Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-05
BOTH WERE GLAD.
+ &@ae

again 10 claim her In less tnan I'VE
years, being young and hopeful was IS
positive about being able TO do this as
l felt about her love aud fidelity.
Brisbane, Quesnland, was the port |
set sail for, as 1t was the newest colony
at the time and the most doomed up 10
the papers, so that l had lots OF com
pany 10 make the passage cheerfui; OIL
fortune hunters and nearly all as hope
full and impecunlous as | was myself.
At the time | landed II had the site
and makings of the fine city II has be-
come since. but it has good deal OF
building 10 be done about it,and great
amount OF capital 10 be sunk In IL De-
fore 1t could be boosted about the city;
while the worst OF IL was that most oil
the Inhabitants had rushed 10 IL In the
same condition that myself ana ship
mates were 10.
The natura, results OF which were
that while the laborers were many the
masters to employ them were exceed
ingy limited.
For a full week I rushed about the
different workshops aud yards with
crowd OF applicants seeking vsinly for
days work. / was modest at the time,
and there were more desperate hunters
before me. 50 that at last gave up
the attempt OF staying In the coming
city.
| laid in a pIckax and spade, with
good steel hammer and double barrel'
ed gun, and struck toword the north.
resolved to exist the best way ! could In
the bush while l tried my hand at gold
digging.
For the first year wandered about
by myself. did not discover any gold,
but gained great deal OF experience
and bush knowledge, which served me
afterw8rd.
At tho end OF the first year took a
situation on back station Is stockman,
and here put in another year, getting
fair wages aud writing hopeful letters
to Maud who replied TO them affection
ately, assuring me OF her faith and
fidelity, which were great comforts TO
me in my lonely and hard He.
Then I struck out again gold seeking,
this time with three experienced mates,
with whom | wandered far Inland,
prospecting with Indifferent luck; still
managed to jog along and indulge IN an
occasional visit TO the different town.
ships, where We disposed Of our tiny
nuggets and laid in provisions for an
other spell Of the bush.
The five years slipped away 10 this
way, and az the end OF them was In
about the same condition OF worldly
prosperity as before.
But Maud Davis had grown tired OF
| nd ~ hpr lattnFa
the last that received from her she
told me that she had become wearied
of wasting her time any longer and was
about to be married TO the village baker,
so that need not bother writing any
more, unless | cared 20 return her let
| tiers.
For the next ten years had varying
| fortune. Sometimes ] picked up few
nuggets and stored them until / could
reach civilization, when | sold them,
and. banking the money, went of again
in search for more, seeking no mans or
woman's company. yet carrying with
me the memory OF what might have
been IL fortune had only smiled upon
| me.
| | was thirty-fve now and had been
tramping, half-starved and thirsty, over
| n desert without a sign OF water or lie
OF any kind for the last two days, when
I came about sundown 10 one OF those
strange ant cities which arc sometimes
found in the dry portions Of this coun-
| try.
For miles 10 front OF me stretched
long streets aud countless huts, from
| four feet TO eight in height, all de-
serted and silent-clay huts, looking
in the distance like dry corn stalks and
close a, hand like human habitations.
lay kown to sleep under the shelter
OF one OF these huts.
I dreamed that saw five men struV-
Cling along the moonlit street 10
which I lay, each with heavy load on
his back-dlggers, they appeared TO be.
bringing on their finds; they came on
| until they reached the mound against
which / leaned. into which one OF
them began to dig, while the others
pitching their bundles down beside the
digger, formed themselves into a guard,
with their rifles out and facing the
north.
soon discovered why they were
guarding the digger, for looking past
them saw large tribe OF aborigines
lodging amongst the other huts and
preparlng TO attack the white men,
who stood there In close ring until
their mate had hidden the gold they
had brought.
A few vigorous digs with the plckax
and spade and portion OF the clay hut
was laid bare, while the five heavy
bags were hastily crammed inside and
the outer clay replaced, after which the
white men began to retreat into the
open plain. leaving their swags behind
them, while the savages glided past me
with their spears in their hands.
I saw the fight begin and end IN the
open, and my FIVE countrymen fell
pierced with the shafts. while | still
lay unable TO move and help them.
The demons returned the way they
had come 20 the north, taxing with
them the FIVE swags, but paying no heed
to the ant hill which held the treasure.
The morning sun was warming the
country when awOke, and with nv
dream stilI vivid ia my mind began
with an eager heart 20 demolish my
shelter OF the night, and there, as l had
seen them laid, discovered the FIVE
bags laden wish gold dist and nuggets
enough TO make me 3 wealthy man a.
last.
took what could carry With me.
and after reaching the nearest township
came back with couple Of horses for
the remainder. and then, after fifteen
years o, absence. / returned home 10
my native village . wealthy man, and,
OF course, paid visit 10 ny old sweet
heart, Maud Davis, now the wife OF the
baker.
Maud, always OF slender build, had
grown shrewish and skinny, without
single trace left Of what bad been car