The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-07
A WOMAN'S REVENGE.

Il w OA AIN - lti hA' ~ LII
The varied beauty of American women Is
largely due to the cosmopolitan character OF
our population. Fine compilations, SYM
metry of form and sturdinesS OF constltu-
ton are the inheritance Of these whose thin
native blood has been enriched by union
with the strength and vitality of the races
of Northern Europe. Any one visiting Lam
caster City on Whitsuntide Monday Will see
more pretty German-Amercan girls from
the country than at all the summer watering
places on the Atlantic Coast combined. Al
though mostly blondes there is often seen
magnificent type OF brunette glowing with
health and vigor
Minna StGuffer was as pretty girl as ever
left the quaint little Dutch town of Stras-
burg, overlooking the beautiful Pequea Val
lev. and she was literally seeking her for
tune in Philadelphia. Brought up in a
farmers family, She became weary of the
commonplace and monOtOnOus labOrS OF the
household. Moreover, she knew that she
was beautiful and had an idea of admirers
more pleasing and refined than the stalwart
young farmers who told their love in a dia-
lect almost as euphonious rs the jargon OF
the Digger Indians. SOEMnna accepted the
invitation of a married sister living here
and came 10 the city. This was not the day
of the sewing machine, and girls were not
compelled to make shirts for shilling
apiece, for smart seamstreSs could IND
lucrative employment, and Mlnna, being
skillful with the needle, soon got Work with
Miss Hawk, fashionable shirt-maker, on
the east side of Eighth street, below SAMSON.
Although bitter old maid, and as ugly as
if she had been bespoken, Miss Hawk had Il
good heart and quickly became fond of her
pretty employe, who had no offensive vanity
and did her work Extremely well. But the
old lady had her hands full when Minna' S
beauty brought male admirers, who lowered
around the door to pay her compliments.
The most persistent aud sincere was young
Irshman named Peter Kelley, who was coz
nected with one of the city journals. lie
nearly drove Miss Hawk crazy. Twice Il
week would he leave roll of manuscript as
long as the Presidents message, telling his
love in prose and verse, addressed to the
beautiful Miss Stauffer
But Peter was gentleman and his atten-
lions were not obtrusve, and he was con-
tent with seeing his goddess go 10 and from
work. At TINS time Mrs. Margaret Travilla
kept an excellent clearinghouse in Locust
street, above Fourth, and Miss Stautter
went there to live. The girls beauty was
revelation to those whom she met there, but
her quiet grace of manner and absence OF
pretension diSarmed all curious criticism
and she became Il general faV0rlte.
Living in the house was young man
named Lilburn. He was a law court re-
porter for the press and bright fellow, but
his career was handicapped by lll-health
He was as delicate as girl in appearance
a gentleman by birth, but poor lie and
Miss Minna became fast friends. he was
fine musician and gave her lessons on The
piano, while she nursed him through an i'll
ness, and they became lovers.
At this time 1856 the gold fever WAS
raging and Jason Lilburn determined to
tempt fortune by crossing the plains to the
El Dorado in search of health ana wealth.
With some aid fr N friends he got together
sufficient means, and cOnsOling his sweet
heart with the hope that he would return
with enough TO make their union happy
one, he started. After eight months dam
ger and prlvatlOn he came IN sight oil VIZ
ginia City. The journey had restored him
to health and his letters made Minna' 5
cheeks flush with pleasure. Like many men
of fine organization and slender physique,
Liiburn had plenty of grit, and he got en-
ployment with the Wells-FargO Stage Com
pany. For some time the coaches out Of
Carson had been held up and robbed by one
man and several drivers murdered. Lii
burn offered to make trip as guard, and
armed with a heavy dOuble-barreled shot
gun took lis place on top. About ten miles
from Carson, at early dawn, the coach was
halted by tall masked man, pistol IN hand
Lilburn let go both barrels and saw the man
90 down The frightened driver whipped
up his team and made the next station at Il
gallop. party went back and found in
the road the body of a notorious IufiiaG
named BrannGn. For his taking or killing
a large reward had been offered, aud Lii
burn received 5000 from the stage company
for his mornings work.
He had a friend named Eolger, a shrewd,
hard headed Yankee who knew the Carson
City country we'll His advice was: This
district is full of silver. Go in and win.
There is Mike Dalton, an honest little man,
WHO has a claim, and there is no better
miner between this and Frisco. He has
had partners before and they always made
money. Mike is i'll porphyry rock now, bat
he Will win If some one helps him. But
he's out Of money Go in with him." Lii
burn offered Mike $4,000 for half his mine
and unconsciously became a partner in the
great C0mstock vein. Mike worked through
the rock and struck abonanZa. But the last
blast fired brought down 4 fall of rock and
the poor little fellow was brought out Of the
tunnel crushed out of shape and dead. He
had no kindred and Lilbum became rich
man. lie took out $4,000 Of silver and in a
few months sold out for 100000.
Up to this time lie had received Minna's
letters, but here they stopped. He wrote
and wrote, but no reply came He waited
and wondered until one day a letter came
from a strange hand, evidently woman.
The writer thought it her duty to inform
him that Miss Staulfer had accepted a rich
brewer named Gross and they had been
married. Lilburn set his teeth hard and
passed a sleepless night and then resigned
himself to the situation. Poor girl. She
had her living to make and was tired of
waiting" and in loving consideration he
justified her and went iuto his work with
renewed energy. The facts were these:
Among Miss Hawks girls was cripple
who hated Minna Stauffer Inadvertently
She slept in the store and saw the postman
first in the morning. Minna's letters were
intercepted, and at the proper time Lii
burn received the epiStle that crushed out
his hopes.
In the meantime Minna's cheeks grew
pale and many silent tears we're she'd Peter
Kelley had become a favorite with Miss
Hawk and one day frightened her by declar-
ing that he was going TO the gold mines
himself" and if he met his old newspaper as
socate, Llburn, would 'obliterate him"
for his treason to the sweetest creature
meet Lilburn, and, with characteristic vehe-
mence, told his story. Lilburn produced his
letter and Peter asked Gross? who's Gross {?
There amt no such man. Some venomous
old cat has written that letter, and I'd like
tO break her neck"
Inside OF two days Lilburn was passen-
ger on the overland, and one fine day in
April, 1859, a gentleman, stalwart and sun
Drowned. with a broad-brimmed hat on his
head, stepped into Miss Hawks place on
Eighth street. My name is Lilburn and
want to see Miss Stauffer," he said. The
little woman dropped her scissor. ''Oh, the
goo6 Lord, is it possibe?" she said. Miuna
came out, pale as Gala lily. 1t would take
a column to describe what followed. Miss
Hawk ordered the shutters to be put up, and
gave all the girls holiday. The letter was
produced. the handwriting identified, and,
woman who had done the mischief was told
TO go and never show her face again.
Two weeks after Lilburn and his sweet
heart were married in the Lutheran Church,
Franklin, below Vine, Miss Hawks had a
present of diamond brooch that was the
delight Of her future life, aud the girls
were not forgotten. The happy pair left
for San Francisco. Peter Kelley painted