San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-09-28
THE RING OF GOLD

west. he had made money and lost it,
had prospected for mines, found ore and
been cheated out of his rights, had
grown poor and i'll, and had thrown him
self 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 a 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 IL the years that We're gone. He
had been well educated, had tried many
thing and failed in them. not from lack
of energy, not 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 silver lining,
but the storms always came sooner or
later. He meditated thus as he lay I'M
der 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 were
tail and straight, and from their dark
hair and skin it was easy to perceive
their Indian blood
The white man is dead" said one of
the men as he bent on his knee beside
the sleeper.
NO. there is twitching of the eye
IiGS." said the other. He is pale and
sick. | will take him home and Mimosa
will care for him"
The conversation, carried on in a 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
mc". and soon found Himself in the
humble Indian cabin.
"Aiimosa, here is a stranger. Take
care of him. Red Cloud never left hui
man being to die. He will get well, and
then we will send him back to his PEG,
pie.
\ shy, pale Indian girl came forward
and did as she was hidden. She did not
speak, hut looked very pityingly ont of
her fawnlike dark eyes. When Martin
hai been placed in the simple bed she
prepared TODD for him and fed him as
though he We're child. Day by day
she came and went, speaking little, but
doing gently the things which only a
wUnans hands can do
After Il time the mlner, still young
man, gained in strength and began once
l..r.,' to hope .or d successful future.
",lnuosa." he said one day. Il owe
t. ! life to you, and if am ever rich |
viii come back and reward You.
II shall miss YOU. said the girl shyly
"Eut / want no money. shall be
halay because You are well again and
n"liT.
Il shall yet find gold, M.mosa used
to think should be rich. and then be
came poor and sick and lost heart You
wear ring on your finger and some
times Il chain about your neck, both of
beaten gold Did the metal come from
mines near here%'
My father gave them to me-" she re-
~,
from her on the subject.
"Woud you care. Mimosa. If | wore
the ring until | went awavE Perhaps
can tird the place where the gold came
from
"Ycu may wear it till you come back
rich, she said smiling
Days grew into weeks, and the time
drew near for the miner to say goodby
to the girl who had become his comrade
as we'll as deliverer Tears filed her
eyes as they parted You will forget
MimOsa, sac SAID.
mo, will bring back the ring, and
You shall give it to the man who makes
you his bride. shall never forget Red
Cloud nor his daughter"
Strong and hopeful again, Marsn took
up life, obtained work and believed once
more that he should find gold. So sweet
and blessed thing is hope, giving luster
to the eyes and quickening the flow of
blood along the veins.
But he missed the Indian girl The
pines on the snowy mountain peaks
whispered of her. The evenings seemed
longer than formerly; the conversation
of the miners less interesting. He was
lonely. He was earning fair living,
but Of what use was merey 70 him if he