says as she will return to her lonely home
in Frisco, leavin' her two daughters
here, and that she wishes they may be
happy with their partners. Now, Mr..
Browning, if yer mother-if she could
be happier at tho Springs than all alone
at Frisco, an if she would be willin' ter
try me as partner, Jonas Black would be
the proudest man this side the Rockies,
an that's sayin' good deal. He would
take no odds of no man if he had such a
woman fer his wife. And, Mr.. Brown
ing. if I might ask yer now ter put in q
word for me, an not for me alone, but
for the sake of the young ladies there,
whom 1 love as though they were my
own children, although never had none,
and for the sake of tho Springs, too,
which would be delighted to have them
all stay right here among US. It'll be
like the old story Parson Gillette told us
about the town that woke up when the
princess came along; the Springs IL take
ON new life if they stay"
Jacks eyes were moist as he answered
the majors touching appeal.
''1t must rest with herself. Mother,
what do you say? Shall we still be to-
gether and will you speak the word that
will make my friend happy?"
Something must have happened just
then, although what it was never be-
came quite clear to any one but the ma
jor himself. He rose with proud smile
and, at the same moment, the widow,
all bushes, peeped from under her hand
kerchief. Her daughters Immediately
ran to her side.
"Now Redrock will have boom and
the Shaggy Peak will yield big divi-
dends," remarked Lispenard, dryly, a
few moments later. ''The annals of the
future metropolis of the Little Colorado
will begin on the day when Parson Gill
lette comes from Prescott to officiate at
the triple wedding. There's only one re-
gret, Jack, and that is that you couldn't
be tied up at the same time"
81 am in no hurry to lose my freedom
yet, Lispenard. Time enough. I dare
say it will come by and by. Strange that
my quarrel with Crenshaw should have
been the means of bringing all you folks
together! wonder whether you would
ever have met if he hadn't written tina.
lying letter."
The future of Redrock Springs and it's
environs is assured. There has been an
unprecedented influx of new capital, and
the Shaggy Peak shares now stand high
on the list of quoted securities ON the
San Francisco Stock Exchange. AL
ready two banks have established branch
es at the Springs, and the route for
railroad through the range from Snow.
flake City to Winslow ON the northern
side of the Mogollon mountains has been
surveyed. Contractors are busy, and the
population of the settlement is increasing
at a rate that has long ago compelled the
stage company to make the old weekly
service a daily run. Sile Bagley is
amazed at the accuracy of his own
prophecy. Mrs. Browning-"Mrs.M Maj.
Black" the miners now call her--is loud
i'll her praises of the Springs and talks of
inviting her friends, the Cadwalladers
and the Florences, to spend a few months
there next summer with herself and
daughters. The new hotel will soon be
completed 1t will be the pride of the
Springs and the crowning realization of
the majors brightest hopes of happiness
and prosperity.
THE END.