Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1917-09-28
Her Dowry
By RUTH GRAHAM
By RUTH GRAHAM


daughter into the gold region for the
purpose of looking in the ground for
fortune. He settled himself and them
in a log cabin on Clear creek. He
would wash for gold until he found
himself possessed Of enough Of the
precious metal to keep his family for
awhile, then he would start out on a
prospecting tour, to dig holes in the
ground, hoping to find gold in paying
quantities.
But HaTison's diggings resulted in
nothing Each de- l2 became moro
and discouraged.
One day Il stranger came to Harri-
sons cabin and us,.vd for a nights
lod cling. Mis-. Harris IN took hin i'll
and gave him what she had, which
was little enough, for they were very
poor. He was waiter: on by Isabel at
supper and chatteI with her while lie
ate He GrCw from her the story OF
her fathers effort; 10 win a fortune
for her out OF the round, besides
secret that was unknown to ..er par
entS. She loved Il IOung ran who
was hunting for Sold and HI / achieved
no more success than II + IL her. lie
was able to obtain only a precariOus
living for himself, ard it would be a
sin for the couple to marry while
doomed to such abject poverty.
7The stranger seemed much Interested
in the girls story and asked many
questions concerning the young man.
Isabel assured him that he was of
good character and not liable to a
change or one following an ignis fatuus,
since everybody in that region was
gold hunter. He was the son Of
prospector Therefore he might be
said to have been born to the Occupa-
ton.
The stranger seemed to he peculiar
man with strange ideas. Instead Of
berating Isabeps father or her lover for
wasting time in hunt that there was
not one chance in a thousand of being
successful, he said that life consisted
Of taking chances, for no one could tell
what day or an hour might bring
forth. Life" he said, lis not even a
speculation. 1t is sure to end In the
grave"
This was said with a melancholy
spirit The man was i'll and possibly
was Influenced by his illness. He re-
manned a month in HarrisOn's cabin,
ministered to by Mrs. Harrison and
Isabel. But he showed such interest in
Isabel that he fell entirely under her
care. He was delayed by snowstorm
that came early in the winter, and the
snow was likely to remain on the
ground for many months. Isabel told
her friend that she regretted this be-
cause it covered little grOttO near the
house where in fair weather she used
to go and sew or read He replied
that life was only enjoyed by contrasts
and the longer she was kept out of her
grotto the happier she would be to get
into it again.
When it ceased to snow the stranger
took his departure. Before going he
said to her:
you will receive a dowry which will
enable you to marry the man you love. y
Isabel looked at him in establishment
and asked him when the dowry would
come to her.
when the sun is warm enough to
melt the snow" was the reply.
The stranger was such an odd indi-
v1dual that Isabel thought little Of this
statement, thinking that he was not
aware Of what he said. She certainly
did not place sufficient faith in it to tell
it to her father and mother or to her
lover.
That was a long winter, and her IA
Their found prospecting difficult on ac-
count Of the deep snow. The family
pinned for the spring to come to release
them from their cabin and enable them
to enjoy the out of door life, so tnvig-
Grating in the mountains.
At last there came a series Of warm
days, and the snow began to melt and
run down the gulches in torrents. 1t
was so thick that it required time to
leave bare any Of the soil or rocks.
One remark Of the stranger Isabel re-
membered. It was that the longer she
was kept out Of her grotto the more
she would rejoice at re-entering it.
One morning after several warm
days she was sitting by the window of
her little room sewing. The sun was
still melting the snow, shining bright
~. Thinking Of the strangers remark
about her grotto, she turned her head
to look at it, for she could see it from
her window. The snow had been melt
ed so far as to leave several bare spots.
On the edge Of one Of these spots she
noticed a dazzling light made by the
sun shining on some smooth substance.
IsabePs curiosity was excited as to
what this substance was, for she did
not remember to have left any bit of
metal or glass there in the autumn.
She went out to the grotto, and there
at her feet was a gold piece.
She picked it up wonderingly, then
hunted in the snow for more. She
found no more, but the next morning
the snow had melted so far as to IN