Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 14, Number 21, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 17 November 1883 — Page 6

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THE MAIL

PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

UPhm the Author's Advance Sheets.]

Proof

Mike Patchett.

Romance of the Gold Fields.

Br B. L. FABJEON.

JMihor of "Blade o' Grass,"

MOrif,"

"Bread

and Cheese and Klaw," "Joshua '-W'A Marvel," Ac.

CHAPTER XI.

HI KB PACHSTT UNBOSOMS HIMSELF.

Horace conld not resist the appeal "Yours may be an exceptional case, ike said let as suppose that it is. you must surely know that, as a .women are to be bought for gold."

But

rule,

Mr. I

"In the slave countries. Mr. Horace," Quickly interposed Mike Patchett. "No, my

Dim,

in the civilized conn

tries. Mothers sell their daughters and daughters sell themselves, were 1 as handsome as Adonis I might sigh and sigh in rain for any modern Venus, il nay pockets were empty—which, as a •latter of fact," be added, with a careless laugh, "they are at the present moment." "Let me fill 'em, Mr. Horace," said Mike Patchett, eagerly. "Were I to accept the various offers

Jtying

ou have made me to-day, I should be myself under a debt of obligation I could never repay." "It be me yer obligiug, not yerself," arged Mike Patchett should be humbly grateful toyer if yer'd accept whatever yer want—never mind the amount it's yoars, Mr. Horace, with a free heart and yer can pay me when yer like. Don't fear I'd ever arks yer for it." "When a man puis his head," observ--ed Horace, "into a lion's mouth, he deserves to have it bitten off. That's what you deserve, Mr. Patchett. Are you as generous in your offers to every one you meet?" "Not likely. In a general way I des«ay you'd bear me spoke of as a closeJhited fellow." "I shall be bsppy," said Horace, fol lowing with languid looks the curling smoke from his cigar, "at any time I am called upon to testify to the contrary." "True, though, as regards yourself.

If a man was master of the mint be couldn't find much pleasure spending his money on himself." "A most extraordinary assertion. As a rule mankind derives the highest gratification in spending bis money on number one. But you area man of excep tional opinions. Say, now, that I wish lo barrow of you five hundred pounds? "It yours, Mr. Horace," sirid Mike Patchett, putting a bundle of bank notes •n the table. "Take it." "Or a thousand?" "There it is, Mr. Horace. You're free and welcome." "What interest would you expect me to pay for the loan?" "Interest! Love yer heart, I don't warn, no interest! I'm no money lender." "If you were, my man, you would aoon be stripped. Put by your money: I'll have none of it. You are illogical in your ifn •Than

proceedings, my friend—^ ikyer, Mr. Horace," interposed

Mike Patchett, with a fiugfe of pleasure in his face "I wish yet'dfjive Be an opportunity of proving myself one.'* "First, you tell me that all yon have cot is for your girl, Miss Peggy, and That every grain of gold you can call your own is hers, ana here, almost the next breath, you are anxious to throw your mouey away on a strange*." "But it'ayptf at *|1 njhke uwsnre of her iu cofeeiffe ddub^sFiti tnyjg^lf, As for being a stranger, it seems to me as if you and me'd knowed each other for

"Havingonly hAd the pleasure of aonnaintancq foe a few hours. Never, -when we rbsb this morning, having had the remotest idea of each other's existence."

Motto be denied. "But there's something outside ourselves, Mr. Horace, as driven us this way or that, and puts thoughts into our heads. I don't pretend to be able to account, for it. I only know it |s to."

You are in deep thinking, my man," •aid Horace.wlth a smile that betokened interest. "The wisest philosophers, the most learned thinkers, have wasted time In that direction—and know no more today of outward forces, so far as they affect the moral condition of erring human nature, than we did,a thousand years ago. Upon my word," said Horace, in half real and naif affected amaxement, suddenly breaking off, "I am expressing myself like a preacher." "Better no* a»y.-^»reaobe*aa**e*I heard. They all aav the same thing over and over agin—leastways, them as I've listened to—and I'll do the same, I

aswwm raw.' few months 1 may say, as I ever dreamt any QUaA&meaning on things Which happeoeq to me' thf*n what any outside man might suppose to be quite reasonable. I come

from

natural and Kent, as I've already told you—"

