The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-01

step revealed some new beauty OF the
floral kingdom. Her mind was not so
much upon the flowers as it was upon
him--big, bearded, honest, manly "Chi-
huahuap Brown She had received a
letter from her mother that morning,
in which a remittance of 800 was &C
knowledged.s The letter to her mother
had been sent by 'Chihuahua" Brown,
and hv had stated therein that the 500
was part of the proceeds from a mine
in which Doris had an interest with him.
The money was badly needed by the
mother, and her gratitude was almost
extravagantly expressed.
Doris strolled on, thinking of the gen.
erosity of chihuahua" and the secret,
delicate method he had taken Of showing
it.
It was time to return. The shadows
began to gather on the mountains, and
darkness would soon be upon her.
She started back to the trail; but. alas,
there was no trail where she thought 1t
should be. Again she located in her
minds eye the place where she had left
the trail in her search for flowers, but
there was no trail when she arrived there
1t was almost dark. She realized that
she was lost Lost in the mountains,
lost in little basin, with the town of
Pyrites just over a small ridge. But this
latter fact she did not know.
Higher up in the basin she saw light
It came from a miners cabin. She started
there 1t was very much farther than
she thought it was. 1t seemed at least
an hour before she arrived at the little
cabin from the windows of which the
light streamed out upon the dark noun
tain. The door was slightly open. Doris
knocked. No answer. She entered the
cabin.
There was a fire in the stove, for the
night was chill. Aneat little bunk with
clean blankets and coverlid stood in one
corner. There was mining map upon
the wall. A bucket of water and wash
basin were near the door. Candles and
miners candlesticks were stuck in the
log crevices. In the center of the room
was table covered with writing paper.
On the table was light that had guided
her to the place-a candle stucp IN 'bhes
mouth Of an empty bottle.
What was this2 A mining deed. Max
well Fl. Brown to Doris Ware, one
half interest in the Goodness Gracious
lode.
A letter-she must not read it. Her
name? Why, what could this mean?
DEAR Miss DoRrs-Au my life have been
going it alone. and I'm getting tired Of 1t.
want pard-a pardner, mean-and that's
you. took you into partnership on the Good
ness Gracious lode last month. Will you be my
pard for life and have regular warranty deed
made out by Parson Wilson? I never was in
love till met you. don't know how this at
fair will pan out, but don't think I'll be able
to winter through without you. I know my
love amt worth as much to you as yours is to
me, and IL you say you will be my wife I'll try
and make the bargain even by throwing in the
whole Goodness Gracious mine and the Small
Potatoes, which is an adjoining claim. An
swer me quick. If don't get an answer. I'm
afraid I'll hurt some Of the boys. because
don't know what I'm doing half the time.
Please marry me-win your And oblige, yours
respectfully, MAXWELL "a. BROWN.
Just as Doris finished reading she
heard step, heavy step, at the door.
She grabbed the pen and wrote in large
letters at the bottom Of the sheet:
Ny answer is yes. DORIS.
Some one was bending over her. Some
one had seen her write; some one saw
that plain, big eyes," and she was
gathered tight in pair of strong arms
and felt fervent kiss upon her lips.
Another step at the door. 1t was "Ga-
lena" Mike, a miner.
Chihuahua" he said, there's an
S-foot vein of that stuff, and it will run
at least 81, 900 to the ton"
chihuahua" did not answer Mike,
but Doris heard him say:
81 wouldn't give one minute like this
for 100000 tons of it."-Richard Il.
Linthicum in New York World.