Year: 1873

ate weather was more conducive to health,
and where there was more gold than III
their present abode.


The chary mold, however, itself disap-
pointed their endeavors to move. One
morning Robert Garrison, one of the num-
ber, and the oldest of the little party, en-
tered Eugene Allerton's tent in an excited
manner. The latter had been acknowl-
edged leader since the abandonment OF
the-leadership by the original spokesman
of the little party. He had great news,
news which moved the trio to enthusiasm
and 10Y. He had discovered nuggets of
gold, he had struck q rich vein, and, in
proof of his words, he led his companions
to the placer.


Sure enough, there was gold not in vast
quantities, but in sufficient bulk and plen-
titude to suggest the presence of rich lodes
near at hand. Pick-axe, shovel and slulce
box, long neglected, were gotten out, and
the CHEEKY whistles Of ambitious men
again echoed through the Sweetwater
Gully. They called their claim, from this
fortunate find, Lucky Gulch.


Lucky it proved for few days, and then
tickle fortune seemed to have taken the
golden sands to new and far more remote
places They tOiled on however, only be-
coming discouraged when they awoke one
morning and found Jim Darcy, a COM
panion who had ever been clog. and a
fault finding being on their successful min
my missing. He had gone as a thief in
the night, and with the thievish instinct
had taken every nugget they possessed.
The hard labor Of year was gone. They
were left again dependent upon the most
meagre Of resources-their own. 1t was
useless to dream of following their dishon-
est comrade, and they set to work again.
sadly realizing their entire destitution and
want


November had come, and extreme cold
weather had signalixed the certain ap-
prnach Of early winter. There were now
of the party only three men. Tom Bar
ton. Robert Garrison and Eugene Aller-
ton, and recent Indications had warned
the two latter that their comrade, Tom Bar
ton, had fallen a victim to lingering and
slow fever, which threatened to deprive
him Of even ordinary health. He was so
feeble and weak that he was obliged to re-
main in his tent all day long. The result
became apparent to his comrades, they
must remain with hm all the time or else
find some means of removing him to the
nearest settlement, Vera Canyon, fifty
miles over the mountains. The severe
weather precluded any possibility OF doing
the latter, and a rude hut was put up has
tIly. Then they collected all the wood
possible. and the month of December
found the two comfortably ensconsced in
their cabin. but without food


In, Pol
dispatched across the mountains to Vera
Canyon The journey was supposed to
take about six days,-but the snow be-
gan falling within twenty hours after his
departure after provisions to the Canyon
settlement. The third day, a cessation i'll
the falling of the snow caused hope to
spring anew in the anxiously waiting mi
ners hearts. 1t might be that the man
might return sooner than expected, and the
men felt better spirited. On the fourth
morning. however, the snow began again
falling thick and fast, until 1T lay almost
river-deep in the Canyon. The suffering
Tom Barton suffered a relapse, and upon
the evening which opens our story the an
nouncement that the provisions were en-
tirely gone, and that not stick of fuel
was left well nigh drove the men frantic.


''It's that man Darcy fault that we
are brought to this pass, said Tom Bar
ton, after a dreary pause, in which the fast
deepening darkness evinced the swift ap-
proach of evening. Had it not been for
him We would have been far enough away
from this place. There is only way open
for you. Eugene, | am a miserable old
hulk that don't amount to much anyway.
Come, follow my advice"


The other sprang to his feet.


''Not another word, he cried, in impe-
ratiye tones. do you take me for some
poltroon and coward to desert fellow
comrade who has stood by me through
thick and thin : Leave you No. not if
life were sure before me, and it we're
lingering, slow death to remain with you"


There was long silence.


''You have life before you, health, youth
and strength, continued Barton. 'Onr
comrade, Garrison, must surely long ere
this have perished in the storm without.
Be sensible, Eugene, and follow the die
tates OF reason. Go, now. The snow is
deep, but you may be able to reach the
Canyon at Vera. There is no alternative
but death for me, whether | remain or
i've, 10 20 away.


The young man paced the floor, impa-
tiently.


81 ,ciH not go, he said, decisively. -
will remain here. Why should | contend
against a fate which has ever made me the
unlucky dog | am. No, no; luck is
against me, as you miners say, and trust
ing in the Providence which has ever pre-
served me from actual wrong doing, will
accept the alternative calmly and die like a
man.


He walked to the window as he finished
speaking, and tried to peer through the
small panes Of glass. A look of blank dis
may came over his features, as he gazed,
for the wind was sweeping through the val
ley, and the snow had entirely covered the
cabin up to its window.


With heart-sick groan, the young man
turned from the contemplation Of the
scene before him. He knew only too well
by the hard experience Of the past winter
in this dresry solitude what was before him.
For the first time in his life his spirit
proud and indomitabie, was forced to sue
cumb He remained at the window to
hide his tears, and through the binding
drops saw a vision Of storm and tempest,
mingled with a fantastic fancy of homes
bright and warm with the cheerfulness of
happy family. A dream of what little Of
life he had known in contentment and
peace, compelled so striking and varied
contrast, that he remained engaged in
vivid "reminiscences of the past.


He had known no ties of blood or birth
From his boyhood an orphan, he had lived
in lonely Delaware villages quiet, unob-
trusive ward to an old uncle, who, diving
intestate, he had been left few hundred
dollars, which he had spent in travel. He
had at last been persuaded to come West
to the el-dorado Of ambitious hopes, and
had come to this Ito death, unregarded,
alone and, most Calling thought of all,
helpless to aid himself He knew that he
could gain the Canyon settlement, but the
man beside him ! He turned with a drearv