"There it is again, and I was led to you because we both belong to the same eountry. Not that I would venture to pot myself tn theaame boat with year fur from it, very far from it. The only ltkdnese^between as comes from par mothers—ywnftf l*«r* iitttt* etooafcion woman—common as fur as living In a cottage goes. Bight pounds a year the rent was, and hard enough It was to pay It. That's in the past, dead and goa»-~ dead and gtrtfe, Mr. Horstee fc«t if you'll believe me» it happens to a man sometimes that a daisy he's forgot he had ever looked npoo oomee all oa a aaddan into his memory, and he sees it blooming as sw«et and fresh and ftalf of hope aa the brightest and beat be ever picked in the hedges when be was a child, and didn't know bow mac* -in and real trouble there was in the wo }-'.** "Poetically expressed. I shonld have given you credit for so much uui.t tored eloquence it baa happened

yotf, in tnf "It has happened to m*. Ant I detaining yer too long, Mr. Horace?" "Horace glanced at iin dock on tbe mantte-abelf. "I have forty minutes to •pare," be said, "and it will please you to leant that aa iqjtorartad in your m-

"It does please me, Mr. Bono#, teas imagine" er yoa can in "Skrttuttbening J*** ad Horace, pleasantly,

Mtbat

things

mason of an occult force

'Xactly so, th« »*b ron pat tt In better language, to *a scbolar.** "It la an agT»*ai* dlvonfton from III

doll monotony of thia bouse, knowing that for a short time we shall be enlivened by the society of Bliss Peggy—" "Why not Peggy, without the Miss?" "Peggy, then, without the Miss. Knowing that we are to be honored by her society, I confess to looking forward to her arrival with curiosity. You were about, I believe, to favor me with some details of your early life." "It waa in my mind. A Kent lad— yes, born as poor as need bev and brought np common. A year's schooling—to give it a better name than it deserves, but perbape as good as could be' expected for the tnppence a week. Jest to get rid of me during the day while mother went out bopping in the hopping season—I was too little for it at that time— and doing odd jobs at other times. Our winders looked out on tbe road to Rochester, and used to be filled with flow-er-pots—a fine sight outside for them aa passed a-pleasnring in tbe summer, but It made the room mortal dark inside." "Why was it done, then?" "To please the master of the estate, who held A tight rein over the people of our village. But that's not the point of what I've got to say. When I was fourteen years old I entered tbe service of a gentleman, whose name I won't mention for reasons of my own. and I remained in his service till I left England for these shores. To be exact, which is perhaps as well, for there's no telling what might happen between you and me, and it wouldn't do for you to find me out in telling untruths, I bad to leave my situation three months afore I said adoo to old England. I had grown to be a man long afore that time, and'd got to be what I th' ught for many and many a month I was unfortunate in being, but who I now think was a blessing to me." "Terribly involved," murmured Horace. "in your endeavors to explain matters, you plunged me into a labyrinth jxity. Extricate yourself from

of perplexity your bangle of words, nad you got to be?" "In a word, a married man." "When you left old England, as you affectiouately refer to it, was your wife alive?" "She was, Mr. Horace," replied Mike Patchett, pressing his band across bis forehead with the air of a man who wished to wipe away a disturbing remembrance. "Did she accompany you?" "8he did not—being as glad to get rid of me as 1 was to get rid of her." "An accommodating arrangement." "Put it that way. I ve not much doubt that she danced for joy when she read that tbe ship 1 was to sail in had gone out of port, aud that she'd have laughed instead of cried if

thought

In a word, what

heard

that tbe ship, with me and all aboai d, had gone to the bottom. I shouldn't have cared much myself at that if it'd nave happened, but it didn't, and I'm here, alive, to prove it.' "The evidence is undisputable. Would you consider it an unwarrantable question on my part—as though I wished to mix myself up with your family affairs, to do which 1 assure you 1 have no desire—if I ask you whether you and your amiable wife corresponded?'

Wrote to each other, do yer mean?" "Yes.' "I uever beerd from her, .direct, from that day to this." "Nor she from you?" "Not as 1 aware on. I gave up thinking about her ?r my child."

"Yea, Peggy. You see, Mr. Horace, t^iere was such a cut-in my life that it seemed as if there was an end of it. All I had to do was to wait till I grew old and died, or to die afore I grew old, which I should have preferred in them days. There was days as dark to foiler, thousands ou'eat, titled with hardships it wouldn't be eaay for you to believe if $ had the gift of speeoh to dteoi-i|e em, and you had the tJffleto llSWft to ftie. So I had to commence a noo life, as.bitter sir, as ever tuau went through. Hunger and thirst. Lord! I knows !eiu by heart! Not a streak of suuligin for years aud years, and I didn't efpectV,didn't hope for it, didn't look fdr it, K|any a man ChsfVefoolt t| dMuk and died raving maid* bit I neve# floo to^liqfcor U» help me or off. I'm not a drinking man. Mr. Horaoe. and never was. That one thing has been the saving of me and has given me something to look for'ard to.? Then cope all at ouce the discovery of gold in thaw here cbloulai. Like every other man as was on the spot, 1 made for the gold fields, went to all the noo rushes, prospected, and wasn lortunate. I diun't care much it was the excitement I wanted more than the gold. For the

often come across me, what

should I do with it if I got it? If I'd bad a#yb have been wild at bad luck. But good luck or bad luck, it was all one to me. Do you know, Mr. Horace,

