Year: 1879

w get on hnu get money anu hne Hhu
got 1t. She went about from camp to
camp with stationery and various arti-
cles needed by the miners and others
sold them these things wrote letters for
them, sang to them, nursed them when
sick, and carried their letters express
to San Francisco TO be posted For all
these services she received large pay
ments, and she had also had good deal
of rough gold given to her rs specimens.
Did she like that kind Of life asked
her, so contrary to her early habits, and
she answered me quickly: 1t Is not
what we choose that we do In this
world, but what Fate chooses for us. l
have made competency and gained u
rich and varied experience. Life Is not
what once pictured 1t would be, but 1
am content She sighed as she said II
and didn't believe In the content F"


But what had brought her to you
that day 7"


She had not told me herself then,
but presently asked her. ! shall never
forget the smile with which she turned
to answer. 1t pretty nigh disarmed me.
We were sitting somewhat close too
her flowing silk gown touched my
knees. Altogether, began to think of
those useless pegs in my house down in
Rogue River Valley. But what she said
pulled up my wandering thoughts and
turned them TO present things. Shall
you be surprised to hear that came to
do you q real service y she asked. And
she went on to relate that, having had
to pass the previous night at place not
many miles away, In house where the
| partitions were thin, she had CHANGED to
overhear plan for numbering and rob
bing me, the villain-in.chief Of the plot
being the starved and naked wretch
whom / had sheltered and sent away re-
| joicing not many days previously. All
In moment, while 1 was pondering on
the doubtful problem of gratitude, a
! fancy came over me that she might not
be telling truth-that 1t might be just an
excuse got up to justify her own visit !;
and playfully hinted as much. A
woman does not trifle with subjects like
these, nor does she deceive when she
goes out of her way to do service,' she
answered. {" rode Off from that house
the other way this morning, made long
detOur, and came here to warn you. And
now that have done it, If you will
please get my horse, / will ride away
again. All fair, that. /, full of thanks
and repentance, asked her to stay longer
If she was not perfectly rested; but she
declined, and brought the steed round
and helped her to mount him. Once in
the saddle her humor changed she
been polite enough to invite her to re-
turn. A week of reading, talking, rid
ing, trout-fishing and romancing up in
those splendid mountains would be very
charming; perhaps she would come ii
asked her."


"And did you ask her 7"


did not. A young man with O
reputation to sustain up there in the
mountains couldn't invite young lady
to stay week with him: could he now?
cried Joseph quantity; which set US
both laughing.


$50 parried the question as easily as
could, and she rode away. In going
slowly down the trail she turned and
kissed her hand to me with gracious
sweetness. assure you the struggle
within my own mind was great at that
moment; and don't know whether ]
have forgiven myself even yet for what
happened afterward.


What did happen 2"


"She came back again. She came
back again, and drove her away. THAI
is, made the best excuses / could fol
not readmitting her, saying we should
perhaps have fighting and murder ant
what not in my fort that night, and Il
would be no place for delicately-bred
woman. The pretty and modest CIR
who was to come from Wallamet Valley
and hang up her pink garments on my
pegs, had rushed into my mind, you see
But never like to confess to this par
of the story, because get laughed at
But don't you think l did right, having
my reputation to keep up 2" he went OIL
thoughtfully. "She finally rode away
not having been invited to get Off hei
horse, leaving me in anything but {
pleasant frame Of mind. From telling
myself was bear, 1 turned to th,
other subject-the contemplated robbery
and murder Of myself Had she simply
| -. Il &I kea A.. = H.