Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-12-04
direct Tor us

eternal SHOWS up on the distant peaks
of the Rockies. She was dressed in a
dark. becoming costume, fashionably
though plainly made. and carried
small valise in one hand.
She paused before the men, and, in
sweet. low voice, asked:
is this Windy camp?"
Jack and Ben stood blushing before
the fair creature like TWO great bash
full schoolboys. However, Jack was
the first to recover his presence of mind,
and he answered:
Yes. ma'an, this is Windy camp"
And Ben Thomas, who had not seen
so fair girl from the haunts of civil
ization for five years. recovering him
self on hearing his companions famit
lar voice, added:
Eyes. miss, wot's left of it-most of
it's gone over the mounts tains to the
canyon"
do either of you know a man by
the name of Alexander Morgan?" asked
the girl.
The men exchanged significant
plances. and each seemed to beseech
the other mutely to tell her the sad in
n y
lis he relative of yours, miss?"
"Yes: he is my father" she replied.
81 am Grace Morgan. and have, since
nv poor mothers death, five years ago,
lived with my aunt in Kansas. But
grew tired of eating the bread of de-
pendence and have come to seek my
father About two months ago had
letter from him, and he said he would
he at Windy gulch this summer; so
came to him-not to be burden to
him, for / can teach school, wash for
the miners, or do something" she said,
cheerfully.
Miss Morgan" said Jack, striving
to render his tones steady, don't be
scared, for have bad news for you"
Grace Morgan trembled slightly and
her face grew very white.
''He is deadr' she uttered, hoarsely.
Not quite so bad as that. Miss Nor
gan. He had trouble with bad fell
low, who shot him. Your father is
alive yet. up there at that little shanty
among the cedars,' and Jack pointed
to where McBirney's little cabin could
but family be seen, enrneshed as 1t was
by rocks and cvergrecns.
Thank God, nc livesl'' cried she, and
she started to 90 toward the catin. but
she staggered so fearfully that Jack
hurried to her side and begged her to
accept his strong arm.
Grace Morgan gave him such tender
look of sweet gratitude from her blue
eyes as honest Jack never forgot all
his life; and with softly spoken
THANK YOU" she took his of cred
support and walked soberly away. Poor
Ben, who would have died to stand IN
Jacks boots at that moment, stood by
the bowlder gazing nervously after
them. With deep-drawn sigh, the big
fellow said aloud to himself:
''If it hadn't been Jack b'leve I'd
fattened him, surel Maybe Jack don't
think | know how 10 be gallant to
gals She's awful purity, an, poor
crcetur. she won't have q daddy much
longer. TheL soplebodys got 10 take keer
OF her, for she shan't herd kids Tor
livin' nur wash miners burned ole
dirty duds Nav stree! Wen jist set
up a orphan 'sylam right down hyer in
Windy gulch an take keer OF her"
So saying Ben turned away and went
over to Pat to tell him the startling
news that Morgan's daughter had come
from Kansas Pat had been SO con-
cealed by the rocks along the stream
that the new arrival had not been seen
by him.
When Ben and Mckinney, with his
string OF fish, went up to the cabin,
they found Katie McBirney very busy
in the little outdoor shed, where the
cooking was all done in fair weather.
Jack had gone to the spring for fresh
water, while in the cabin they could
hear girls low, gentle voice. AS Pat
secured knives to clean the fish, his
wife whispered aloud TO him and Ben:
"Och! bless her dear heart! The
darlint was clanc, intoircly affected by
the meetin' wild the poor wounded
father that is. Jack. the poor bye,
wint eff TO the sphring to hide his fail
in's-an' me own voice was that
sthopped. could hardly spheak wan
worridr'
"shure, an how did Morg take it?"
asked Pat.
'He was rnooch affected at meetin'
wild the darlint. But she's brave
wan. She's maxim herself as calm as
summer noight whin not "A leaf
sthird, an is talkin', as yc kin hear, ii
ye listen, in that soothin' way she has
II Mrs. McBirncy was so easily cap
tivated by the gentle manners and love-
ly personal charms of Grace Morgan,
the reader can readily imagine how
r,l.tf1.r F.,- OH tod fbnef. honest
citize 3 OF Windy camp, Jack Leslie
and Ben Thomas.
Poor Alex Morgan fingered two days
Longer after his daughters arrival Be-
fore he died, he shook hands with Ben
and Jack, saying:
''Good-by, pards, the time TO leave
has come. I'm going 20 cross the mys-
terious, awful divide, but ! leave my
little girl behind. Watch over her
tenderly when I'm gone, forgetting my
sins. Mine Is "A wasted life, paris, and
/ leave nothing behind me for Grace.
Try 70 get her Il school down In tie
town. She has an education, and with
Il little help will succeed"
Don't worry, Morg," said Jack;
"MiRs Grace shall have our first con-
alteration, always."
The grief Of poor Grace Morgan was
intense, but she had the trn.st sym
pathy of her four friends in Windy
camp.
Pat. who could handle tools readily,
made a coffin Of some lumber folnd in
the gnlch. while Jack and Ben started
off 10 dig the grave.
They chose retired spot far up the
gulch, and began digging in silence.
They were very sober. They could
not forget the misery and borrow on
that pretty, fearful face mp at McBir-
ncy's cabin They had nearly finished
the grave when u n remarked:
"Say. pard. amt that mighty curious
gaticr soil we're hcayin' out?'
"Yaller soil?" Jack repeated, half
abstractcdly. But be took up n hand
fui and looked at IL closely. Ills face
wore wild took na he turned To- Ben.
"Pard. it'a god-purc, genuine, un-
udultcratcd gold! Windy camps not
played oUf yet. Poor Morg's grave has
brought us luci.!"
"Blcst If yc amt right, pard, said
Ben, having satlsfied himself that they
really had struck gold. "Wcll,
lsnowcd when Grace Morgan come she
would bring luck TO us Windy campers.
A purity young stranger always docsl"
he added, with IA supcrftition that is
said 30 be provcrbial OF some old miners.
II was quickly decided 10 abandon