«I cand for it would —iben I should have

tha

I'd grown,

in a manner* of. speaking, to bate the Bight of men and women so that I never teok up with a n.ate? All the time 1 tramped from gold field to gold field, and all the time 1 dug on 'em, I worked as a hatter.'' "Oblige me by telling me vthat is a hatter. Did you make hats?" "No*a-Mt of it," said'Mine Patchett, with abroad grin. "A hatter's A man aa works a claim alone, all by bisself. Why, so palled* now you joention it, I

"A most unsalable proceeding. So you worked plone, without a mate? ".Yes, Mrv'Horac«j, ai.jct as luck would have it, a good thing for'me.

For one

day 1 foutig myself on a deeerted diggings a*'d got the name of Pegleg. ffontba afore I set

foot

cm tbe around

lead there but they were disappointed, «ahd one and all turned it up. IBtoten keepers had gone there, and gone awky

saint 'OHM they- ooulda do -a~tradaL Yea,

TEiElIl® SATxj

hour of my life. It was a hotter day thig- summer was further on, and the sunglared down.on yer head enough to yer. I was at it from sunrise to sunset, lumbering thia way and that way, withont discovering much worth discovering till I come to a high range, which I climbed, and then lobbed dwn the other side to to the dried-up creek, reg'Iar dead beat. I set down on the ground at the foot of tbe hill, and drained tbe last drops of the can of cold tea I had brought with me. To set a man np on the diggings so as he's fit to do a man's work during working hours, there's nothing to compare with cold tea. It's better than all the bear in the world. That last little sip of cold tea after my day's tramp put noo life into me, ana I'd have give a lot for a full can of it. Howaomever, I didn't have it, and the time had past for me when I used to wish for things and growl becanse I couldn't get' em. I told thing aa they come, and they'd come terrible hard to me, as you'd admit if you knew all. Well, the sun was setting and I waa resting. looking about me as idle as may be without any fixed idea about anything.

Now I'm going to tell yer a sing'ler cir1 cninstance—I ain't wearing you out, am I, Mr. Horace?" "No, Mr. Patchett," said Horace, who, to do him justice, had been fairly attentive to his visitor's narrative, which was delivered with full-hartedness. "Proceed with your story." "I'm going to tell yer a sing'ler circumstance. At the time it happened it didn't come upon me with the significance it afterwards bore the reason was because it wanted what took place afterwards to give it point. As I set there, looking at the clouds changing their colors, and at the hills and gullies, which seemed all alive with the movement of tbe clouds—shadders passing over tbe ground, Mr. Horace—my eves rested for a moment on what looked like the sbadder of across on a part of the hill, about twenty yards from where I was setting. Presently, when I looked in that direction agin, I noticed that the 31-oss was still there, only it had grown larger, extending not up the hill, but down into tbe gully. It struck me then as sing'lar but nothink out of the ordinary. and being really tired out, I fell into a doze. I couldn't have dozed many minutes, for when I opened my eyes tbe Bun was still *n view, but what set my heart all of a beat was that the shadder of tbe

croBS

Bhe'd

was still there, clearer and

larger than it was aforev 'It might be sent as a sign,' that was the thought that came to my mind, 'it might be sent as a sign.' And I watched it and watched it till, like the spreading of water, it stretched itself out aud lost its form, and become mixed with tbe other shadders which lay on the ground. Now, reasonable or onreasonable as yer may think it, I got up, and having well marked the spot, so as I couldn't miss it when I looked for it agin, I went straight to tbe tent 1 bad slept in since I come to Pegleg. and took it down there and then, aud marched off with it, poles and all, back to tbe very spot where the sbadder had been. A clear, bright moon was shining, and tbouKb I had had a hard dav of it 1 didn't give in till I had put up" tbe tent—it was only a nine by six— and fixed things for the night. Then I lit a fire, made a can of tea and drank it: and then 1 threw myself on the ground, rolled myself up in my blaaket and slept till morning. I was as fresh as a lark, sound as a bell in body, and a little more cheerful in spirits than I'd been for along time past. Arter breakfast I studied tbe ground. Jest at the poiut where the shadder lay there was the junction of two ranges, meeting in a little boiler dip, which sank and rose and stretched out into a pretty considerable gulley. I mounted the ranges and prospected 'em a bit. Veins of quartz was running up ana down both of em, and lifiug out three or foujfpieces with specks o« gold in 'em. Not sufficient to pay, but quite enough to prove' there was gold about-, and that somewhere in tbein ranges there was a likelihood of rich reefs being found. I'd got to learn enough of gold digging to know that where there was a likelihood of rich reefs being found in tbe hills, there

