Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-31
THE RING OF GOLD

Martin Daily had become discouraged.
Like many another miner In the far
west. no had made money and lost II,
had progpcctcd for mines, found orc and
been cheated ont Of his rights. had
grown poor and ~. and had thrown him.
telf under q tree. careless whether he
lived or diod
The great snowy mountain peaks and
the rich vorduro had lost their attraction
for him. He had hoped and been disap-
pointed 20 many times that no had como
TO believe himself unluclsy, that ho
should never possess n dollar; that thcro
was Mother happiness nor home Tor him.
lilo had seen better dayA His largo
dark eyes, his broad brow, his well
shaped mouth and chin bospoko refine.
mcnt In the years that were gone. lilo
had been well educated, had tried many
thing aud failed IN them. not from lack
Of energy. not FROM lack Of judgment,
but his fato seemed TO DO an adverse
one.
Ho had done many good acts. had nj.
ways helped his brother miners, had
tried to look on the bright aide Of liic.
had fought manfully and been defeated
In the battle. II had imagined some
times that tho clouds had silver lining,
but the storms always came sooner or
later. He mediiated thus rs no lay I'M
der the tree. and finally, moro dead than
alive from want and exhaustion, fell
asleep
Two mon passed along under tho brow
Nl..s
tall and straight, and from their dark
hair and skin " WIS easy to perceive
their Indian blood.
1.-THE white man Is dead" said ono OF
the men as no bent on his knee beside
the sleeper.
mo. therc Is n twitching OF the eye
lids," said tho other. "He Is pale and
sick viii tal,o him homo and Alimosa
will caro- for him."
The conversation. carried ON IN low
tone, awakened tho miner.
'Comc with us and you shall have
food and shelter" said tho friendly In
dian.
Scarcely able 10 bear his weight Mar
Tin leaned upon tho arms Of tho two
men, and soon found himself in tho
humble Indian cabin.
'Mimosa, here Is a stranger. Take
care OF him. Red Cloud mover left hu.
man being to die. TIo will got we'll, aud
then we will send him back to his pco-
pie"
A shy. palo Indian girl came forward
and did as Hlls was hidden. She did not
speak, but l,oked very pltyingly out Of
her fawnlike dark eyes. When Martin
had been placed in the simple bed she
prepared food for him and fed him rs
though no were a child. Day By day
she came and went, speaking little, but
doing gently tho things which only u
woman's hands can do.
After q time tho miner. still young
man, gained Ia strength aud began once
moro 20 hope for q successful future.
"Alimosa," he said one day, ~ owe
my life 10 you. and II am ever rich /
will como back aud reward you.'
81 shall miss YOU" said the girl shyly.
''But l want no money. shall bo
happy because you arc well again and
happy"
~ shall yet find gold, Mimosa. used
10 think should DO rich, and then be-
came poor and sick and lost heart. You
wear a ring ON your finger and some.
times chain about your neck. both Of
beaten gold. Did tho metal come from
mines near here"
my father gave them 10 me-" she 10
Piled, and nothing more could be learned
from her on the subject.
"Would you care. Mimosa, II wos,
the ring until went away? Perhaps
can find tho place where tho gold cam
from"
"Hou may wear It tin you como bacl
rich" she said smiling.
Days grew into weeks, and tho tim
drew near for the miner 10 say goodb,
10 the girl who had become his conrad
~ well as deliverer. Tears filled he
eyes IA they parted, "You will forge
Mimosa," she said
mo. ] will bring back the ring an
you shall give 1t to the man who make
you his bride. shall never forget Re
Cloud nor hia daughter"
Strong and hopeful again. Martin too
up lite, obtained worl; and believed ono
ihNlf llAhN Nv tNNNlA Aili FNlhs % hWtt
and blessed a thing Is hope, giving lusto
TO tho eyes and quickening the How q
blood along the veins
But he missed the Indian girl. Tn
pines on the snowy mountain peal,
whispered OF her. The evenings secme
longer than formerly; tho conversation
Of the miners less interesting. lie wa
lonely. He was earning a fair living
hut Of what use was money TO him II h
was 10 feel desolate in hearti Mhos
was not Of his race, but she had a Iowa
bic nature, He remembered that sh
looked sad NJ his going AWAY lie won
dered II she ever thought about him
she had some Indian suitor. would sh
not wish for the ring againi lie woul
like, NJ least, TO bee the man and hi
daughter who had saved his life. II
wodld carry back the ring. ALL II h
know where the gold In II came from
perhaps he could indeed become mel
and then who could make him ~ happ
~ MiiaoAll