Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-08-06
DIED RICH.

This is an old story told and it's
all about a mining adventurer, a
prospector. Wonderful accounts
had come to his ears of the fabu-
lous wealth to be had, for the mere
taking away. Down in that part
of our country where the sun bla-
yes on the desert, whose sands are
hundreds of feet below sea level,
too hot for snakes to live in, only
the nondescript ella monster and
the horned toad exchange civilities.
So alone, and infatuated with the
idea that wealth and all the en-
joyments possible for gold to bring
would be the browning result of
his efforts, he wandered away from
the haunts of humanity, plunging
into the burning heart of the des-
ert. Day by day he ventured fur
ther. Each hour seemed to pre-
sent to him some allurement that
suggested his approach to the wait
ing treasure. Dragging himself
YEARLY along he saw a scanty
green spot that indicated water.
1t proved q meager trickling spring
barely enough to bring back life
to his fainting body. Exhausted,
and at last realizing that to go fur
ther was to leave even hopes of
life behind, he dropped YEARLY
to the ground to rest. Casting his
eyes around, not far from him he
saw n gigantic boulder, and from
it's rugged face the intense rays of
the desert sun were reflected back
in dazzling brightness. He was on
his feet in a moment. Under the
excitement all sense of WEAKNESS
left him. His investigation proved
it to be almost mass of gold in
terwoven and held firmly in place
by its natural setting of solid
quartz. So there before his eager
eyes and in tangible form was the
wealth he sought, and which ex-
ceeded by far his widest dreams
and all his. Then thoughts of
WEAKNESS, loneliness and danger
no longer troubled him. He was
rich. Even his scant supply of
food and the fast failing drops
from the desert spring seemed
ample until his wealth should
bring him new supplies. The past
with it's tolls was as clearly for
gotten as though it had never
been. The present hope fully
realized, and the future led away
into dreams as bright as the mag
nificent glittering mass of metal
that reflected back its glories to
him, and for him alone. At last
worn out and wearied by the ex-
cess of joy, he slept. He wakes
before dawn, wonders for a moment
if it was all dream, looks around
sees the black rocks that rise
sphynx like from the sand and
there near at hand his treasure is
in all its golden magnificence.
Satisfaction fills his breast and long
he contemplates the glittering OBJ
ject. He arouses himself, for al
ready the rays Of the risen sun are
pouring down fierce heat, the des-
ert sands reflect them back and
the atmosphere becomes wavy
with the terrible radiators. Away
in the distance he sees the dashing
waves of a lake, he climbs a nearby
rock and looks, and yet he knows
that it is only the delusion of the
mirage. Casting glance around
over the desOlation he sees a form;
it seems to wave it's arms to him,
murder comes to his heart. Some
one who wants my gold, he says.
Cautiously he creeps away to look
but almost afraid to leave his new
found wealth, even for a moment.
There's danger now! He's rich
But that intruder-he must see
him, know him. Kill him, if need
be! So cautiously, at length, but
often looking back to where he
left his heart, he approaches, after
all his fears, only the mirage-it is
only a vulture sitting stupidity on
a rock, Tapping first one and then
the other wing. Gold lured the
man into the desert, the bird follow
ed the man and camped near him
every night. The man had part.
ner after all. The man is salts
fled and rests. The bird is hun.
CRY and waits. The man hurrie.
back to his treasure and wonders
to find it still there and safe, for
getting that, under Gods eye, i,
has rested there possibly since the
icy face of the glacier covered the
now burning sands. The question
Of appropriation now comes to him
Use and realization, it is all his
He looks again, touches it, climb.
over it, finally attacks it fiercely
with his feeble force. His efforts
are futile. Exhausted, he pause.
to think. His store of food, thai
before was SO magnified, today has
shrunk to nothing. The spring ii
almost dusty, only the little mois
ture that accumulates during the
night is left. He must go. Yes
go back to the world for help, and
this means division of his wealth
1Ja atarts and fra walls IN for awhila