W*B

more JUke a likelihood of rich gold being foutfa in the gullies. Tbe gold rolls 4nd is washed down the ranges into the gullies, where it is easier to get at. especially for a man working alone, as I was. So 1 went back to the hollow dip where the ranges jine, and I struck my pick in the ground and marked out my claim. Mr. Hora&, I found gold tbe very first day. It wasn't a regular gutter, but it lay all over about three inches under tbe surface and averyged,I should say, about an ounce to the tub. I could not wash out many tubs, there was so little water near, but I got out enough gold to carry out a plan. Leaving the ground iu such away that if any digger happened to pass that way he'd think prospectors bad been there and had de sorted it because it was no good, I went to a gold-diggings some distance off and bought an old tent, tweuty-four by eighteen, which I carried bark to Pegleg without being noticed, and pat up near the little tent in which I slept. Nobody bad been there while I was away, and I waa so fur safe. The chances was that I should be left unmolested, all the winter perhaps, and my plan was to pile upinside tbe large tent as muoh of tbe goldts* earth as it could bold, or as much as 1 could find, ahd wait fdr the rains to till the ereeka* copjd washout what gold there was in it. I carried out 'my plan. During the hot summer mantn-* not a «oul come near me, and spoke to no man except at Such times as I we-t to a towuahip or a cattle station to bav flour and meat and tobaooo» I bought a goat afc well, which I made •ompany of, and which got as fond of as if it had been a human being."

Really." said Horaoe, "quitea Robinson Crusoe."

MX.

Oil Crusoe. I thought that, too, as I used to ait of a night outaldp my tent amok-

ive a dawg a bad name, yer know, and he'a do tie for. That waa the wsy with ofr d^r* ijMesd lay arter day, week arter week, on tbe road to noo rushes, without as much as stepping to pick into tbe ground. ~tt~ jist sooted me, being as yc*t%ay of an'unsociable turn, and I made up my mind to prospect a bit, I bad in my matchbox about a ounce of rough gold, which reckoned'd buy flour and Dacca enough for three or four weska. and 1 went to tbe neatest township and laid In a stock. There waa at least a dosen old tents left on Pegleg which themes wt* disappointed hadn't thought worth while to carry away. I took the best of tbe lot, and patched it up with bite ef unbleached and made a regular comfortable snuggery of it. Now, thought I, if loan only get a few pennyweight a week, III remain here as long as I'm allowed to, and all I araks for fat that nobody 11 in terfere with me. I went down deserted shafts, and waabed oat of thia one, and a dishful out one, without getting much mon that master, and do yer know, Mr. Horace, ths color. Tbe best prospect 1 got from though I didn value it I became greedy the shafts already aunle waa three grains for more. I didnt know what nse to to the diah, and as tbe gutter wasat as make of it, and it oonld bring me no thick as my thumb, to work in sack a pleasure aa knew of then but for all lead hardly pay for salt, let alone that I frit myself growing greedy tor it.

JIorac^A reg'Iar Robinson

of tbe Cross come and go jest on tbe bit & gronnd i'd marked out for my claim. rmunt tell yer that during them months I didn't,work that claim. I left it till the time come—Which was sure to $me, fot men, wild for gold, were pouring, into tbe colony as fast as ships could bring/em—when another rush set in for Fegieg, and when I couldn't chooeeany bit of it I pleased to So I worked tbe outside ground, out tbe rough bits of gold, and tbeiarge tent the earth which fine gold and which I couldn't without water. Tbe nuggets I were small 'aoa—4he largest wasn't mors nor two ounces—but altogether in tbe summer I got in rough gold over four hundred on noes. I weighed it little by

a lot of little, in a pair of gold scales I bought in a dishful one of my trips. That'd sell for more ut ofthan money than ever In my 1111B I'd been

