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VOL. XXVII.—NO. 32.
A PLANTATION COMEDY
BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
Copyright. IMS, by the Author.
XVI.
Otis Maxwell took a turn or two on the
veranda. It seemed to him,that his oppor
tunity had come. Should he take advan
tage of it? Ethel, leaning her head on her
hand, watched him and wond red what he
was thinking of—wondered whether the
foolish masquerade devised by Aunt Crissy
had given him a wholesome cont--mpt for
Herndon Wool and the |> ople there. Site
sa* from his manner that something was
Doubling him. He was either agitated or
embarrassed —perhaps both. Presently he
paused befor. her. She could teel that he
had fixed a steady gaze upon her. but her
eyes weft avert***!. She was studying tn»?
texture of a scarlet ribbon that dangl d
from her waist.
"Miss Ethel.” he said. “I am almost ready
to be happy again. J thought I saw you
going away off with our friend Beasley last
night, and now I see her you here. I was
mis cable. and now I am ’
“Relieved?" suggested Ethel, as he paused.
•%>h. more than rell.ved,” the young man
j" I w
W M
i '■ ’ II W '
A•\ 'J ■-' ; L'
-—X *«c^E3*S* s **‘
‘•DON’T BB ANGRY.” HE PLEADED.
replied. “I am almost happy again. If it
had l«een you. if the episode had been what
1 supposed it to be, and not cunning mas
querade. I •’
He paua d again and turned away. Slowly
, cf plrtrur- and cmbar-
’ ra“sn»ent mounted to Ethel’s far".
I am sur., Mr. Otis ." Ethel also
naaaad ns she caught z ; -~ e>
love had kindled Its light, rhe blush
gr .>w bolder and chafed from pink to
ro-y n-1. Forth- nrst time she noth' d that
he held in his hand the flowers she had
dropped the day Iwfore. .
••Oh. I despise the* conv« ntionallties. ho
exclaimed passionately. "The;, have made
me miserable; they have prevent d me from
telling you I love you."
Ethel tried to be dignified. Rhe rose and
half turned away. Otis Max# 11 thought
She was going away, but she stood sti...
with her head averted.
"Ah. I didn’t intend to snoek you. lon t
be angry.” he pleaded.
"Oh. I am not angry.” she said slow • >
an 1 doubtfully, her head drooping.
H» w nt to her and took her hand m h s.
The poor creatures were trembling as
though something awful were about to
C °"Uft°up‘vour eyes, dear heart. and tell
m you love me.” Even his voice trem-
I tell you some othe« time.’ she
8 she looked at him timidly, and the
agony was ov. r. She found herself in his
“ At* that moment Susie came to the door,
took in the situation at a glance, a.id then
Jumped bark. She st hU in ti e h »l». • ped
her hands together before h-r. < l< s
eyes, and exclaimed under her breath. On.
how I wish Burnell could see that! It would
improve him so much!”
Outside of the veranda Ethel was saying:
•-If J4r. Bensley had said a doxen more
woris al»out father and our home I should
have accepted his proposition. That is the
reason I made ■him no answer; i didn’t want
to be a heroine.”
••Oh Impossible!” exclaimed Otis Max
well; "it would have been a horrible sacri
fice of yourself, because 1 was absolutely
needless.”
Ethel shook her bend. "J shall never have
such a narrow escape aga n as long as I
"Ettie!” called Susie from the b-«ll. “Ettie!
Where are you?”
"On the veranda, dear.” answered Etheh
•’I Just wanted to fell you something,
she said. "I heard Uncle Bush talking to
Aunt Crissy. ami he’s awful angry. I heard
him say he’d kill the scoundrel if il was
the last act of his life, and then I came to
the door just now and saw you and Mr.
Olis”—she hesitated—"and -aw you ami Mr.
Otis quarreling with each other, and then
I thought maybe Uneie Bush was angry
with Mr. Otis.”
Susy still had her back turned to Ethel
ami Mexueil. Ethel seised her by the
shoulders, pulled her around, and kissed
her.
"Susy, are you teasing!" said Ethel, blush
ing. "How can you be so naughty?"
"No. chilil.” replied Susy. ”1 hear Uncle
Bush coming now, 1 know he’s angry about
someth.ng.”
As General Herndon came out on the
veranda Ethel ran forward and fell in his
arms. It was the only way in which she
could hide her blushing am! embarrassed
bnppine*** from his keen eyes.
••Why. my darling!” he exclaimed, "what
Is this I hear? Mr. Otis will pardon me. I
know. My child, you ought to have told
ought to have run straight to me. it is a
poor slick of a father that cannot protect
me of that little episode of yesterday. You
his (laughter from insult and intrusion.
But it is not too late. I think 1 can find a
way to teach this ra«cal a lesson. Come,
my dear, 1 have a letter I want you to
write. You must pardon my excitement,
sir.” General Herndon said, turning to Otis
Maxwell. “Im not judge me unkindly.
Come, daughter.”
Susy tripped out into the rose garden and
Otis Maxwell went into the house. Bur.
cell Winslett. passing by. saw Susy alone,
and made the most of the opportunity. Susy
-was standing with her h-ad bent, and was
peking aimlessly at her handkerchief.
"Well, well!” exclaimed Burrell. "What’s
the matter now? Who’s been hurtin’ your
f—lin’s? Thess show me the ’oman, man,
child, or mouse!”
"Oh. nothing," said Susy, with a sigh.
••Nothing but trouble; and I onßht to be
used to that by this time. Uncle Bushrod
is angry wi( h papa.”
