The Prescott daily news., 1908-07-03
CHAPTER XVII. One More Step Up the Sierras.

odCl yet lnllSS SuOIt Ol IAS mountain fifty that must be finished and accepted by the government com missioners before the interest on the bonds would become payable; finished before the time limit expired and with that, the franchise!
 The September sun looked down on a new hive. The little terminus in the gulch had slipped into history in a night. Stables, shops, stores, sa- looms, shanty homes were taken down in sections and moved on by flatcar or prairie schooner.
 Sally B., who gave Father Times forelock many wrenches, was already installed in her rehabilitated hotel at Colfax when the first excursion train whistled in, bringing officers and visi- tors to celebrate this one more step up the Sierras.
 The town, named for the reigning idol of America, would always be junction for the travel of Nevada and Grass Valley regions, and Sally B., taking note of this, rebuilt her hotel with glance toward permanence. Proudly she led the superintendent niece, Miss Amabel Hamilton, to the best room cloth-lined and gayly pa pered. Proudly Sally B. set her first banquet in the enlarged dining room; and proudly Vic Wah in his new kitch- en rose to undreamed-of culinary masterpieces.
 Alfred was attached to MT. Crocker's party for the occasion, a sort of gen. tleman-in-waiting to Miss Hamilton. Yet during the hustle of arrival and adjustment to rooms, he found quiet moment with Stella in Sally B.'s new parlor; and the long weeks of separa- tion were forgotten in the space of a clock tick
 There was no time for leisurely re- views, confession of loneliness and counter confession-only a brief sec ond with dreaded interruptions i'm pending.
 Alfred drew from his pocket small parcel and broke its fastenings. "Oh, a golden comb for gold brown hair, And mlk-white pearls for neck as
 fair;
 And silver chains, and all for thee: To-day our ship comes home from sea!"a he paraphrased gayE, throwing over her head triple strand of Roman pearls.
 "Oh how delicate and bonny!" Stel- la cried, slipping them through her fingers. 'I never coveted anything in my life so much as Juliet's pearls that wore that night-except you," she added, looking up shyly.
 That's because they suit you, and -" The rest of his reply was maud ible.
 Here is the golden comb, two of them" He tucked them in her hair, trying them this way and that, with lingering touches on the wavy bright ness. The silver chains are lacking. not because our ships a canoe, rather because I wouldn't let silver come near you. There's not silver tint in your makeup. You're all creams and browns, with gold limiting everywhere, from your dear words to the little gol- den god that leaps in your eye when your heart beats high"
 "Poetry!" she exclaimed laughingly; but hushed, for he had opened a tiny box.
 Diamonds are for you, dearest, if sil- yer is not" He reached for her hand. I'm sorry the gem is so small. Some day you shall have larger ones, and many. like my mother and" He stopped suddenly, for Stellas face was troubled; and she put her hand behind her. Sweetheart! Whats the mat ter?"
 "Oh, my dear, I'm afraid of the ring!" she said tremulously
 Why, Stella! What do you mean, dear heart? You take the pearls and the combs" Alfred had easily fallen into the custom of the time and coun. try in his purchase of jewelry for Stella.
 "Oh, yes. But the ring opens the door to our heaven and lets the public in. Uncle Billy might give me orna- ments or other things to wear; or Gid con might; but the ring-only you could give me that. And-they will all know. T."
 Are you ashamed of me, Stellar" he interrupted, his voice touched with sternness as well as with wounded feel ing.
 No, no, no! But don't you see? Women will nudge me, and ask when 1t is to be, and who is the lucky man. joke me unbearably. Men will, too. And you won't be here toto help me. Oh, don't you see?" she pleaded.
 He put the ring in the box. Yes,