Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-12
At Squatter's
 Culch
tcopyrishs. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. O.,
By THOMAS B. MoNTFORT

E1 0A hAc Nub1A uR AA AOA1@SNAA@S gulch. He was weary and discouraged. for he had just added another to a long series of days of hard and futile effort in his search for gold.
 Presently another man came down the road, logged out in his Sunday at tire. He was humming light air, his head well up and satisfied express sion on his face. Joe Cousins watched this man for . moment, a scowl on his countenance, then to himself he said:
 D. him."
 When the man came even with Joe he stopped and. for an instant, stood silent, cycling him closely. There was something of an air of triumph in his manner that was exasperating.
 Well" he said. presently, "how's' things?"
 "Oh, about so" Cousins replied, with forced calmness
 Struck nothing yet?"
 '.No."
 ''Too bad, isn't it?''
 "Oh, don't know. It takes time to strike fortune. Things will come around all right, guess"
 Maybe so. hope they will, any, how; but you can't always tell. You missed your chance up there at Rug gle's Point. If you had done as I did you would be on Easy street now"
 That's true, guess: but prefer to get money in some other way. I'd rather remain poor all my lite than rob 8 helpless old man."
 'sOh, 1t wasn't robbery, Joe. Noth- ing like it. It was just merely sharp stroke of business. It's done every day"
 Perhaps it is; but that doesn't make 1t right" Joe replied. ''It may be business in the eyes of some peo- pie, but to me 1t looks like dishon- esty."
 The other laughed.
 Well, look at 1t as you please" he said. You have that right. I'm afraid, though, you'll never get on in this world if you're always going to be so particular. It don't pay. Such high notions of honor are commenda- ble no doubt, but they don't buy any, thing. We'll, I'm off for town. Any thing can do for you down there?''
 s'No." e l
 "I may see Miss Harmon. Just. barely possible, you know. If there is any word you want to send her I'll be glad to take 1t"
 Joe's face darkened again.
 Very much obliged" he said 'There is nothing you can do for me-
 The other hesitated for a moment, then, with an exasperating air of self assurance. said: I
 T want to be square with you, Joe. so I'll tell you something. I'm going to ask Miss Harmon to marry me-"
 Joe stood up, flash of anger in his eyes. With an effort he controlled his feelings and calmly replied:
 "So far as I can see that IS none of my business. If, you want her, and she Is willing to have you. marry her."
 "Of course. But knowing that you are in love with her, thought I ought to tell you. don't want to appear 10 take any advantage of you. you know"
 You are very considerate Jim; very. But 1t is not necessary for you to bother about me. You have a per- feet right to marry Miss Harmon-if you can get her" sl.
 Thanks! am glad you feel so about it. Of course, know you can not expect to win her-not In your financial condition you know. That is one of the great disadvantages of being poor. isn't it?"
 RSAo N,nT& ~x. ~yYxy k ing tone in which these words were uttered was highly trying to Joe. Drawing himself up to his full height he said, warmly:
 Poor as I am, Jim Lewis, would not exchange places with you for the world. Money is good thing to have, but clear conscience is better. Even for the sake of winning Mise Harmon would not want to get Q dollar dishonestly."
 "No! Well, hope you may find much happiness in your high ideas, Joe. For my part. I'll risk finding my happiness in plenty of money and the woman love. So long," Jim Lewis resumed his walk down the read. His manner was that of man thoroughly satisfied with him. self and the world in general His bearing was that of a victor.
 Joe Cousins returned to his seat, and, placing his elbows on his knees, dropped his face into his hands. He was very unhappy. He loved Jane Harmon, and he believed he could win her if he dared to try. But he was poor, and he was too proud to ask any woman to marry him and share his poverty. He had toiled faithfully for years and fortune had not smiled on him. So far as he could see, there was not the slightest indication of any improvement in his financial prospects. For this reason he rel mained away from Miss Harmon, giv- ing Jim Lewis the field.
 He~had been sitting in the same de- jected attitude for an hour, breeding over his ill-fortune, and wondering whether it paid, after all, to be h6n- est, when strange but hearty voica accosted him. Looking up he saw an old man, with long hair and an un- kempt beard, standing before him.