The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-01-22

80 +"'"s
q" Ma cloud Of yellow dust
M the Plumas stage rolled
~ % into Big Meadows 1t was
NJ a long drive and a.warm
sooVD drive from Soda Springs,
Y and the horses we're
~5 heeked with spume, and
- ~ Old Hanks, the driver,
was very peeyish because he was very
thirsty.
Two tired travellers climbed down
from the coach and stretched their
limbs AMI yawned, meanwhile looking
about them in a bowildered sort Of
way.
The time OF day was early evening,
the month was July, and tho year was
1861; and Big Meadows was cross
roads resting place for hunters aud
fishermen IN Plumas County, in Cali
foruia. There was a general store in
Big Meadows, q log house or two, the
Eureka Tavern and a shed for the stage
horses.
The tired travellers in looking about
them saw Johnny Blonnt, with his
arms nkimbo, standing in the open
doorway o the Eureka. Johnny kept
the tavern and kept it well, and Old
Hanks, the driver, had sung his
praises into the ears OF the travellers
at intervals all the way from Soda
Springs. The venison steaks that
Johnny broled were famous not only
in Plumas, but in all the counties
round about
"Supper are awailin' We, gents"
said Blount with q smile of welcome,
ms the two passengers walked toward
him. "Ye'il fine er place to wash mp
in Their back room.
"From FRISCO, presumed" he add
ell inquiringly, RS ne followed them
through the barroom.
yes" replied the taller OF the
young men. "AIy names Martin
Henry Martin, and Pm from Fnco,
al right"
"And mine is Moore-Samuel
Moore-and sell at wholesale down
in tue city"
When the young men emerged from
the room back of the bar their faces
we're free from the dust OF the long
ride, and they looked decently respec-
table, and sat down to the hot supper
IN the dining room very much re-
freshed and very hungry.
Young Mr. Martin had finished his
venison when an exclamation OF sur
PRISE from Moore caused him to look
up quickly from his empty plate, and
he saw his friend staring madly at q
young girl who was entering the room.
She was as graceful and pretty as
the fawn of a mountain deer. He hair
was of deep yellow, like the flowers
on the hill near by. and her eyes were
rs blue as the clear waters of the trout
stream in the gulch below. The fresh.
ness and the beauty, and the childlike
innocence and sweetness of her face
fascinated the eyes OF the young men,
and they quite agreed that she was the
prettiest creature they had ever seen
GAS graceful as a sylph, whispered
Moore.
"And as modest as o num-" echoed
Martin.
Edith May Blount was all that the
young men from Frisco had sNid o
her, and her father was very proud o.
her, and If she had been eighteen OF
twenty instead OF n mere little miss o
fourteen he would have fretted him
Felf to death over the thought of los
ing her, for girls are girls, and they
will marry and forsake their poor ole
fathers, even in the hills and gulche
OF California.
The Blounts had made the iourne,
overland three years before all tn,
way from Maine, where Edith hat
been born, and where the friends o
her childhood lived in the memory O
her. 1t must be remembered tina
down in Maine she had a childisl
sweetheart, a sturdy little chap 0
twelve years named John Phillips
who loved her only, of course, as
small brother, and as soon as he wa
able to write with pen and ink he sen
letters to er-the queerest, littl
childish love letters one could i'm
aglne; and now three years ha
elapsed. Edith was fourteen and job
was fifteen, and there were tire
thousand long miles between them.
Moore and Martin were at Bi
Meadows for trout-nothiug bu
trout, and for a week they kept thel
eyes on the fishing; but the hearts 0
both of them were smitten with John
ny Blount's little girl-with her hal