Nevada County picayune., 1891-11-05

was spoken of as "The Tree" and distances were reckoned as so many miles to or from The Tree.
 Teddy was great acquisition to our limited society; good compan- ion, gay, cheerful, and with a fresh, candid interest in everything that was really contagious. Why we staid old fellows were actually inter- ested In spite of ourselves in his ] plans: first, of an artesian well and l system of irrigation that should make the arid plain "blossom like a rose, then of building a club house on his end of the lake and inviting our wives and families to spend the | summer with us; then it was a scheme of sinking shaft for coal in one corner of his claim. So, when he said he was going to build wind mill, where the farmers could bring their corn and oats to be ground for feed, nobody paid much attention to it.
 We listened to his plans and he consulted with us as to the height to build it. He said that on the level prairie with nothing to break the wind, it could be set up much lower than in timber country, and he be- lieyed that about twenty-five feet would be about the thing and we all agreed thinking that would be the last of it.
 But we were mistaken that time His father favored that plan, and furnished the money. The windmill was put up and its grinders were in working order almost before we knew 1t; and with its great swinging arms and bright red paint, as land mark it quite put "Thc Tree" in the shade. It was Teddy's design to paint the arms in phosphorescent paint so it would be guide by night as well as by day, but this, like many other praiseworthy schemes, was never earned out.
 Teddy was delighted with his mill. There was cOzy little room about fifteen feet square below, and with his camp chairs, books, gun and some home pictures and colored prints, this had quite a luxurious air. He called it his parlor, and used his little shanty for his sleeping room.
 The mill was not ovcrrun with work, many days there was nothing to grind and some days there was nc wind even if there were grists; so Teddy had a great deal of leisure But it was something more than just holding down claim, he said, and the life was free and healthy and suited him exactly, and he began to talk of staying the whole five years.
 He had always wanted to learn to play the rornct. Of course in town this had been impossible, but here in his mill was the very place. So he footed away merrily, with the com fortable feeling of disturbing no one that few players upon that instru- ment can conscientiously lay claim ] to.
 r Late one bleak night in December Teddy sat in his mill parlor practic- l ing with will. He was in unusually good spirits that night, and the creaking of the mlll sails and the shrill whistle of the wind were drown ed bv the shriler wall of the cornet. Suddenly he stopped. Was that g rap at the door or the rattle of the window; No question about it this 1 timc-a knock, impatient, vigorous, angry. He opened the door quickly and was met by voice still angrier "Come, come, man, for Gods sake put down that accursed horn and lend me a hand :"
 Teddy followed the owner of the voice out into the darkness to a car riage not far away, from which, with his help, the man lifted lady and carried her into the little parlor. Teddy didn't stop then to notice that she was the loviest girl he had ever seen, but only knew that she had tainted, and he quickly brought brandy, which they forced down heI throat, rubbing her hands and feet the while. She soon opened her eyes and looking wonderingly about asked Papa, where am :" "lr Dakota" said the old gentleman grimly, "and that's as definitely as can tell you."
 Of course Teddy politely told hin