The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-10
THE RING OF GOLD

hAFIln Daly nsQ become discouraged
Lake many another miner in the far
west, he had made money and lost Il,
had prospected for mines, found ore and
been cheated out Of his rights, had
grown poor and III, and had thrown him
self under q 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 50 many times that he had come
30 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
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 a.
ways helped his brother miners, had
tried 10 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 OF
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
tall and straight, and from their dark
hair and skin 10 was easy 10 perceive
their Indian blood.
The white man IL dead, " said one Of
the men a. he bent on his knee beside
the sleeper.
mo, there Il G twitching Of the eye
hds," said the other. HE IL pale and
sick. will take him home and Mimosa
will care for him"
The conversation, carried on In Q low
tone, awakened the miner.
Come with Ms and you shall have
food and shelter" said the friendly In
dian.
Scarcely able TO bear his weight Mar
din 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 Clold never left hu-
man being TO die. He win get well, and
then we viii send him back 10 his peo-
pie"
A shy, pale Indian girl came forward
and did q she was hidden. She did not
speak, but looked very pityingly out Of
her fawnlike dark eyes When Martin
had been placed in the simple bed she
prepared food for him and fed him as
though he were q child. Day by day
che came and went, speaking little, but
doing gently the things which only .
wuman's hands can do.
After time the miner, still . young
man, gained in strength and began once
more 10 hope for . successful future.
''AimcsA," he said one day, II owe
my life TO you, and II am ever rich !
win come back aud 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 end gold. Mimosa used
20 think should be rich, and then be-
came poor and sick and lost heart You
wear . ring on your finger and some
times . chain about your neck, both Of
beaten gold. Did the metal come from
mines near here
my father gave them to me- she re-
piled, and nothing more could be learned
from her on the subject
would you care, Mimosa, II I wore
the ring until went away Perhaps !
can hnd the place where the gold came
from
"You may wear Il till you come back
rich, abe said smiling.
Days grew into weeks, and the time
drew near for the miner 10 say goodby
30 the girl who had become his comrads
a. well e. deliverer. Tears filed her
EYES a. they parted. You viii forget
Nimosa," abe said
mo. / win bring back the ring. and
you shah give it 10 the man who mskes
yOu his bride. shall never forget Red
Cloud nor his daughter"
Strong and hopeful again, Martin took
mp hfe, obtained work and believed once
more that he should end gold So sweet
and blesssd thing b hope, giving luster
b the eyes and quickening the Gov Of
baood along the veinA
But he missed the Indian girl Tia
pines On the snowy mountain peaks
whispered Of her. The evenings seemed
longer than formerly; the conversation
Of the miners lez interesting. he was
lonely. BE wns earning Q fair living,
bat q what uss was money 30 him II be
We b feel desoiate in heart Mimosa
wss not Of hls race, but she had Iowa
bas nature BE remembered that she
looksd sd Il his going away. He w0a-
dGea II sAs ever th09ght shout him. n
si,s lad soma Indian saisor, would she
AhlfAEaa 0yv fep