Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-10-20
At Sguatter's
Culch
Copyright. 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,
BY THOMAS B. MONTFORT

BuiCn. lie was weary anu ulSCOuldSeu'
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 a light air, his
head well up and a 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, eyeing 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, l don't know. 1t takes time
to strike fortune. Things will come
around all right. | guess"
Maybe so. I 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 | 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 life
than rob helpless old man"
oh, it wasn't robbery, Joe. Moth
ing like it. 1t was just merely sharp
stroke of business. It's done every
day"
Perhaps it is but that doesn't
make it right" Joe replied. ut may
be business in the eyes of some peo-
pie, but to me it looks like dishon-
esty"
The other laughed.
We'll. look at it 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. 1t don't pay Such
high notions of honor are commenda-
BILE no doubt but they don't buy any
thing. Well. I'm off for town. Any
thing | can do for you down there?"
mo"
81 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 it."
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:
81 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 | 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 |
ought to tell you. | don't want to appear
% take any advantage of you, you know" "
you are very considerate Jim
very, But it is not necessary for you
to bother about me. You have a pei
feet right to marry Miss Harmon-if
you can get her"
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?"
The half-sneering wholly patroniz-
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 | am. Jim Lewis, | would
not exchange places with you for the
world. Money is a good thing to
have. but a clear conscience is better
Eveh for the sake of winning Miss
Harmon | would not want to get q
dollar dishonesty"
mo! Well I 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 dowr
the read. His manner was that of a
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 toied faithfully
for years and fortune had not smiled
on him. So far as lie could see there
was not the slightest indication of
any Improvement in his financial
prospects. For this reason he re-
mained away from Miss Harmon. Civ
ing Jim Lewis the field
He had been sitting in the same de-
iected attitude for an bour hroo1;,, ~.