So I set about looking Tbe feeling didnt hnt long: wouldn't let it laat long, thanka be! I'm humbly

ace, I shall rememb tbe day I went grateful to the Ixrd**—and ben Mike over them gnltiee an pp and down tbe PWebett looked up reverently—"that I hill in search of a got spc( to tbe Isst got strength to beat down what'd be a,

get at Found

K±JAY

curse to me. 8olitood drives many a man mad it didn't me. I bad Pegleg to myself for full twelve month, Mr. Horace, and though I had a fit of greediness as I've told yer, and fita of excitement when I come across earth thick with bright gold—which was nothing but material—I think I may say I was abetter man at the end of that twelve months, when I mixed agin with men, than 1 was the first da$ I set foot on the deserted diggings. I dont take no credit for it. There waa two things set me straight. One was my goat, as used to rest his head on my knee and look at me with his great solemn eyes and teach me lessons as I can't put words to. But at all events they made me humble and grateful instead of greedy and savage. There wasn't much love as'd ever fell to my share in life. I'd had my spell of happiness in the old country, but it only lasted three or four weeks, arter which I woke op and found I'd been making a fool of myself in trusting to—" "A woman," said Horace, completing tbe sentence which Mike Patchett, who bad suddenly paused, appeared unwilling to do for himself. "Yes, a woman," admitted Mike Patcnett, reluctantly.

He paused again, as though expecting and dreading that Horace would a*k who tbe woman was but Horace, from motives of delicacy or indifference, did not pursue tbe subject. Then it oc curred to Mike Patchett that having already been liberally and gratuitously communicative, ana having himself lea up to the mention of the woman, he bad no right to withhold the disclosure of her relationship to him. "She was my wife, Mr. Horace," he said. "I am not surprised," said Horace, and said mo more. "You don't think well of women?" asked Mike Patchett. "My good uiau," replied Horaoe, "I have seen tbe world."

Tnere was something amusing in the affectation of superiority ol knowledge in the ways of women on the part of tbis young gentlemen over a man considerably more than double his age, but it did not strike either of them as ludicrous. Horace was perfectly serious, and Mike Patchett perfectly willing to accept his companion as a mentor. "Still, said Mike Patchett, it wouldn be quite fair, because one woman's disappointed us, that we should ruu every woman down. There was a time, I confess, wheu I thought 'em all bad, but that time's gone by, I en glad to say, and I'll take care it shall never come agin. 1 was talking of the things that set me straight when I begun to get greedy for gold. One of them was my goat the other was the sbadder of the cross I used to watch come and go of an evening when tbe suu was setting in thesummer months. Of a Sunday, especial.y, it did me good, for it set me tbiusing of the churab bells ringing in my old village home. Well, the summer passed and the rain come. I was glad enough, I telr yer, to see the creek tiled, and I took my golden earth down to the water and got the metal out of it, working from light to dark for many and many a week, and putting by a store of gold as made me wonder to look at. Would yei line to know, Mr. Horace, how much I washed out of the earth I piled up in the

"I am not unwilling to receive the information." "Over four thousand ounces. What do yer think of that?" ."What can I think of it but wonder, as you yourself did?" "That was the commencement of my good luck, but it didn't seem to be much good to me 'xoept to look at. I wa« alone In the world. A rich man without any idea what to do with bis money." "You might have encouraged a reLigi-

ous

mania,^and give to the church. That is a common road to Paradise." "Meaning heaven?"

EVaatf-Lfrt* MAIL

"Yes." "If I can't go to heavenmo other way, I'm afraid I shall be shut out. No, nd, Mr. Horace, salvation's not to be bought like bread aud 'bacca at so much a pound." "You might have gone home, and spent yout money like a prince. "Mother alive?^ 1, "Dead, sir, long afore I left England I'm grateful to say it." "A strange thing to be grateful for. Was she riot a good mother? Excuse my asking the question, but your owh words prompt it." "No need to excuse you, Mr. Horace. She was the best of mothers. She had a hard struggle, but she got through it bravely, and managed, somehow, always to give me bread—seldom meat— till I was old enough to work for myself." "And yet you were glad when she died?" "I am glad she died when she did," said Mike Patchett, in a steady voice. •Mr. Patchett," said Horace, "you strike me as being somewhat of an anomaly." "I have no idea. what that means. Nothing bad, I hope." "No, nothing bad that you are in some sense contradicting in your character." "That's correct enough, I deesay. It ain't to be explained, though, for—I won't deceive yer, Mr, Ho

orace—alitmy'self,'

thongh what I've told yer aboutmy* and what I'm going to tell yer, if yer care to listeh, is as true as gospel, there's a lot o' things in inyilfe Irm Dound not to speak of. It*wouldn't do, Mr. Horace, it wouldn't do." "As you say i,t wojildn'tdo, I have no doubt it wouldn't do, and I assure yo

I am no animated by any desire to— —Horace at a loss of words,was surprised to And himself winding up with—^by any desire tb open tbe grave of the pest." And then, he thought, "That must have bean a qWta$ion( I mp# bsve read it somewhere."

