Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-24
Three p. m. More excitennontI


A nugget weighing 80 pounds The
monster of the field a wonder Of the coun-
try and a fortune to its finder.
Picks and shovels are thrown down, the
roar of cradles and sluiceboxes stops as II
by magic, and the excited crowd starts at
q run for the claim.
On their arrival Dog Kellarey says moth
Ing but for the second time he carefully
points out his boundary. He places his
revolver on the cradle, ready to his hand,
and, bless you, the crowd understands
what he means by that.
The luck penny sucks her thumb and
crows contentedly. Womanlike, she knows
she is the center of attraction.
When the last visitor has departed, the
Dog picks her up and says emphatically:
"Kinchinl It'syou as brought the luck
to the old man. Now, look here, three
parts of that claim belongs to you, 1t
Goesl"
And he meant it.
A bright, fresh morning, with few
white clouds scattered about the heavens,
the better to enhance the blueness of the
| bhy DCJOhNs n HAPPY opAAhB DtOCAC uLlbL-
ing round corners and playing the very
mischief with silk hats and dainty skirts,
whistling through telegraph wire, and
covering the harbor with a coating Of con-
tinuous white foam. A morning on which
to feel thankful for existence.
1t is easily seen that something unusual
is affecting the inhabitants of Potts Point,
that fashionable suburb of luxurious Sgd
ney.
At st. Mary's church door 1 find large
crowd assembled, representing all ranks
of society, and for the first time obtain
some dim idea of the event 1 am about to
witness. In order to make doubly sure /
question an ancient lady, whose dress sug-
gests connection with some charitable in
stitution.
At first she seems inclined to treat my
thirst for information with contempt, but
finally desire for gossip overcomes her
reticence, and she condescends to tell me
all in one breath that this ere is to be
the weddin o. Miss Athelwood. Not but
that er name amt Athelwood, but KEEL
larey. 'Er as 'dow'd the amls' ouses down
the street-which times bein bad an q lone
widder as 'ad no husband an whose son is
doin lis last stretch, bein as innocent as a
babe unborn. An rheumatic bein that
bad, she could curse, only she wouldn't.
An Miss O'Sullivan, as lives in No. g.,
said as 'ow Miss Athelwood was worth
well nigh 'alf million of money if she
was worth a penny-not but that she
shouldn't be, seein as 'ow she had been
born on the gold diggin's, an every one
knowed them was good times. An a
| ha+fo,. loH1
gin 'er pardon for sayin So"
The old woman, once started, was hard
to stop. But was interested in Miss
Athelwood, SO ventured an inquiry as to
her parentage.
"Ah, well may yer say that; not but
what yer mightn't understand, seein as
'ow ye're q stranger in these parts. The
poor, young dear never 'ad no father to
know but Mr.. Athelwood, the lawyer.
card tell she were just fetched up from
them goldfields by teller called Kellarey
"a miner chap, who give Ter to Mr.. Athel-
wood along of fortune which e said was
'ers. That's 20 year or moro now-the
same year as my good man was took by
the pcrlice for the Orange bushrangin case,
an i'm not never so much as 'avin 'alf-
penny Of the money, butt
stopped the dear old lady's family his
tory by asking whom Miss Athelwood was
about to marry. AS put the question an
old and villainously dirty swagman placed
his roll of blankets down at the church
door and pushed his way toward u.s.
In begin yer pardon" my old lady
went on, Miss Athelwood's agoin to
marry, as it's not In my mind to remember
"a dock or hearl, but l can't say which on
'em. Haid dc camp to the governor, they
do say he is. But look, look, ERE they
comesl'
Carriage after carriage rolled up to the
church door and set down its load of fash
ionables. Then amid continuous cheer,
ing Mr.. and Miss Athelwood arrived. She
looked surprisingly beautiful, and no
ticed that the old swagman was so over
come with establishment that he kept hi:
eyes staring at the door long after she had
passed through it and all had rushed into
the church to see the ceremony.
My whole attention was devoted tc
watching the bride. 1 could not drive hcl
romance out Of my head. She went up the
aisle q nameless girl, tho product Of q gold
field, and returned to the music of Men.
delssohn's wedding March" countess
and member of one of the Oldest families
in Europe.
After all the carriages had rolled away
and was turning to go the old swagmaI
touched my arm, saying:
mister, I'm agoin to get yer to do mt
a favor"
Asking him what it was, he replied:
"Let's go somewhere out of this, WHERE
we're alone an Ill tell yer"
When we had adjourned to a more fit
ting place, my companion spoke.
II guess you'd call me liar If told
you that was the man as brought W
that girl as we've just see married. But
amin Dog Kellarey, sure enough
i'm as give 'er into Lawyer Athelwood'.
lands 20 years ago, with 'er share of the
mine tibet PANIED out SO rich"
''Why don't you go to her thenP heal
she's been hunting high and low for you'll
''That's just it. know she has. But
dyer think I'm agoin into the company o
the likes o. 'er friends? Not mel I'd BIZ
maxim q fool o. the girl, an she'd b.
ashamed o. 'erself. Mol I've trampet
close on 400 miles to see her married, al