The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-09-25
THE RING OF GOLD.
It Brought Love and Wealth &c
Martin DAILY

aged. Like many another miner In the
far west he had made money and lost 1T,
had prospected for mines, found ore
and been cheated out 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 at
traction for him. He had hoped and
been disappointed so many times that
he had come To believe himself un-
lucky; that he should never possess a
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
mcnt ia 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 judg-
mcnt, but his fate seemed TO be an ad-
verse one
lie 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
ed in the battle. lie had imagined
sometimes that the clouds had a silver
lining, but the storms always came
sooner or later. lie meditatcd thus as
he lay under the tree. and finally, more
dead than alive from want and .exhaus-
ton, fell asleep.
Two men passed ;aiong under tthe
brow of the mountain, by the tree.
They were tall and straight, and from
their dark hair and skin il was easy to
preceire their Indian blood.
.srb.. x-hita iC
of the men, as he bent on his knee be-
side the sleeper
NO, there is twitching of the eye
lids said the other. lie is pale and
sick will take him home, and
Mimosa will 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 hear his weig hit
Martin leaned upon the arms of the two
men and soon found himself in the
hum BILE Indian cabin.
--Minosa- here is a stranger. Take
care of him. Red Cloud never left a
hnman Id ing to die. lie will get well.
and then IKE will send hiln hack to his
people"
\ shy pale Indian girl came forward
and did as she was hidden. She did
not speak, but looked very Pityingly
out of her faNvn-lil<e, dark eyes When
Martin had heen placed in the simple
bed, she prepared food for him and
ted him as though he were n child. Day
by day she came and went speaking
little, but doing gently the things
which only a woman's hands can do.
After 4 time the miner, still young
man. gained in strength and began
once more TO hope for successful
future
--Mimosa-- he said one day. II 0ve
INV life to You. and if i am ever rich j
will come back and reward you-
II shall miss you" said the gul,
shyiy. --But a want no money
shall be happy because you are well
again and happy
Il shall yet find gold, MimOsa- 4
used to think j should be rich, and then
i became poor and sick and lost
heart. You wear a ring on your finger
and sometimes a 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 /
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
as well as dcliverer. Tears filed her
eyes as they parted. 'You will forget
Mimosa." she said.
mo, i 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. Martin
took up life, obtained work, and be-
lieysd once more that he should find
gold So sweet and blessed a 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 con
v~rsation of the miners less interest
ing. He was lonely. He was earning
a fsir living, bot of what use was
money To him, II be was to feel DESC
late iR heart? Mimosa was not of his
race, bat she had ioyable nature. He
that she looked sad at his
going away. He wondered II she eyer