Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-10-02
THE RING OF GOLD.
It Brought Love and Wealth to
Martin Daily.


aged. Like many another miner in the
far west he had made money and lost it,
had prospected for mines, found ore
and been cheated out of his rights, had
grown poor aud i'll, and had thrown
himself under tree, careless whethe.
he lived or died. <
The great snowy mountain peaks
and the rich verdure had lost their at
traction for him. He had hoped and
been disappointed SO many times that
he had come to believe himself I'M
lucky; that he should never possess q
dollar; that there was neither happi-
ness nor home for him.
He had seen better days. His large,
dark eyes, his broad brow, his we'll
shaped mouth and chin bespoke refine
ment in the years that were gone. lie
had been well educated, had tried many
things and failed in them, not from
lack of energy nor from lack of judg-
ment, but his fate seemed to be an ad-
verse 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 defeat
cd in the battle. He had imagined
sometimes that the clouds had silver
lining, but the storms always came
sooner or later. He meditated thus as
he lay under the tree, and finally, more
dead than alive from want and exhaus-
ton, fell asleep.
Two men passed along under the
brow of the mountain, by the tree.
They were tall and straight, and from
their dark hair and skin it was easy to
preceive their Indian blood.
1.-The white man is dead" said one
of the men, as he bent on his knee be-
side the sleeper.
NO. there is twitching of the eye
lids" 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 weig hit,
Martin leaned upon the arms of the two
men, and soon found himself in the
humble Indian cabin.
"Mimosa, here is 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 hidden. She did
not speak, but looked very pityingly
out of her fawn-lil1e, dark eyes, When
Martin had been placed in the simple
bed, she prepared food for him and
ted him as though he were child. Day
by day she GANG and went, speaking
little, but doing gently the things
which only a 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.
'Mimosa," he said one day, Il owe
my life to you, and if l am ever rich
will come back and reward you"
81 shall miss YOU" said the girl,
shyly. but | want no money.
shall be happy because you are well
again and happy"
81 shall yet find gold, Mimosa
used to think should be rich, and then
/ became poor and sick and lost
heart You wear ring on your finger
and sometimes chain about your neck,
both of beaten gold. Did the metal
come from mines near here?"
my father gave them to me-" she
replied, and nothing more could be
learned from her on the subject.
Would you care, Mimosa, If wore
the ring until went away? Perhaps l
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 time
drew near for the miner to say good-by
to the girl who had become his comrade
us well as deliverer. Tears filed hel
eyes as they parted. you will forget
Mimosa," she said.
mo, l will bring back the ring, and
you shall give it to the man who makes
you his bride. shall never forget Rec
Cloud nor his daughter"
Strong and hopeful again, Martin
took up life, obtained work, and be
lievcd once more that he should fine
gold. SO sweet and blessed thing
is hope, giving luster TO the eyes, anC
quickening the flow of blood along the
vcin,.