The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-02
ROMANCE OF GOLD CANYON.
Tons OF Nuggets for the Brides Wed
ding Gifts.
From the YANKEE Blade.


From the Yankee Blade.
Jessie Cotton was the prettiest girl in
Gold Canyon, and she hal promised to
marry Joe Donald, the biggest. brawnIest
and best-looking young miner Of the camp
They had fine prospects, too. for Joe's
lead was yleldiog the richest ore OF any.
And Jessie had resolved to persuade him,
when once they were married, to leave that
wild region and build a home in some more
civilized community.
Lynch law was the only law OF the vince
and not only real crimes, but personal
grudges, were often Cancelled az the ropes
end.
The first regular tavern in Gold Canyon
had been erected. and, as It was the custom
to dedicate every new building with dance,
the proprietor of the Miners Rest was Civ
ing an opening ball, and all the town was In
attendance.
Joe Donald was In high spirits, and, lift
ing Jessie FROM uhsr feet, he swung her
around in the dance as il she were a baby
.'pll never danoe with you again you
great, rough rotxdym she exclaimed, IAN
grily. -s--A---
But Joe only laughed and swung thsnext
girl in the same manner, which made Jessie
more angry thanevsr. +s--s sg-.
Look here, III eSsie, p said Joe at the end of
dance; do yon see that fellow over there
by the doorr
well" replied Joe, "he is no friend of
mine. He has partner outside, and they
are here for mischief. Don't dance with him
if he asks YOU"
because he is your enemy is no reason he
should be NINE" returned Jessie. "He is
not bad looking, and If he asks me to dance,
l shall dance"
"All right, do as you please. But if you
touch hand of that fellow it is all over be-
tween us ;" said Joe, sternly.
Jessie replied with contemptuous curl OF
her lips, and in ten minutes she was dancing
a gay polka with the stranger
She kept her eyes on Joe, however, and
was somewhat alarmed to see him step out
of the door with another stranger, after
what seemed to be a short and angry con-
versation.
After the polka, she noticed that her part
ner Immediately left the room, and strong
apprehension of danger came over her,
| and, taking up a shawl. she slipped out of
the room unohserVed. The night was
dark, but, through, the gloom she could dis
tlnguish several dark forms moving slowly
up the mountain on the other side OF the
canyon In the exact direction of Joe'S
cabin.
She hesitated but q moment, and then,
with the swiftness of leopard, descended
the dark street. crossed the ravine and was
soon on the opposite slope, so close to the as
cending figure that she could discern Joe's
tall form walking between the two others.
Two more were following, and all In dead
silence. and she felt instinctively that some
great danger was menacing Joe
Following closely, Jessie heard them enter
Joe's cabin and fasJen the door.
Trembling with fright at these strange
movements she kept close to the cabin, but
could hear nothing through the thick wall,
and remembering that the hut was built
against the hillside, with a roof that slanted
nearly to the ground, she went to the rear
of the cabin and, with the quickness and
quletness of kitten, was soon upon the
roof, peering down upon the scene below
through a crevice in the warped boards.
She saw with horror that Joe was bound
hand and foot, while q handkerchief was
tied over his mouth. She could see his
eyes glare fiercely, as he watched the men
searching the cabin for the hidden treasure.
1t was not hard to find, few loose boards
| lifted from the floor revealed several bags
OF dust and nuggets. and gathering these to-
| Rether. two of the men lifted them between
them and carried them out.
Then the leader removed the gag from
Joe's mouth, and said sneeringly:
Now, my fine fellow, have you anything
to say as to why you should not pay the
penalty Of the law OF these parts"
"Robber," Missed Joe.
"Robber, nothingm retorted the man.
1.-THE gold Is mine. discovered that lead,
and Pm going to have 1t and your girl into
the bargain. Got any last words or prayer
to makeT
mot to you" said Joe. You'll pay for
this"
"Heave to, here. partner. " interrupted the
villain, and, catching the rope, the two men
pulled with all their strength, and in an in
slant Joe Donald was swinging from the
beam of his own cabin, while the robbers
hastily secured the rope to a stout rejection
of the log wall and hurried away in the
darkness. They were scarcely out of sight
before Jessie, almost fainting with terror
was in the cabin. IS.
Selling knife from the rude table, she
severed the rope, and Joe's body. which was
struggling in the agonies Of strangulation,
fell heavily to the floor.
The dancers were still making merry
when Jessie resumed her place among them,
and no one seemed to have noticed her alb
sence.
She laughed and danced as gayly as ever
and when the dark stranger asked her for a
waltz she smiled coquettishly and an
swered:
81 am 80 sorry to refuse you; but, you see,
l always keep this last waltz for Joe. He is
so dreadfully jealous, you know"
"But he has evidently forgotten you this
time, replied the robber. II don't believe
he will dance any more tonight
20. yes, he will, replied Jessie lightly.
Joe never foreets, and there he come
now" IS tres7-
The stranger turned a CHASTITY hue as the
tall form of Joe came sauntefing toward
them. He crept away and made an exit
l.nol - l.. l. l.
friends were received by an armed posse of
miners, who escorted them to distant por-
ton of the camp called Gibbet GGlch
As may be supposed, Joe and Jessie made
up their little quarrel In the cabin, and Joe
said, as far as he was concerned, he had had
enough Of swinging any way. And when
they were married ton of the choicest
nuggets that COULD be gathered was the
brides wedding present from the inhabit.
ants of Gold Canyon. ru
DECORATED DRINKS.