The Opelousas courier., 1900-01-06

Of interrogative curiosity which ha
never been fully satisfied. He dwell
alone, in q cabin not worth describing
just because such cabins have ofte,
been described before. When he frs
appeared he had said nothing as t
his origin. A tall, silent man Of 4
years, hs went at once into his chose,
field, prospecting, asking advice, ant
giving none.
Mills had a good eye for s.leads,
and had been moderately successful, fo1
several times he had developed claim!
until they had begin to assume til.
dignity Of mines, hal sold them anG
moved on. In 1891 he located &
claim that seemed promising and TO;
weeks toilsd at it single-handed. He
was strong and skilfful, aud his prog
ress remarkably rapid. but occasion.
ally he felt a pang of solitude and
thought he ought to secure help, moi
only for the forwarding of tho work
but the sake Of companionship. One
summer day IS this mood was upon
him, he heard a voice at the mouth oil
the slope marking the spot where lie
had started into the side of the noun
lain.
"Hello there said the voice, 'nay
I come down?"
Mills dropped the sledge just then
poised for a blow and turned toward
the patch Of light. "No," he answered;
"Ill come up"
As he walked, curving his long back,
he saw outlined against a bit OF sky q
sturdy figure aud a head surrounded
by a felt hat, the tapping rim of whilh
had been secured in front, and from
beneath which there escaped a wavy
mass OF hair tossed on the breeze.
The miner wondered vaguely why a
boy should be SO handsome. Emery
ing from the slope he Strengthened him
self, taking a full breath OF the sweet
mountain cir. Then he drew from his
pocket pipe and tobacco. filled, lighted,
absorbed a few satisfactory whiffs and
said, slowly: "Well?"
'I'm Rubs Jackson" said the boy
in return; San Tn here for work"
John pulled on. "Better come to
the cabin while I yank a little grub
together. / take it," he added. start
ing down the path, shat ye're pros
pectin without no stake?"
The boy did not understand this,
but he gave an assent. and started
with Mills, who noticed that The sole
of the visitors shoe tapped at right
angles with every step. 'T'll cobble
1t after supper" was his comment.
"But about q job, you know" the
boy put in, timidly, stepping high on
account of the loose sole.
"Oh, that's all right" answered
Mills; "ye're hired. Didn't ] tell
yeh?" And they walked on.
In the evening they grew, in q meas
ure, confidential, although Rube did
most OF the talking. as Mills cobbled
the defective shoe into a state of use
fulness. Before bed time Rube had
told Of Susie Campbell. She was
back in Missouri, where he himself
had been ''born and raised.n
81 didn't have much money after
father and mother died." he went on,
simply, '.and Sue-her father has O
pile. I'll bet old man Campbell has
$4,000 out ON mortgage right now.
He paused to note the effect; Mills
drove another peg, while Rube laughed
neryously. IT fell in love with Sue,"
he continued, 'but she wouldn't hare
it; that is" he corrected, recognizing
the awkwardness of the expression,
''she didn't seem to be in earnest
about it. Not like me, anyhow, but
lin'ly she laughed and said that if I'd
get a fortune she'd marry me. So IL
struck out west" ss
Must be a ine GAL" said Mills.
Hope it amt serious. Has she. got
any holt on yeh?"
Rube laughed again. II wish she
had, was his reioinder; sssbut since I
came away she hasn't written. Sne's |
just tryin' me, that's what's she'sf
doin'. It's q way women have. Whe1
! go back with q pocketful OF money
she'll be ready. Oh, /. know what
are"
John took q last stitch in silence, 1
and held up the reconstructed shoe.
Thus began, between John Mills,
miner, and RUDE jackson, boyish, hope
ful tramp, one Of the serene friend
ships which last until death. Let the
limit not be placed even there; per-
haps, strengthened and renewed, they
last for ever.
During the days the pair worked,
speaking little. In the evenings they
road aud talked, or Mills brought out
IN ancient fiddle whereon he dis
eoursed melody most f~earsonae, but
~applauded. The usual theme Of
conversation was Sue. Gradually the
two built up an ideal woman, and q
home that she was TO aIorn after the
Millennium-for such they had named
The mine-had begun to produce.
Rube would not listen 10 any plan
did not involve the membership
cf Mills in the family.
seP'raps an old Teller like me nd
be in tbs way" Mills would say, and.
regularly, Rnbe would rebuke this
view.
Yet Sue never wrote. .MiQhty
trial an slow verdiek, Mills
opined once. Rnbe convinced him
that his Dor Tered on treason.
Weeks went BY, aud the crucial
lest uf the Millennium was 1T hand.
The hoe for the shot which was ID
a~eterTnine the character OF H. vein