Quotation or nut it una a puwerrui wfeet on Mike Patchett. It was in a

wished. The

grave

yes,—if only things could be put in tbe^aaad tor^ed aut of sight and mind

'°"To resume ft the.point we broke off," said Horses "indeed, ssems wasre always breaking off—I am breaking off now—P." "Never mind, sir. Toresoom at that point. Go on air." "I was abooMo inquire whether yon had any brothers-^ "Kobe, Mr.flottkft.," .7 "Or sisters?", "None, Mr. Horace." "At ml events, there must be in tbe village in which yon were bora some person livingof whom yon have a kindfy iSiembe£nce, and who may deserve that remembrance. Well, with your wealth, you might have gone home and show them some kindness. Unless Ism pleasure

"i amtaanaiui yer, tfr/'ssk) Mike Patchett, gratefully, yet with tbe slightest constraint. "Then there's your daughter Fsggy. Instead of her coming out to yon, you might bsve gone home to her. &*glaad is an infinitely better school for a young girttban this wild colony. There are so meay pleasant qalaMpots In itln

which a man with such means as yo could pass bis years in comfort. Ti

'onrs

vvu.u |ww m.m —. -hen your daughter—there la her future to consider. Really, Mr. Patchett, you have caused me several times during the day to speak quite out of my usual self. Do you not agree with me that there is something almost fatherly in the remarks I am favoring you with respecting your daughter?" "I agree with yer in anythink, Mr. Horace, and I take it as a honor that you should speak of Peggy as yer a doing on. You was saying that there was her future to consider." "As to getting married, now? Has such a contingency, with Peggy in the foreground—a charming pioturc, doubtless in orange blossom—occurred to you?" "v "I'm free to confess," said Mike Patchett, somewhat ruefully, "that it has not." "But it has to tbe young lady, unless she differs altogether from every other daughter of Eve. It is the one thing in life they look forward to." "Putting fathers out of the question?" "My good man, to use a familiar though not an elegant phrase, fathers are not in it. In the orange blossom picture referred to a father may have a place by courtesy, but he must be in the background—yery muoh in the backround. To continue. Admitting the easibiUty and likelihood of orange blossoms one day crowning her h£ad—' Mike Patchett's face, at this figure of speech, was sunny with delight, despite the disturbing nature of Horace speculations while Horace himself, pausing in pleasant wonder, repeated under breath. "Orange blossoms oae day crowning her fair head! Another quotation, most certainly It could never have sprung from my own fancy." Then he continnued aloud: "Admitting that, is there not a wider range of probable bridegrooms to select from in England than in Austalia? The quality of the article, externally, would be finer there than here, more likely to take lady's eye and secure her heart, to say nothing of her fathers purse. Or perhaps you want her to marry one of your own degree, the wisdom of which would not venture to dispute. The unexpected possession of money, however generally brings with it higher ambL tions." "I should wish my Peggy," said Mike Patchett, slowly, "to marry a geutleman." "Do you not see, then, that instead of her coming out to you, where gentlemen are scarce, youpbould go home to her, where the article—again externally— abounds?" "It ain't to bethought on," said Mike Patchett, with a curiousemphasis, shaking his head. "It ain't to be thought on for a minute!" "Why not? What stands in the

Mike Patchett, perplexed, eagerly welcome*? a felicitous iaea. "Why," he exclaimed, "do yer think I'd give up my claims in Pegleg, with the gold tuey re turning out every day?

I've

got plenty of money, its true, but ain't it nateral for me to want more? Don't every man want more, nevermind how much he's got?" "Ah,' thought Horace, "there is a decided vein of avariciousness, and a very strong dash of the miser, after all, in my friend the man from Pegleg

CHAPTER XII

TUB MEANING THAT LAY IN atJNSKT 8 SHADOWS.

