The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-01-04

FOR THE LUST OF GOLD

! had often looked out upon the
forsaken pits and mounds which
dotted the north side of the range
Of the continental divide which ran
along the Dixie gulch, and Won
dered what story their silence with
held. So determined to visit a
lone cabin of the veteran prospec-
tor at the head of the valley and
ask him to tell me about IL. Hav-
ing made my advent just as the old
fellow was eating lunch he hos
pitably invited me To share IL with
him; this did partially because
a meal was not unwelcome TO me
after my walk, but mostly because
of the novelty Of il. After q cou-
pie of courses Of beans, cooked and
served in two or three different
ways, he remarked that as an extra.
to-day he had bean soup for de-
sert." He was prince Of enter
tainers." and instead of making pro-
fuse apologies for his bill Of fare
he proceeded To make me pass the
time during which I might have
been eating, laughing at the jokes
which he was master at telling.
Evidently the architect planned
the cabin for one only so we re-
tired to the outdoors where had
more room TO lombard him with a
fusillade Of questions concerning
the history Of the camp. While !
proceeded. he quietly listened; when
I had finished, he began: Lad.
said the gray-haired old pioneer, as
he slowly produced Mis- faithful
merchaum, there's little TO be said.
There used to be bunch Of fellows
here,-the fever had caught US you
know. I am now alone.-the last.
Last of Six Hundred" he added
with q bitter laugh. "Yes, we for
sock everything that was dear TO
us, forgot all we had ever once
cared for: they always do
at a place like camps. We were a
frenzied horde, with one aim, and
the intensity Of il consumed us.
Our bodies became emaciated, our
minds became too engrossed with
our purpose TO really think, our
souls became too numb to pray
the lure and the romance OF 1t you
know. Each sunset saw a luckless
camp. each surise saw them at it
again, picking the quartz and pan
ming the dirt. Gold was what they
wanted, an early grave was the re-
ward most Of them got. And ] am
now alone, he repeated.
Queer that until that moment !
had not noticed the refinement OF
his features and the pride in his
bearing; time and hardships had
not affected these. He was unmis-
takably from one Of the very best
families and undoubtedly had en-
ioyed splendid social and edu-
cational advantages. ! believe that
I made a slight interference to that
effect. A reminiscent shadow passed
over his face for a moment, one
which told a story.
"But ] must keep at it," he con-
tinued. the lust of il lures me on
on. I've given the best OF my life
to il and can't give up the quest
which tomorrow may bring the
coveted prize"
He accompanied me TO the noun
tain road on the other side Of the
little canyon. As the sun was set
ting DER the crest Of the pit-cover-
ed, mound-dotted range he sud-
denly asked, "And was il not ever
thus? Was he not right who wrote
"For greed OF gold
I've given>ny soul
To find too late, Alas, Too late
The grave alone's my goal"
| didn't answer. He too, seemed
TO recognize that il needed no reply
for silently he turned and walked
back TO the gulch.
But I think he was right.
By II. w. w,