The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-01
CHAPTER III.

passed, as then thought, out OF my life
forever.
CHAPTER III.
/ had been in the mines but q short
time when received the sad news of my
fathers death, accompanied by an urgent
request from my mother that / return
home at once and take charge of his busi-
ness affairs. This was incumbent upon
me as was an only son. So within three
months of the time of my arrival in Cali
fornia was again at home, my gold hunt
ing fever slightly abated, but still hoping
to return to the Pacific Coast; but CIR
cumstances combined to prevent it.
Alice welcomed me with open arms.
She was intensely interested In my Cali
fornia experience, and wished very much
to write to Jessie and thank her for hbcr-
ating me from my dangerous situation;
but as / did not know her address, she had
to abandon the idea. She died the second
year after I returned, leaving only my
mother and myself. AS she was averse to
leaving the old home, remained there
until her death, some twelve years later.
Then finding life intolerably monotonous,
arranged my business, in which had
been very successful, 50 that could leave
for an indefinite time.
felt q strong desire to revisit the
scenes Of my early California experience,
and in due time found myself at - City.
Much Of its former glory had departed.
The closing OF the hydraulic mines had
caused quite an exodus from the region.
decided to make the mountain trip on
horseback as of yore, SO hired good one
from the only livery stable in the town,
and one bright June morning started
again over the almost forgotten mountain
grades.
About 2o'clock overlook a heavily
laden wagon, drawn by six powerful
horses. The sums rays were uncomfort-
ably warm, the road was dusty. Just
ahead was the watering trough, where the
stranger overlook me % long ago.
The driver OF the team ahead was q stall
and q slouch hat, and walked beside the
wheelers. He had q blacksnake looped
about his shoulders, and every now and
then spoke sncourasingly to the strain
ing animals. As we reached the trough
drew rein beside him. He eased the horses
back from a heavy pull, and answered my
mans face struck me as familiar.
He watered his team, then climbed upon
the wagon-box, produced flask, and in
vited me to "smile" with him. I returned
the compliment with q cigar, and we en-
tered into a conversation. / inquired IL
he knew what had becoms Of the old man
Brown, who kept q stopping place over
on the divide years ago.
He looked at me keenly q moment.
"Oh, yes. The old buzzard kicked the
bucket some time ago. Struck q good
mine and couldn't stand prosperity.
What's become of the girl? Banked II
know. Took her down to Frisco and
put her to school. Seems to me =
did hear she married Tom Stew
art, Browns old partner, but he's
gone up the fiume too, I hear. Old
place is gone to rack; nobody lives
there now. Good stopping place about
mile the other side, though. STAN up,
Belll"
The handsome gray mare in the con
lead" arched her neck, the other horses
tossed their heads and Strengthened their
traces, the black-snake gave a resounding
crack in close proximity to the big "near
wheeler's" heels, and the outfit moved on
up the mountain.
rode on ahead, no longer puzzled as to
where had met the stalwart driver, for
memory straightway carried me back to
my acquaintance OF fourteen years before,
who had so unceremoniously deserted me
that memorable night at old man
Browns. He had changed but little,
while /, who was but boy then, was now
bearded and bronzed, and had no fear of
being recognized.
rode on, musing on the ups and downs
Of life, and presently reached the cross
road. found the old hostlery heap OF
ruins, the roof having been crushed in
some previous winter by the weight OF
snow. I unsaddled my horse and allowed
him TO Craze for a time, while wondered
As to the whereabouts Of the red haired
lassie who had played such a fearless game
that night, and reflected that by this time
she was probably dealing faro in some of
the underground palaces of San Francisco.
After drifting aimlessly round among
the mining towns of the Sierras for some
weeks, / went to San Francisco, and I
spent some time in noting the changes
lime had wrought in that queenly city by
the sea. One day, while strolling on the
beach by the Cliff House, came face to
lace with beautiful woman who both i'm
terested and puzzled me. She was tall
and well formed, with fine brown eyes,
and heavy coil OF dark auburn hair.
She was dressed in black, plainly but with
much distinction, and had every indica-
tion OF wealth and refinement. She was
accompanied by an elderly woman whom
heard her address as "auntie." I man
aged TO pass and relass them several
times, and fancied the brown eyes glanced
at me rather interestedly.
without being obtrusive, 1 kept them
I'm sight, and returned to the city on the
same train. I secured q seat- just behind
them, and devoted myself TO studying her
every detail OF dress and manner. Arrived
at the depot, they entered q cab, and were
driven away, and returned to the hotel,
more interested than ! cared TO confess.
For years had been so devoted TO my
mother, and TO business, that no thought
OF marriage had seriously entered my
mind. Now suddenly realized that gray
hairs were creeping among the black, and
II ever intended 70 nsr.v -~s .'-A