The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1917-08-30
Her Dowry
BY RUTH GRAHAM

son, who had taken his wife ana
daughter into the gold region for the
purpose of looking in the ground for n
fortune He settled himself and them
In a log cabin ON Clear creek. lie
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 n
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 uarri-
sons cabin and asked for n 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 at
supper and chatted with her while he
ate. He drew from her the story Of
her fathers efforts to win 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. He
was able to obtain only IA prc"arious
living for himself. and II would be n
sin for the couple TO marry while
doomed To such abject poverty.
The 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 II
change or one following an igniS fatuus.
since verybody in that region was II
gold hunter He was the son Of a
prospector. Therefore he might be
said to have been born 10 the occupa-
ton.
The stranger seemed to he IA peculiar
man with strange -. Instead of
berating lsabcfs father or her lover for
wasting time in Il hunt that there was
not one chance IN Il 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. Ii il sure TO end in the
grave"
This was said with Il melancholy
spirit. The man was i'll and possibly
was Influenced by his illness He re
manned month in HarrisOn's cabin.
minlstered to by Mrs. Harrison ana
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
70 20 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 1t again.
When Il ceased TO snow the stranger
took his departure. Before going he
said to her:
you will receive dowry which will
enable you to marry the man you love.
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-
vidual 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
IL to her father and mother or 10 her
lover.
That was a long winter, and her IA
Their found prospecting difficult on ac-
count of the deep snow The family
pined for the spring to come TO release
them from their cabin md enable them
to enjoy the out of door life, so invig-
Grating I'm the mountains.
At last there came a series OF warm
days, and the snow began TO melt and
run down the gulches I'm torrents. II
was SO thick that It required time 10
leave bare any of the soil or rocks
One remark of the stranger Isabel re-
membered 1t was that the longer she
was kept out Of her grotto the more
she would rejoice at re-entering II.
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
ly. Thinking of the strangers remark
about her grotto, she turned her head
10 look ut Il, for she could see It from
her window. The snow had been melt
ed 80 far as TO leave several bare spots.
On the edge Of one OF these spots she
noticed dazzling light made by the
sun shining on some smooth substance.
Isabels curiosity was excited as 10
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 10 the grotto, and there
NJ her feet was 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 30 un-
cover a basket that had been missing,
and II was full of gold coins.
The wonder stricken girl counted
them and found what was an ample