Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-21

connection that savored OF profanity. ana
It may be added he had no admiration Tor
the young man who volunteered his help.
Tom Reed was a tall. we!l-buit man OF
six-and-twenty, "bashful as GAL" his
companions said. lie was the only man
In Experience that neither drank nor
gambled.
1t was Rufus Ford's privilege to SIT
Mt the table on which Kitty Minis waited
Ho was always Kitty's first partner at
the dances, and the very brst time busgy
drove down the one street OF Experience
Kitty sat in il beside the young super
intsndent.
The older men joked with Simon Minis,
and. though the landlord was non-com-
initial, he gave the impression that ne
would not OBJECT TO Rufus Ford for a
son-in-law.
The younger men gradually dropped on
one at a time, reluctantly leaving the
field TO Rufus Ford the only exception
was Tom Reed.
It might be said, however, that Tom
Reed was really never IN the Held. he
did not board at the Aurora HOTEL nifty
had never "sweetened his conee py look
ing into ia plan that was thought 10
save her father much sugar. lie nad
never danced with her, though once when
he did muster up courage 10 ass her
hand for the next set she was engaged.
hours at the hotel, watching Tor Kitty
Minis and pretending not to see her
when she came in sight.
on her nineteenth birthday Tom sent
her a bouquet Of wild flowers he mad
gathered in the hills that morning-in
honor OF the occasion the whole camp
took a holiday--and in the centre or the
blossoms he had hid golden heart which
he had himself rudeiy fashioned from
nugget ne had long kept by him.
1t was rumored that Rufus Ford had
sent TO Frisco for "dime-ant ring
and that Kitty would wear 1t at the dance
that evening.
AS often before, the dining-room OF
the Aurora Hotel did service TINS night
as a ballroom, AID from the crowded
doorway Tom Reed looked AT the
dancers, ana he caught the ndsa Oh q
Jewel on Kitty's hand.
After the dancing had progressed some
time the men about the walls began
shouting:
"a song! A song from the sage-orusn
nightingalep Having no cold TO urge as
an excuse. and being as willing TO
oblige them as they were anxious to have
her Kitty Minis mounted a chair amid
great applause and sang the ia'or'ts
songs.
During the evening Kitty managed TO
get near to where Tom Reed was stald-
ing, and she whispered:
Thank you, Tom"
His eyes did not deceive him. Some or
his flowers were in her dark hair, and
the golden heart hung from chain that
eucircled her smooth, white throat.
Tom Reed did not wait longer, but went
TO mis- cabin up the mountain side and
lay down, but IL was not TO sleep. He
could not define his feelings. could give.
II questioned, no adequate cause for the
tumultuous Joy at his heart. lie was too
happy for reason, too much excited for
rest.
1t was near daylight when he fell into
a doze but In his dreams he still saw the
blossoms in her hair and the heart OF
gold upon her breast.
She was calling his nane--louder-
louder. She was beating on the door,
"Tom Reed Tom Reed. For Gods sake
come outl The mine IL on fireg'
He spreng w and threw open the door.
There stood Kitty. whIte-faced and ex-
cited.
''See. Tom! see! There are eight men In
the shaft and eight OF them married
Tom Reed did not wait TO hear more