The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-10-07
THE RING OF GOLD.

-haIllu Odly lhu become discouraged.
Like. many another miners in the far west
he had made money and lost it, had
prospected for mines, found ore and been
cheated ouf OF his rights, had grown poor
and i'll, and had thrown himself under a
tree, careless whether he lived or died.
The great snowy mountain peaks and
the rich verdure had lost their attraction
for him He had hoped and been disap-
pointed so many times that he had come
to believe himself unlucky; that he
should never possess dollar; that there
was neither happiness nor home for him.
He had seen better days. His large,
dark eyes, his broad brow, his well
shaped mouth and chin bespoke refine
ment in the years that were gone. He
had been well educated, had tried many
things and failed in them, not from lack
Of energy nor from lack of judgment, but
his fate seemed to be an adverse one.
He had done many good acts, had al
ways helped his brother miners. had
tried to look on the bright side Of life,
had fought manfully and been defeated
in the battle. He had imagined some
times that the clouds had a silver lining,
but the storms always came sooner or
later. He meditated thus as ne lay under
the tree, and finally, more dead than
alive from want and exhaustion, fell
asleep.
Two men passed along under the brow
Of the mountain, by the tree. They we're
tall and straight, and from their dark
skin 1t wss easy to perceive their
Indian blood.
THE white man is dead,7 said one Of
the men, as he bent on his knee beside
the sleeper.
"No, there is twitching of the eye
lids" said the other. "He is pale and
sick. viii take him home, and Mimosa
viii care for him.
The conversation carried on in low
tone, awakened the miner.
Come with US, and you shall have
food and shelter" said the friendly In
dian.
Scarcely able to bear his weight Mar
tin leaned upon the arms of the two men
and soon found himself in the humble
Indian cabin.
''Mimosa, here is a stranger. Take
care Of him. Red Cloud never left a
human being to die. He will get well,
and then We will send him back to his
people"
A shy, pale Indian girl came forward
and did as she was bidden. She did not
speak, but looked very pityingly out Of
her fawn-like dark eyes. When Martin
had been placed in the simple bed, she
prepared food for hip and fed him as
thongf- he werea a child. Day by day
she came and went, speaking little, but
doing gently the things which only q
woman's hands can do.
After time the miner, still & young
man, gained in strength and began once
more to hope for a successful future.
"Mimoss," he said one day, Il owe my
life to you, and if am ever rich I will
come back and reward you"
Il shall miss you" said the girl, shyly
~But I want no money. / shall be happy
because you are well and happy"
81 shall yet end gold. Mimosa. I used
to think should be rich, and then l be
came poor and sick and lost heart. You
wear ring on your finger and sometimes
q chain about your neck, both of beaten
gold. Did: the metal come from mines
near here ?"
any father gave them to me- she re
piled, and nothing more could be learn
ed from her on the subject.
would you care, Mimosa, if l wore
the ring until went away? Perhaps
can find the place where the gold came
from"
"You may wear it till you come back
rich" she said, smiling.
Days grew into weeks, and the tins
drew near for the miner to say gOOd-by'
10 the girl who had become his comrsds
as well as deliverer. Tears filed hel
eyes as they parted. ~You will forge
Mimosa," she said,
~No, will bring back the ring, anc
you shall give it to the man who make
you his bride, I shall never forget ReC
Cloud nor his daughter"
Strong and hopeful again, Martin tool
I'D life, obtained work, and believed onc'
more that he should find gold, So swee
and blessed thing is hope, giving luste
to the eyes, and quickening the iow o
blood along the veins
But he missed the Indian girl. TIL
pines on the snowy mountain peak
whispered Of her. The evenings seeme'
longer than formerly; the conversation
Of the miners less interesting. He wa
earning fair living, bat Of what use va
money 10 him, if he was to feel desolat
in heart? Mimoss was not Of his race
but she had 8 lovzble nature. He re
membered that she looked sad at n
soinV away. He wondered If she eve