Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1907-09-19

Hio htihhuoi anu gave II FeO DaQu
such a squeeze in his powerful
grasp that it was numb for hours
after.
"Why, sub, = cried the old min
er, "I'm almost paralyzed to see
you. / am indeed, sub. Mr.. Rock
well, welcome you sub, to Gold
Valley, and to the Shonbar. Here,
sub, are our possessions" waving
his hand towards the shaft.
Immediately upon my return
from the city, Mr.. Rockwell, we
commenced work in earnest, sub.
and before many weeks | am proud
to say, sub, we will reach the three
hundred foot level and be ready
to cross cut into the vein. You
don't know" he said, again tax
ing Fred's hand, chow proud |
am, suh-yes, proud to be honored
with visit from you. Most men
remember small obligations. but
forget big ones, but | don't, and |
very much desire that you person
ally inspect the mine, and there S
no better time than the present. I"
Fred was eager to see the work
ings and went down in the bucket
to where the miners were drilling
in the rock The old gentleman
kept him there until he had ex-
planned everything to the minutestI
detail and when Fred at last reach
ed the surface he felt that he had
! now quite an idea of sinking shafts
Come said the oldgentle man
my Ruth win be delighted to see
you again, sub; she will, indeed u
Then turning he gave some in
structions to the foreman, sayingI
he would not return that afternoon
and together they walked down the
mountain to tie village of Gold
Valley.
The billiard residence was a
modest one, situated well back from
the street near some huge Dould- |
ers-a natural pyramid of rocks
while beautiful spring of water
flowed near its base. In front
there was very pretty lawn filled
with growing evergreens and noun
tain ash.
81 planted these trees myself |
sub, years ago. They remind me Of
my old home in Virginia. was the
first one to set out shade trees in
Gold Valley, sub the first one. "
As Fred entered the gate he paus- |
ed a moment to contemplate the
beauty and neutrality-suspicious. of
the lawn, and Mr., billiard s house
with its wide porches literally COW
cred with honeysuckles andivy It'll
fairly radiated with comfort.
Fred found Ruth Hilliard dress
ed as mountain maid, instead Of
the fashionable young lady who had |
called on him in his ew York home
But one point of similarity existed
In the belt of her simple little gown
was thrust a bunch of violets. OF
so large, perhaps, as had adorned |
the more elaborate one she had worn
in New York, but Fred thought it |
even more sweet and charming.
She noticed, after the first greet
ing, that he was looking at her VIC
let's. "Oh," she said, "we cannot
grow these little beauties here, but
a friend of ours, knowing of my
fondness for violets, sent us a. box
rom Salt Lake City. Was he not
kinda And Fred wondered who
the donor could be, and regretted
that he himself had not brought
her some flowers.
Ruth billiard was not such
woman as poets rave about, and yet
there was grace, charm, about
her that commanded admiration.
Her hair in the sunlight was like
beautiful sheen of gold with little
ringlets here and there, her com
plexion was pink and white, save
when under deep excitement, and
then a ruddy glow would redden
her cheeks.
AS Fred talked to her that after
noon he forgot the hair, forgot the
delicately formed, rosy lips, forgot
even the glow of pink that came
and went over her face as he looked
into her speaking eyes eyes so