The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-06-06
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In the Nick
O. Time.
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The Widow Carney came out of her
two room shanty beyond the dump. She
stood erect in the spring sunshine, look
ing over network of railroad tracks,
across to the switchhouse, where Kath-
leen had taken Fergus O'Hare's dinner
Nelly Carney was still little more than
girl. Her face was arch and sweet
her eyes bright her hair black and cur
ly. The wind blew her calico dress
away from her fine figure.
"And You say that she's widow p
John Conover remarked to Fergus.
'Not long, l venture.
''Three year, said Fergus, painting
little. ''Not for any fault Of the b. US.
She's little uppish, is Nelly Carney.
Phil were fireman an like to be an en-
gineer wan day, but the greasers down
Coyote pass finished him wan night
when they attacked the train Company
gives her the rint av the hoose thar, an
she keeps borders for meals =
That is how John Conover met Nelly
Carney. He was getting ready to 90 to
the mines He had just come from the
eastern states and had claim up about
Toby's creek that his brother had left
him when he died the year before.
He did not say much about himself
to any one. He took his meals with the
Widow Carney for a week or SO and
bunked in with Fergus O'Hare. He said
he was getting his outfit. Nelly Carney
did some sewing for him, and they sat
together evenings, while little Kathleen
slept beside them
One of these evenings John Conover
seemed to be very thoughtful At last
he took sudden resolution.
'Nelly," he began gently, "I'm 60
ing up to rough place, but I've got a
notion to take you along"
'fIt takes two to make bargain, Mr..
Conover.
"Not this bargain. know you'll go,
dear. I'm only wondering if it'll pay
you. Jim always stuck to it, that that
creek claim was bound to pan out If it
does, you and Kathleen will be fixed for
life. If it don't, you might have a
tough time. Shall we go down to the
squire tomorrow, Nell2"
Nelly took nights sleep on it and
in the morning consented to 20 up
country with John Conover. They were
married one day and set out the next,
taking the little child with them.
It seemed a shame to John Conoyer
that he had brought such pretty
creature to live in such wild and lone
some spot. She was happy enough, APP
parently the same Nelly that he had
seen on the dump that spring day. The
more he loved her the more he brooded
over her sacrifice Of home and friends
among civilized people. He worked
hard, and the next summer made good
find in hole and sent her back to San
Francisco with small fortune and in
structions to put Kathleen into con
vent, where she could have schooling
and be made lady of for the future
Life in hotel is a great educator
Day after day Mrs. Conover went about,
saw great plays, read novels, visited
her child and enjoyed existence. She
received John s infrequent letters with
a positive alarm. Suppose he should
send for her to return. She could close
her eyes and see the great, dark, snow
topped mountain wall, the rough cabin
close under the shadow, the brawling
waters of the mountain torrent. In
dreams she heard the drumming voice
of the wind among the pine boughs
the scream of the wild eagles. That
was all. She missed John at first with
all the passion Of her impulsive nature
But as time went on the longing grew
less fierce, and she felt she would rather
never return than to go now when life
was so full of gayety and novelty.
One day Fergus O'Hare came to see
her. The colored servant told her, with
a grin, that the visitor would not write
his name on a card maybe couldn't
Nelly flushed, for she knew it was but
little time since she had been ignor-
ant of card formalities. She said she
would see him in her own parlor, and
the amused bellboy showed up the
switchman. He looked rougher and
more grimy than ever.
'.How do you do, FergusH" she said,
with little condescension.
Fergus had stopped in the middle of
the little parlor
"Nelly Conoverl Oh can't behave it's
the same, he said.
sit is, she laughed Then, in her
warm hearted way: 'ssit down, Fergus;
I'm glad to see you. You should see
Kathleen. She's fine girl now.'
Fergus would not sit down. He was
evidently at loss what to say. He
shifted his hat unesily.
"Nelly Carney thot was, OF moost
hurry my wurrd, as Olive Tim Blake in
me place down in the yard. Olive some
wurred of John Conover from dirthy
Chinese thot Olive befrinded wunst or
twice. He told me, Nelly Carney, thot
John has med his foind at last, an thot
three ov the worst min in San Francis
co are to be afther not ony plat he's
taken DOT alriddy, but it will be his life
for his claim out there beyant. .
Nelly Conover had risen All the fine
lady dropped from her. She ran to Fer
gus and caught his hand.
Fergus, Fergus, ye're a friend, in
deed Come away with me to John.
Get Tim, Denny and Jerry and one of
the other boys we can depend on.
There's plenty Of money. We will go
faster than any one. Oh. Fergus, help
me. for old times sakei"
We've no tonne, thin, to lose,
quoth Fergus. ''for thot gang is away
three hours moo. Be ready whin I come
with the h'ys.'
An hour or two later Nelly was
ready. She had been to the convent to
kiss Kathleen; she had dressed herself
in her coarse mountain clothing again.
The next train north bore the Irishmen
and Nelly to the little station where
she had decided to get off
1t was by short cut, rough and dan
gerous, that Nelly made up her mind to
lead her followers. 1t was one by which
John Conover used to secretly transport
his gold. Several times she had tramped
with him up and down the pass She
calculated that she could arrive an hour
or two after the attacking party IL they