The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-29

Poor John Huberti Ill tuck had fol.
lowed close at his heels for many long
year until it seemed as natural Sc
quence to his every undertaking as good
fortune Is to other men. But deep within
his honest breast was well-spring OF
hope, bubbling to the surface In ne'er-
ceasing ripples, and giving TO his face Its
sunny smile, his eyes their happy out
look, spite OF misfoI tune and disappoint-
ment. Ii fairly .oysrran its boundaries
when he wooed and won pretty Meta
Allen for his bride, and the year they
spent together was year of perpetual
sunshine, spite OF the dark cloud OF pow
erty which hung over their humble cot
age, and made IL so hard To- provide even
their simple wants. But Meta sung over
her work like some bird building Its
nest and John found labor pleasure,
with tho memory Of his bright firesldo
before him. But there came day when
the poor girls song died on her lips, as
they grew white anu pale. leaving only a
sad. lingering smile about them, and the
CHEEKY fire burned low, unbeeded. and "a
shadow-not OF poverty, but the great.
grim terror. which broods over the palace
alike with the bovel--shut out the sun
shine, and sweet Meta Huberts eyes,
with one lingering look OF love in thoir
depths for the strong man sobbinR like
child at her bedside, closed for the last
time. while the feeble flame OF life flick
cred and went out. For little while
black darkness entered into John HUI
bert's soul Even the waters of the spring
seemed dried up, bat, 10 his young wife
had not left him uncontrolled. Baby
fingers clutched Mt his heart string, baby's
cry stirred the waters OF hope once more,
and as the months grew into years and
he traced In the little ones eyes the
same look which had shown In her
mothers, his very soul went out to tho
child who was as daughter and wife
both, and the well-sprinR Of hope once
more bubbled and sang. 1t was for her
dear sake IL long years after his young
wife had been laid u rest, that no de-
termined to leave the grave kept ever
green, and turn his face westward. His
farm was mortRaged, his struggle hard
one. Little Meta deserved something
better. so he sold all he had and with
her by mis- side set out for tn ir new life
TO the wonderful gold country.
1t bore little evidence OF its hidden
treasure when 10 at last was reached.
Meta looked dismayed at the rough men
who formed the settlement, when, cling
ing close TO her fathers hand. they entered
among them. she could not understand
tho amazed looks they cast on her. She
aid not dream that with her golden hair
falling in curls fellow her waist Ter
great blue eyes timidly upraised or droop-
ing with the long, brown lashes fripging
tie delicate cheek, u was as though an
angel had suddenly appeared in their
midst Some OF them had wives and
children OF tt~ir own at home. and tears
spranR to feyes which had known no
III oisture for years.
30 the years went by until Meta grew
from childhood to girlhood. almost TO
womnnhood, pure, sweet flower L. this
tnS ...AI 4.
hutert's share. The nugget which would
have maie his fortune he passed by. whils
these on tho left and right Of him gath
GRAD 10. Vat the old smile, the old, un
complaining honesty, IN ade him general
favorite and no one felt even pang Of
envy when Mt last, after five pa,isnt year,
OF toll, the rumor spread through the
carp that success had crJwnel his
oEorts; that John Hubert had struck
gold, and carried enough tu his little cot
zee to enable him I'd 20 back n rich man
10 his hons again. Tney had no bolts,
no locks in this rude district. Every ~ an
was to the other a bro'her-a brother
marked. psrhaps with the brand of a
quick word, u n, ,omentary ..naer, but never
tlow In tho dark or the asss ssin's hid
cen steel So great thrill Of horror and
amaze shook the little community 10 It's
ce1tr> when the day after Jol n Hubert's
luck had cons to him ne was found cold
Nhu iiiNitHS III MS bth, ILOuRH
he had had 10 time TO awaken from
some happy dream, but with the cold
steel through his heart
WhS had done u Il thing?
No need to ask whv IL had been done.
The missing gold proc lain cd the motive.
The murderer had been thief as well. No
stranger had entered the camp: none of
their mum Der were missing. Ench man
feared TO look in tie Others face. : iently,
sadly. they laid the poor body In the
ground. A rude burial: but few, whate'er
the out ward pomp. receive such silent
need If grisf
six months lntrT and Meta Hubert and
young ROGER Ro lins walked side by side
ON the outskirts OF the camp Her face
was pale, her eyes had in them an cx-
piessiOn born there since her fathers
cruel death, and she listened with resoiu.
tion already formed to tho you ng mans
words.
"hiii YOU not marry me- MetaY Have
j not loved Wv ever since you came
among us "a ii tie sirl? True, darling. the
wealth Tor whicn have so ualiently toll
81 has not vet CONS 10 me. but If w i'll