Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-18
TRUE LOVE CONQUERS.
A COURTShlP EPISODE OF THE
GOLD FEVER OF 1856.
Trying Experience of a Beautiful Phiia-
delphia Girl-Her Devoted Lover Goes
West to Seek His Fortune.

ever left the quaint little Dutch town of
Strasburg, overlooking the beautiful Pc
guea valley, and she was literally seeking
her fortune 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 dialect almost as euphonious as
the jargon of the digger Indians. So
Minna accepted the invitation of married
sister living here, and came to the city
This was not the day of the sewing ma
chine, and girls were not compelled to
make shirts for a shilling apiece, for a
smart seamstress could find lucrative en-
ployment, and Minna, being skillful with
the needle soon got work with Miss Hawk,
fashionable shirtmaker, on the east side
of Eighth street, below SAMSON.
Although bitter old maid, and as ugly
rs If she had been bespoken, Miss Hawk
had good heart, and quickly became
fond of her pretty employe, who had no of
fensive vanity and did her work extremely
well, but the old lady had her hands full
when Minna's beauty brought male ad-
mirers, who lowered around the door to
pay her compliments The most persistent
and sincere was Young Irishman named
Peter Kelley, who was connected with one
of the city journals
BOTH POOR, But IN LOVE.
At this time Mrs Margaret Travilla kept
an excellent boarding house in Locust
street, above Fourth, and Miss Stauffer
went there to live.
Living in the house was a Young man
named Lilburn. He was law court re-
porter for the press and a bright fellow,
but his career was handicapped by i'll
health. He was as delicate as girl in ap-
pearance-a gentleman by birth, but poor.
He and Miss Minna became fast friends.
He was fine musician and gave her les
sons on the piano. while she nursed him
through an illness. 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
Ell Dorado in search of health and wealth
With some aid from friends he got to-
gether sufficient means, and consolinp his
sweetheart with the hope that he would
return with enough to make their union a
happy one. he started
After eight months danger and priya-
ton he came in sight of Virginia Civ.
The Journey had restored him to health.
and his letters made Minna's cheeks flush
with pleasure. Like many men of fine
organization and slender pbysioue Iilburn
had plenty of grit, and he got employment
with the Wells Fargo Stage company.
THE LOVER GROWS RICH.
For some time the coaches out of Carson
had been held ND and robbed by one man
and several drivers murdered. Lilburn
offered to make a trip as guard, and, armed
with heavy double barreled shotgun, took
his place on top. About ten miles from
Carson. at early dawn, the coach was halt
ed by a tall masked man, pistol in hand.
Lilburn let go both barrels and saw the
man go down. The frightened driver
whipped up his team and made the next
station at a gallon. A party went back
and found in the road the body of a noto-
rious ruffian named Brannan. For his
taking or killing large reward had been
offered. and Iilburn received $50 from
the stage company for his mornings work
He had a friend namsd Folger. a shrewd.
hard headed Yankee who knew the Carson
City country well. His advice was: This
deestrict is full of silver. Go in and win.
There is Mike Dalton. an honest little
Irishman 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 in porphyry rock
now, but he will win if some one helps
him. But he's ont of money. Go in with
him" Iilburn offered Mike s., 600 for half
his mine. and unconsciouslv became q part
ner in the great Comstock vein. Mike
worked through the rock and struck a bo
panza. But the last blast fired brought
down fall of rock. and the Door little fell
low was brought out of the tunnel crushed
out of shane and dead. He had no kin
dred, and Ililburn became a rich man. He
took out $4,000 of silver. and in a few
months sold out for $50. 600
Up to this time he had received Minua's
letters. but here thew STONED. He wrote
and wrote. but no reply came. He waited
and wondered until one day a letter came
from a strange hand. evidently a woman
The writer thought it her duty to inform.
him that Miss Stauffer had accented a rich
brewer named Gross. and thew had been
married.
AN RSv1or-s voNaS.s IVORY
Iifburn set his teeth hard and passed a
sleepless night. and then resigned himself
n tho sitnation ..poor o;rI Che bod bar
- So 80 - - -
n'lhs " maze anu was lileu Vi "attins'
anu IN loving conslaera1ion ne Justlhe9 I
her, and went into his work with renewed
energy. The facts were these: Among
Miss Hawks girls was cripple who
hated Minna Stauffer malevolentIy She
sI.r+ T., +ha 80 a,d 60, ~. ro..,
f. g.; ~ 80 CIV a,; so" w. - os.lnan
hfSe IL tho uiorniuS- -hiuHa leteerS were