"There ain't much more to tell," said Mike Patchett, suddenly returning to

the

original theme "I'm coming to the end of my story. Not caring to keep four thousand ounces of loose gold in my tent, I made up my mind to put it away foi^pafety. It was no easy job.for it weighed nigh on three hundred weight, and I had make five journeys to a bank thirty mile from Pfcg»g afore I got rid of it. I took a lot of trouble to prevent being follered back to Pegleg, and went many a mile out of the. way to put a man as'd set himself on my trac on the wrongscent. He got tbe best o» Uiff at last He was a clerk iu the bank be re I stored my gold, the sight Ql nloh loom a common manrlike^me set him on fire. When I took tbe first lht it was this clerk as weighed it and as give me the receipt for it. 'You've got a rich claim,' said the clerk to me. 'Yes, mate,' S. answereo. 'Whereabouts is it?' Inasked and I told mm at Mclvor,*which was thirty mile from where we stood, in an opposite direction lo Pegleg. He opened bis eyes when I took in a second lot. 'That makes sixteen hundred dunce,' hfc

Raid

mate.'

'you're in luck's way,

didn't answer him, for I sor he

was itching to have a finger in my pie. He fairly trembled with excitement When I tobk in the third lot. 'Any more to come?' he asked. 'Perhaps,' I said. Tbe fourth lot I took to the bank was weighed by another clerk. I looked about for my friend, but be wasn't there. Tbe manager of the'bank sent for me into his private room and trick! to pump uie, but he didn't get notbink from me in the way of information. The next morning, as I.waa walking, id the. bush toward Pegleg, I had reason to suspect that I was being follered, and by no other than the clerk who had weighed

I'd made sure be was on my track/what ,h ik, il »'y think 'I shall.'he said.

brings yer in tbis part of the bush? Yer

•rings _i lorig way from y$r bank.',. '0, said tje, Tve.teft the baak. and I'm hunti for a rich claim.' 'I hope matp.' Mid. 'I

tbe night I managed to give him tbe

SSirSk

of the nest! Yes,

/AN KtfGIXEKR'S 8TORY.

HOW HE WAS COMPELLED TO LEAVtfC HIS KN«INE AFTER TWELVE (13) YEARS OF CONSTANT

WORK.

(From the Reading, Pa., Eagle.) "You look like a healthy man," said out representative, as he shook hands with Daniel Moyer (living at 1005 Aley St, this! city), as he Jumped from engine No. 161, at tbe Reading Depot, on a pleasant evening not long since. "yes,"8aid Mr. ML "but I have only a fe^ minutes to spare and must necessarily brief. It is only a short time that I have been able to present so (food appearance.' And Mr. M. continuing on, said. "I have been in the employ of the P. A R. R. R. Co. as an engineer, twelve (12) years, and in tha\ time have never had an accident or received a scratch. I have run regular and extras, having often run for an entire week with only two nights' sleep, and I can truly tell you that is what 'breaks a man up.' Bat then the sudden changes of the weather are th*' most dreaded. Last winter, while was running the regular from fiere to Harrisburg, I caught a severe cold and my kidneys became seriously affected, in consequence of which I was obliged to leave my engine for ashorC time. At times when I wou.dget ou£of tlis 'cab' I would suffer such severe pains in my back and side that I could hardly stand and, as I was saying, was obliged to leave work. As you may well suppose I became alarmed especially when 1 found that the medicines I was using were bringing me no relief. Luckily, about this time, I saw an advertisement in the Eagle of Hunt's Remedy, and procured a bottle of it. Relief came soon after takiug a few doses I became conscious that a, beneficial change was in progress it was doing me more good than all the medicine I had taken. I continued in its «se until I had used two (2) bottles the pains all left I became well, and, as you now see, am all'O. 'as to my kidneys, and Hunt's Remedy did it."

The conductor shouted "all aboard," the bell rang, theenglnesnorted.and away wont a lon^ train of car.s laden with humus freight, in charge of Mr. Daniel Moyer, as brave, courteous, and daring a man as over pulled llie throttle. And i-uch is the story oi an incident iu the life of a man whoso whole life is one of incidents.

Mr. S. R. Woodruff, of Rochester, N. Y.»writes June 14,1888, us follows: "I have used Hun''s Remedy for kidney disease and have been greatly benefited thereby.,.

Xoss and Gain. CHAPTKH I.

With bilious fever."

"I was taken sick a year ago

"My doctor pronounced me cured, but I got sick again, with terrible pains in', my back ana sides, and I got so bad 1

Could not move! & 1 shrunk! From 228 lbs. to 120! I had been doctoring for my llvor, but it did me no good. I did not oxpect to live more than three months. I began to use Hop Bitters. Directly my appeti'e returned, my pains left me, my entire system seemed renewed as if by magic, and after using several bottlrs I am not only as sound as a Haverign but weight more than 1 did before. To Hop Hitters I owe mv life."

