Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-10-18
Her Dowry
BY RUTH GRAHAM


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 Oh u
prospecting tour. to dig holes IN the
ground. hoping To nnd gold in paying
quantities.
But lIarrisons diggingS resulted in
nothing Each day he became more
disappointed and discouraged
one day II stranger came 10 IIarri-
sons cabin and asked FOR night :
lodging. Mrs. Harrison took him IN
and gave him what she had. which
was little enough, for they were Very
poor. lie was waited on by Isabel at
supper and chattcd with her while he
ate lie drew from her the story Of
her fathers efforts To win fortune
for her out OF the ground besides Il
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 10 obtain only pre- carious
living for himself and il would hc y
sin for the couple 10 marry While
doomed To such abiect poverty.
The stranger seemed much Interested
in the girls story and asked many
questions concerning the young nam
Isabel assured him that ne was Of
good character ana not liable 10 a
change or one FOLLOWING AZ isni fatuus
s.ucc everybody in tiat region was "a
gold hunter He was tine soH OF "a
pruspcctor Therefore he might lie
said To have bcen born 10 Tie oecupa-
fion.
The stranger seemed To ne IA peculiar
man with strange ideas Instead o..
bcrating ISabel'S father or her lover Tor
wasting time I'M "A hunt that there vas
not one chance in thousand oi being
successful, he said thar 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 10 end in the
grave
This was said with mcanchoh
spirit. The man was i'll and possibly
was Influenced by his illness He re
manned a month in Harrison : cabin.
ministcrcd 10 10y Mrs. Harrison and
Isabel But he showed such interest in
Isabel that he fell entirely under her
care. He was delayed by "A SnoWStorm
that came early In the winter, and the
snow was likely 10 remain on the
ground for many months Isabel told
her friend that She regretted this he
cause it covered "A little grotto near the
house where in fair weather she used
10 20 ana sew or read He replied
that life was only enjoyed by contrasts
ana the longer She was kept out of her
-.rotto the haprie, size woIld hr 10 got
iuto II again.
When 80 cca~cd 10 suoW the stranger
tool, his departure Before going he
said 10 her
"You will receive Il dowry which VIII
enable rol 10 marry ihc man yon love. '
Isabel looked al him IN astouishment
and asked him when thc Aowry we 10
como 10 her
when the sun is warm cuOueh to
melt the SNOW was tlc reply
The stranger was such an odd midi
viiual that Isabel thought lit'lc OF this
statement thinking that he was not
aware Of what lie said She certainly
did not rla q sufficient fai;h in II 10 tell
70 10 her father and mother or To her
loycr.
That was Il long winter. and hcr ia.
ther found prospecting difieult ou an-
count of tho deep SNOW The faml
pinned for thp spring to come to relea~d
them from thcir cabin aud enable them
to cliov tile 0lt of door life, $40 iurl--
Grating iu the mountains
az last there came series ~ warm
DAYS. ana the snow began to mott ami
run down tile gilchts in tofreuS b.
was SD thics chat sc required time 10
leave bare amy or the soil or rocks.
One remark of the stranger Isabel re-
mcmbcrod Ii was that tho longer she
was kept out of her erotto the more
he would rejoice q r entering i.
ono morning after several warm
days she was sitting 10y the window OF
hrr little room sewing The sun was
still melting the snow. shining bright
b.. Thinking OF the strangers remark
about her grottO She turned her head
to look AZ it, for She could see il from
her window The snow had been melt
cd so faI aS L. leave several bare spots
CA the edge Of one of these spots She
noticed dazzling light made by the
sun shining ON some smooth substance.
lsabeis curiosity was excited as TO
what this substance waS for she did
not remember 10 have left any bit OF
metal or glass there IN the autumn
She went ont to the grotto. and there
al her feet was gold piece.
She picked IL up wondcringly, then
hunted in the snow for more She
found no moro. but the next morning
the snow had melted 50 far as TO I'M
cover basket that had been missing
aud il was fun Of gold coins.
The wonder stricken girl counted
them and found what was an ample
dowry
She az once connected IL with the
stranger she had nursed and put II
away for him. thinking he would re
turn and claim H. But he never came
Isabel kept II untouched till the next
autumn came on. AMI then, having
heard nothing from him. she acted on
what hc had said about finding her
dOwry wien the snow melts' and ap-
prolriatcd Il 10 herself
g. - no M