Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-09-11
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an of the Junoesque type, with firm white
hands and well-formed feet.
Scattered over this pastoral looking
country were huge mounds of white earth,
looking like heaps Of carded wool, and at
the end of each of these invariably stood
4 tall, ugly skeleton of wood. These mark
ed the positions of the mines-the tow
ers contained the winding gear. while the
white earth was the clay called mulloch,
brought from several hundred feet below
the surface. Near these mounds were
rough looking sheds with tall red Chin
neys, which made pleasant spot of color
against the white OF the clay. On one of
these mounds, rather isolated from the
others, and standing by itself in the midst
of wide green paddock, Mrs. Villiers'
eyes were fixed, and she soon saw the dark
figure of man coming slowly down the
white mound, along the green field and
advancing slowly up the hill. She called
out to some one inside.
Archie is coming, Selina-you had bet
ter hurry up the tea, for he will be hun
CRY after such long day"
The person inside made no answer save
by an extra clatter of some domestic uten-
sis. Madam walked slowly down the gar
den path. and leaned lightly over the gate,
waiting Tor the new conner, who was In
deed none other than Archibald McIn-
toSh. the manager of the Pactolus
He was a man of about medium height,
rather thin than otherwise, with long,
narrow looking head and boldly cut fea-
fares His eyes were gray and shrewd
looking, his lips were firmly compressed
in fact, the whole appearance of his
face was obstinate-the face of a man
who would stick to his opinions what
ever anyone else might say to the con-
trary.
Dye know what this may be-" he said
smile relaxing his grim features as he
held up a rather large nugget; = tits the
third this week ~
Madame Midas took the nugget from
him and balanced it carefully in her hand
with a thoughtful look in her face. as il
she was making mental calculation.
About twenty to twenty-five ounces,
should say" she observed in her soft, low
voice; 1.-THE last we had was fifteen, and
the one before twenty-looks promising
doesn't it?"
We'll, I'll not say but it might mean
deal MORE" replied Mcintosh, with
characteristic Scotch caution, as he fol
lowed Madame into the house; its not
very bad sign; will not say but what
we might be near the Devils Lead"
And if we are?" said Madame, turn
ing with smile.
'Weel, mem, yell have more siller nor
yen know what to do with"
Selma Jane Sprouts, who now acted as
servant to Mrs. Villiers, was rather an
| oddly in her way. She had been Mad
ame's nurse and had followed her up to
Ballarat, with the determination of never
leaving her. Selma was a spinster. She
moved noiselessly about the small room
ia a wonderfully dextrous manner, and
after laying the table, placed the teapot OF
the hob
BY and by Archie, who had been max
ing a great splashing in the back prem
Uses, came in looking clean and fresh, with
more obstinate look about his face
than ever. Madame went to the tea table
and sat down. Archie asked blessing
You have written to SliVers?" said
Madame, raising her eyes.
THAT wooden legged body" retorted
Mcintosh Deed and | have but the
old tyke has not done anything to getting
me what l want. Weel, weel," in re-
signed sort of a manner, 1--WE might be
, worse off than we are, an who knows but
Providence will send Us men by and by p
Madame rose to her feet and walked to
the window. Her thoughts were not pleas
ant. She had hoped to cut herself of
from all the bitterness and sorrow of heI
pas. life, but this husband of hers, like
an unquiet spirit, came to trouble heI
| and remind her of time she would will
ingly have forgotten.
IF l could only get rid of him. she
thought, toying with a flower, 'but it is
impossible. i can't do that without
money, and money never will have till
find that lead. l must bride him, / sup
pose. Oh, why can't he leave me alone
now? Surely he has ruined my life sufh-
GENTLY in the past to let me have a few
years. if not of pleasure, at least of for
getfulness" And with a petulant ges-
ture she hurled the rose out of the win
dow, where it struck Archie a soft and
fragrant blow ON the cheek.
Yes said Madame to herself. as she
pulled down the window, Il must get
rid of him"