The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-11-20
THE MINE JUMPER

ago went through process vulgary calle,
'petering out" 1t Is now mere hole in th
ground. The half dozen shantes and cabin
near Il have long ago fallen into disuse Thef
roofs have fallen in, and 1t is years since tb,
gulch in which their ruins are was the habita
uono OF men. The entire gulci Is deserted now
ana the Little Christabel is only memory t
those who once shared in the prosperity Il
once brought to Fairplay gulch.
A long, narrow pile Of decaying logs and
parts Of clapboard roof mark the spot
where the boarding house was. There are
still living many Of the men who once gath.
cred around the long, rough pine table that
ran the full length Of the cabin. One Of then,
told me the story Of Miss Millicent.
Miss Millicent Hay was the only woman
ever seen at the Little Christable mine,
When Harley Vance, the owner Of the
mine, advertised in a Denver paper for a
COOK Tor bis boarding house. Miss MilIicent
hay answered the advertisement in person.
She came walking up the trail leading to
The camp carrying little hand sachel and a
stout walking stick
= have been staying down in Camp Crys-
tai, she said TO the surprised MIR. Vance who
had advertised for man cook. sand
thought the place would just suit me. The
Stage brought me to the mouth Of the gulch
and walked the rest Of the way. It isn't
more than six miles, is itg'
She was small but resolute looking
woman, with keen gray eyes and a mouth
hdicating great frmness OF character. Her
thin brown hair was combed plainly back
from brow beginning to show signs Of
wrinkles, although she was but 40 years old
1Do you think couldn't do the work. she
asked \ am quite strong and have known
nothing but bard work all my lite.r
she held out her ungloved hands as sbe
spoke. They were rough and wrinkled, with
bent fingers and calloused palms.
You might do the work, said Mr.. yance
"Ihere are only about fifteen boarders and
we live in a plain, rough way, and there il a |
boy to help. But it wouldn't be pleasant |
place for lady to live There are no women
in this gulcb.p
4 care nothing for that, sail Miss Mill.
cent. "Men are sometimes kinder than wo.
men, she added, with tinge Of bitterness n
her voice.
Ihe end Of it all was that Miss Millicent was
Installed as cook in the boarding house. She
mad evidently come determined 10 stay. for
the stage coach that went rumbline tbIoupb
the gulch next day brought no a little hair
covered trunk with m. Fl" on the end Of it I
with brass headed nails.
Before week the boardeis began blessing
the good angel that sent them Miss Millicept
sach meals as she served had never been seem
before at the Little Christabel: and it was
WONDERFUL 70 see the change she brought about
III the dirty little boarding house and its con-
tents. Her energy and strength seemed nm.
failing. She went stepping briskly about the
,iealest ana spi1ghtl'est Of housekeepers, sing
'ng ~ her work and smiling on everybody {
Az the end OF fortnight every man in
camp knew Miss aillicent and had felt the
Influence good woman exerts In every com. G
nunity !
old hats and caps were doffed to her wher- (
'ver she went. Ne oaths or rough words il
we're spoken In her presence, and the man a
sho would have dared to offer her an indig. h
MY would have rid on rail, as my in
ormant said. n
fer year Miss Millicent lived at the Little 81
ynrlstabel, and in that time she had won the II
incere regard Of every man in camp. There tt
lad been great deal OF sickness among the a
men that winter, and some OF them owed "
heir lives to Miss Millicent's careful nursing. II
'ood food and general good sense in every. ct
hing pertaining to the care Of the sick.
her own cbeeifuness and good health h'
ever failed her d
Il don't believe you ever had a sorrow IN a,
our Life, did your asked one Of the men one fe
ay.
Miss Miilicent was standing in the cabin III
oor at the time. The smile on her face van. sl
NED as she made reply; she leaned her head al
early against the door frame; her face he
aled for moment and her lips quivered as
le said slowly: his
Every heart knoweth its own bitterness:n IT,
ZEN She turned and went to her own little
'ou at the end Of the cabin, and the man
no had asked the question said: Ga
Some villain Of man at the bottom Of II
!, IN bet; ia like TO help stretch bis neckpp
~ was no secret that one or two of the men wi
camp had been suitors for Miss Millicent,s
md, and 1t was known that she had received
eir proposals with burst Of tears. and bad b
gged them never, as they valued their han.
ness and hers, never to refer to the subject siy
,ain.
The camp had been sisgnarly free from he
. brawls and lawlessness that both distin.
ish and disgrace most mountain mining rel
mps Mr.. Vance would not allow a saloon frt
thin the limits Of the mine, and had made ine
obligatory on the men that they refrain me
I'M many things common to the ordinary
ner a.,
The presence Of Miss Millicent had had tn
ich to do with the unusual good behavior full
the men and the good name the Little {
ristabel wore as mining camp. tea
But one day there came bit Of news 10 4
camp that changed the men from good 4
Lured, easy going, joyial fellows 10 angry. ref
ermined nien. q
There lived on claim near the Little MA
llstabel man known as Capt Tom, an me
rest, hard working and thoroughly good 4
n, very popular with all who knew Him chi,
unusually so with the men employed az ara
Little ChIistabel. \
'Or two wears he had yo,led ba,.a 4, ., Z.