Dublin, Junefi, '81. R. FITZPATRIOK. Hriw

TO «KT

1S&4

er'll get it.

•It's no use trying to shake me off I'm going to stick Ufftr. This aln'ttbe road to Mclvor, yer kaowfit'erigbt the ether wan r« fat4»rmined and clever.

WI tv aa vsf a pajreef of f£old!

time as I returned to Pegleg I went a precioua long way round, and I dessay I made the thirty mile into aevehfyT 1 MS pretty easy in my mind wben I was within five mile of Pegleg at about four o'clock in tbe arternoon, for the whole day I hadn't aeen a living soul. I threw myself on tbe ground to testa Ut, wben who should suddenly appear but my friend tbe clerk. I knew immediately he bad been foilering me. and that the game waa up. 'Where did you spring From 'You don't want to be. tola,' he ssid: 'you give me tbe slip tbe las time, but I swore that it should either be Do or Die tbe next wslted may believe

tbe next journey you took. I for yer in tbe townabip, and yoo slieve me that 1 waa almost wild

wben I sor yer take another parcel of gold into the bank. How much does tbst make altogether 'Fonr thousand ounces,' I ssid. 'W

I't tbst n? div

Wen, now,' be said,

'ain't that a pretty good haul for one man GHve a fell** chance, and dont try to shake me off agin. Have yer got a mate?* 'No,' I anawered. 'Hake me,* be said, 'yon won't repent it.' 'I don't want no matea,' I said, 'but I tell yer what, 111 show you wbme I'm getting for foilering me mise not to let

tbe gold—yer deserve it I eo cfoveriy—if yerTlproi anybody know.' Well,

aybody 'knnw.' Well, be promised, OiaWwaarf on 8mmAk Page.

tiicic.-^Expose yourself day

and uight eat too much without exerclxe work to hard without rest doctor all tlis time take all the vile nostrums advertised, and then you will w«nt to know libw to Ket well, which is answered in three words—Take Hop Bitters I

Moore's Pilules, a Positive

Malarial Antidote, -J*i

Better and Cheaper than Quinine (OonHnued/Km hut weef.) How Watch Cases are Made.

In buying a silver watch case great care should be taken to secure one that is solid silver throughout The cap of most cheap silver cases is made of a composition known as albata, which is a very poor substitute for silver, as it turns black in a short time. The backs of such cases are made much thinner than thosa of an all silver case, being robbed in order to make the cap thicker and get in as much as possible of the cheap metal. Another important ji oint in a silver case is the joints or hinges, which should be made of gold. Those of most cheap cases are made of silver, which is not asuitable metal for that purpose. In: a brief periodfit warps, bend# and spreads apart, allowing the bock# to become loose upon the case and admitting the dust and. dirt that accummulate in the pocket. The Keystone fttlverWatch Cases are only made with silver caps and gold joints.

BT. Loin*, Mo., Feb. 17,1883:

In oor long sad r»rted patience in handling w»tcheK Wftcjumot but girsourteitiDooythAv th* Ketone Solid SUrer Wmtch Oaww aro

tbe

beat

made to oar knowledge. Having no soiderinff they remain homogeneous, harder and ttijfer than they would ke wen the? heated

tor

•olderfng, and hate mora

restating power against pressure than any other caw* .IA TBTRI^IIRIW* MIWAP

JKWMUXX

OO.

tttatsUsf ts Wstt*U—T»rUrtm,nit*. 4)lhls,h,farIlliwtrstcd risrktrtik««la|lw» itmm S—'aa*

Xsyit—e Watch Cue are anS*i-

EVER FAILS.

®s

~tfgpgr

fCOHQBEBOBQ

A SPECIFIC FOR

a»- Ewiptr, tnsis, mmutm,FuMtsicmss, sr. nrut ouce, alcmboush trad E1TIM, SrPHILUJ,

SSROFUU, EIHQS

B8LT BLOn BISEASES, DrSPEPSIi. KHNMEtt, Sim IE1DUK, KBUTISM, HEBVOUS WEUIESt,

IUT0US PROSTRATION, Hill VOimr, BIOM SOKES, "MUNSIEtS, CDSmfEIESS,

[MKT TODDIES Ut

RIESyUUITIES.

gyutfMifc. iitiiiiii

TU Br. IL MiraJ Hed. Co, ProprlElore

ST. JOSEPH, HO.

I circulars seed stamp.