Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1893-03-04
hing Of Gold. !
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81 es$S - arlin DAILY had become
sRYgaXks quite discouraged. Like
SxS75S many another miner in the
far west be had made money and
lost it. He imagined sometimes that
the clouds had silver lining, but
the storms always came sooner or
later. He meditated thus as he lay
under the tree and finally, more dead
than alive from want and exhaustion,
fell asleep.
Two men passed along under the
brow of the mountain by the tree.
They were tall AMI straight, and
from their dark hair and skin it was
easy to perceive their Indian blood.
1.-THE white man is Dead" said
one of the men as he bent on his
knees beside the sleeper.
!" No, there is twitching of the
eyelids,' said the other. " He is
pale and sick. I will take him home
and Mimosa will care for him."
The conversation, although car
ried on in low tones, awakened the
miner.
"Come with us. and you shall
have food and shelter" said the
friendly Indian.
Scarcely able to bear his weight,
Martin leaned upon the arms Of the
two men and soon found themselves
In the Indian cabin.
Mimosa, here is a stranger. Take
care of him. Red Cloud never left
q human being to die. He will get
we'll, and then we will send him home
to his people,. y
A shy, pale Indian GIL came for
ward and did as 8lfa was hidden.
She did not speak, but looked very
pitingly out Of her fawn-like dark
eyes. When Martin had been placed
in the simple bed, she prepared food
and fed him as though he were a
child, but doing gently the things
which only a woman's hands can do.
After time the miner, still o
young man, gained in strength and
began once more to hope for sue
cessful future.
Mimosa," he said one day,
owe my life to you and if am ever
rich / will reward YOU"
81 shall miss you," said the girl
shyly. But l want nc money.
shall be happy because you are well
and happy again."
II shall find gold, Mimosa. fused
to think l should be rich, and then
l became poor and sick and lost
heart. You wear ring of gold on
your finger and sometimes a chain
about your neck, both of beaten
gold. Did the metal come from neal
| here 2"
My father gave them to me-
she replied, and nothing more could
be learned from her on the subject.
! Would you care, Mimosa, if
wore the ring until l went away
Perhaps can find the place where
the gold came from"
You may wear it until you come
back rich," she said smiling.
Days grew into weeks, and the
time drew near for the miner to say
| goodby to the girl who had become
his comrade as well as deliverer
Tears flled her eyes as they parted
You will forget Mimosa," she
said.
"No, ! will bring back the ring
and you shall give it to the mar
who makes you his bride. / shall
never forget Red Cloud and hi.
daughter"
Strong and hopeful again, MartiH
took up life, obtained work and be.
lieved once more that he should
find gold. So sweet and blessed a
thing is hope, giving luster to the
eyes and quickening the flow OF blood
along the veins.
But he missed the Indian girl.
The pines on the snowy mountain
peaks whispered of her. The even
ings seemed longer than formerly,
the conversation OF the miners less
interesting, He was becoming dis
couraged again. He even began to
fear that Mimosa was married, and
his soul awakened to sense of loss.
He would go back inst once and see
her, and on his journey back be
would sit for half hour under the
tree where Red Cloud had found him.
"What ails Martin?r said one
miner to another. He must be in
loye-no fun in him as in the old
days. Going to quit camp, he says.
After Martin had decided to 90
to see Red Cloud his heart seemed
lighter II Mimosa was married. be
could at least show her his graft
tude. And if she were not? Well,
it would be very rsstful to see her
her once more.
He started on bis journey. The
moon was rising as he neared the