The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-08-17
Her Dowry
BY RUTH GRAHAM


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 Harrison's diggings resulted in
nothing. Each day he became more
disappointed and discouraged.
One day stranger came to Harri-
sons cabin and asked for nights
lodging. Mrs. Harrison took him In
and gave him what she had, which |
was little enough, for they were very
poor. He was waited on by Isabel ut
supper and chattcd with her while he
ate. He drew from her the story of
her fathers efforts to win n fortune
for her out Of the ground, besides a
! secret that was unknown to her par
ents. She loved young man who
was hunting for gold and had achieved
no more success than her father. lie
was able to obtain only precarious
living for himself, and 1t would be
sin for the couple to marry while
doomed to such nbject poverty.
The stranger seemed much Interested
In the girls story and asked many
questions concerning the young man.
Isabel assured bin that he was Of
good character aud not liable to
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-
tlon.
The stranger seemed to be peculiar
man with strange ideas Instead OF
berating Isabers father or her lover for
wasting time In n hunt that there was
not one chance I'm thousand of being
successful, he said that life consisted
of taking chances, for no one could tell
what Il day or an hour might bring
forth life" he said, SIS not even n
speculation. 1t Is sure to end In the
grave"
This was said with n melancholy
? spirit. The man was i'll and possibly
was Influenced by his illness. He re-
1 mained n month In Harrison's cabin,
T.. ministered to by Mrs. Harrison and
, Isabel. But lie showed such interest In
Isabel that he fell entirely under her
care. He was delayed by Il 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 1t covered little grottO near the
house where In fair weather she used
| to 60 and sew or read He replied
! that life was only enjoyed by contrasts
and the longer she was kept out or hel
grotto the happier she would be to get
into 1t again.
When 1t ceased to snow the stranger
took his departure. Before going ht
said to her:
"You will receive dowry wkich will
d enable you to marry the man you love
Isabel looked at him in astonishmen
and asked him when the dowry would
come to her.
"When the sun Is warm enough Il
melt the snow" was the reply.
The stranger was such an odd indi
vidual that Isabel thought little Of thi
IN statement thinking that he was no
70 aware of what he said. She certainl,
~ did not place sufficient faith In 1t to tel
s. it to her father and mother or to he
rs lover
"a That was n long winter, and her ia
~ thcr found prospecting difficult on nc
nP h.
pined for the spring to come to rcleas
Ut them from their cabin and enable ther
IT. to enjoy the out of door life. so invig
g. Grating IN the mountains.
Ie. At last there came series of warn
to days, and the snow began to melt an
he run down the gulchcs In torrents. ]
M was so thick that 1t required time t
ho leave bare any of the soil or rocks
One remark of the stranger Isabel II
membcred 1t was that the longer sh
re was kept out Of her grotto the NOR
lis she would rejoice at re-entering 1t.
er One morning after several war;
at days she wss sitting by the window
he her little room sewing. The sun wa
lct still melting the snow, shining brigh
he ly. Thinking of the strangers remar
about her grotto, she turned her hea
=, to look at it, for she could see 1t froi
v" her window. The snow had been mel
ed so fur as TO leave several bare spot
ne On the edge of one of these spots 81
he noticed dazzling light made by II
he sun shining on some smooth substanc
he Isabels curiosity was excited as
Law what this substance was, for she d
IAN not remember to have left any bit I
of metal or glass there In the autumn
~, She went out to the grotto, and the
'oa at her feet was a gold piece
out She picked 1t up wondcrlnGly, the
len hunted In the snow for more, 81
found no more, but the next mornil
the snow had melted so far as TO u
= cover basket that had been misslh
and it was full of gold coins
The wonder stricken girl count'
j them AMI found what was an ann
lOWry,