The Colfax chronicle., 1891-12-26

camp and stopped OUTSIDE the tdVerhs
and Monk bawled out again that
Breakfast was gettin' cold as bowl
der!'
"Be right down." shouted back.
There were but two solutions of the
note in my mind. One was that old
Monk or some of the tavern habitues
had sent it in joking vein. They de-
lighted in nothing better than having |
a laugh at an eastern tenderfoot's ex- !
pense.
The other surmise was that it might |
have been sent by some young miner
admirer of Beth's, who had but lately |
returned to Sunset after an absence,
during which had arrived
settled upon the first surmise as the
most likely one, and, to turn the laugh
on my supposed would-be jokers. I de-
termined to ignore the notes reception.
As it turned out, neither of my sur
misses was correct
| hurried down to breakfast and be-
gan it, with old Monk my sole COM
panion in the lonely dining-room. AS
we chatted together the morning stage
rumbled out of sunset
ANY mail?" I asked of him; and
commented mentally that he was act
ing his role of joker well; but ! never
suspected that had not hit upon the
reason why the odd note had been sent
to me.
He answered me in the negative and
we drifted into commonplaces
just before the meal was finished my
attention was drawn to stranger who
passed through the bar-room, OF which
the dining-room was part He is con-
nected with my story SO will describe
his appearance.
He was a man of about my height.
but some years older appearing, and,
instead of his having smooth face and
, dark hair like mine, he wore sandy
beard and his hair was of the same shade.
His dress was that of q miner-high
boots, loose-necked flannel shirt, light
drab felt hat, the lacking coat (if can
. say that and ever-present belt with its
I holstered weapons.
. "Who is hep asked of Monk, with
a nod toward the door through which
the stranger had passed.
"a new arrival gent" the old fellow
answered 'Says he comes from New
: Mexico and is drifting about after a
lost mine."
, sWhen did he Gomez"
| "Three days ago to-day"
, ssThis is the first time I've seen him. "
eyer, never round; yer minin' SO
: steady,n old Monk remarked, with a
twinkle in his merry eyes.
4 "And his name?" asked, ignoring
; the old fellows Significance.
I mark Russell"
, Monk had to leave me then, and
finished my breakfast alone.
D Afterward / started out on one OF my
: rambles, my noon lunch in little
basket on my arm. l had found that
e these runs made my days pass quicker
). than lounging about the camp did. and
4 then there was the pleasure of some
Z times picking up nugget or two o.
Il virgin gold One day / found three
really good-sized bullets of the precious
r metal.
I'll When came back at six in the after
4 noon this time had four of the bits o
valuable yellow metal, and / was il
q good spirits. l had entirely forgotten
4 about the note of the morning. Ny
: feeling in my pocketbook and finding
. it there only brought it to my mind
i and then smiled at the joke imag
4 ined was having on Monk or some o
Il the miners.
. ate my supper with relish ant
then started to make a call upon little
4 Beth. As / have said before, her ia
r ther's cabin stood about half a mill
n east of Sunset
MI l found miner Abbott absent ant
~ Beth busy inside. Her hair looked lilx
d spun gold as it shimmered in the ligh
10 of the lamp on the center table. Sh
7 wore dress of some blue stuff with
silk handkerchief or scarf tied loosel..
70 about her graceful neck.
Fathers shopping around in tn
.r mine" she said, as / asked about him
ID ''Shall call him?"
70 mo-" answered.
IN And was on the point of saying hov
witching she looked, but she prevente
me by asking If had experienced an.
luck that day.
showed her the nuggets l ha
found, and she, in turn, some gold-dus
her father had brought from the mine
''Father is coming in now." she cS
claimed, looking out into the twilight
as the gold was examined. But sh
added as he did not appear: well,
must have been mistaken"
'sBeth, why do you act as you d
toward me?" l asked. felt that
could not keep my avowal of love bac
any longer. "You must know that yo
have stolen my heart"
She looked frightened. She blushe
hotly, too, and attempted to silence m'
but / would not permit her to do SO.
Beth" / continued: Gan you M
. care little for me now?"
And told her could never care ft
another woman and had never done S.