••V»' 11. 1 don't blame him!” Burrell blurted
out indignantly. "I’m mad with that man
la '"Ai.d, oh, Burrell!” cried Susy, suddenly
flying away from the contemplation of her
trouble, “I wish you knew the Boston
I
"Now, Susy! Whal’d you promise me? I
h pe you ain’t been foolin’ with that Bos
ton feller?" There was a grieved expres
sion in Burrell’s honest face.
•N-o-o!" replied Susy, lifting her pretty
eyebrows. —He's mortgaged property. He’s
engaged to Ethel.”
•‘Well, the great Julius Caesar! Burrell
could say no more.
•■Yes, and you ought to see the Boston
style,” persisted Susy. "\\ hen I came
out here, just now, he had both arms
around Ethel.”
Burrell looked al Susy with blank amaze
ment.
“Yes. and he w.ns kissing her.” Sus?
went clone to Burrell and spoke in a confi
dential tone. “He wasn’t afraid to put
his around her!”
A new light dawned on Burrell’s face,
took b. • h.m t.i out of bi- pocketx*. Hi
s .zed Susy by the sh ulders and kissed
her.
"How dll he do? That way?”
"Nonsense! No!” said Susy, with a con
temptuous toss of the head. "He put both
.••• ns arctxnd her and drew her close to
h!m.”
"Right in the broad open day?” asked
Bm . c,, •loubutilly.
"Right in the broad open day,” answered
Susan, emphatically.
Br.rrell lo- ked all around carefully. Then
he put his arms around Susy and drew her
to him.
"That way?" he asked.
"Well.” said Susy, “that is more like it.
Ard then lie kissed her again and smoothed
her hair.
“Now. that ain’t bad.” exclaimed Burrell,
after be had followed instructions. "Them
Boston fellers has got hoss sense.”
M inwh le Mrs. Fincannon had suddenly
apjw ared on the scene.
“Well, the Lord love ’em!” exclaimed this
worthy woman. "Burrell Winslett, you’ll
squeeze that gai tel she’ll go ’roun’ here te
reckly as droopy as a chick 11 with the
p»ti z’.es.”
“i n. Aunt Crissy! I’m so glad you’ve
come!” exclaimed Susy. "I begged Burrell
to let me alone.”
"Yes.” replied B’rrell, serenely. "She
got down on her knees ami begged me to
let her alone, but 1 told her 1 had to give
her a tech of the Boston style.”
“CMo!” called Mrs. Fincannon, paying
no attention to Burrell.
“Ma’am!” respomled Uncle Cato, so close
at h ind ‘hat he made Susy jump.
“Gem ral Herrdon says go and clean his
gun.”
“Yassuri!” As Uncle Cato went aroumt
the house he remarked confidentially to
fl!]
••I’LL SUSY YOI”, YOU CATAWAMPUSSED VILLAIN,” CRIED AIRS. FINCANNON
himself: “Watch cut, nigger! Dey’s gwine
to be war ’roun’ hero when marster wants
Ms gun cleaned.”
Susy, with a humble and repentant air,
laid her soft cheek against Mrs. Flncun-
Dcn's shoulder
“Aunt t'rissy,” she said, “was I too bold—
jvst now?” . ... , , .
“Hush up. for gracious sake! exclaimed
Mi- Fineaunon. “When a honest gal loves
a honest man, where’s the poor narrer
mirnled creetur that thinks aoout bold
’Tn?tlie house Ethel was trying to per
suade her father that It was necessary
to worrv himrelf about Mr. Beniah bus
’ey. "hoy had come from the library into
the hall and st-M>i there.
“No. my child.” said General Herndon.
"This*is a matter in which I shall have to
follow my own judgment. Your
are excellent in ordinary affr.rs, but this
Is beyond vour experience. This man Beas
l.-v has insulted you -he has intruded him
self here—end 1 propose to hold him to a
strict accountability."
“And lust as I am about to bo happy
again!” J exclaimed Ethel. patheticaiiy
“Father, he is so insignificant. Why give
biin such importance? Oh, 1 dun t want to
ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, AUGUST 6, 1894.
be miserable any more.”
Otic Maxwell was coming down stairs at
this moment.
"My dear,” said General Herndon, "you
ought not to worry yourself over my aft air
with this creature.”
“Father, I'll leave it to Mr. Otis to say
if 1 am not right,” returned Ethel.
“.Mr. Otis is our guest, daughter. Wc
have nc right to intrude our affairs on his
attention.”
"Pardon me, general—but circumstances
that you shall be told of later have already
compelled me to take an interest in your
affairs. That is the reason 1 have remained
here. When you Know all, 1 am afraid you
will think 1 have taken more interest in
your atfa.rs than our acquaintance war
rants.”
While they were talking, Burrell Wins-
Ictt came in.
“Cousin Bushrod,” he said, with some
show of excitement, “there’s a buggy coin
in’ down the avtnue. Beniah Beasley’s in
it, an’ he’s got Saeriff Palmer with nim.”
“Oh, father!’ cried Ethel. Her face was
pale.
"Burrell, see if Cato has finished cleaning
my gun. Bring it here.” There was just
the fainiwst ripple of anger in General
Herndon's voice.
"Miss E.hel.” said Otis Maxwell, "will
you trust in me?” His confident air reas
sured her, and she smiled a little as s h e
P.>oK“ 1 at him. Then he turned to <Jenera!
Herndon. "General,” he said, 'I have two
leqittts to make of you. One I shall make
iiow. The other, and the most important
one, I shall postpone to some mote tilting
opportunity. Will you leave Mr. Beasley
to me?” General Herndon looked at the
young man with some surprise ‘I assure
you, sir. he shall be properly disposed of.
If you should think otherwise you will have
the opportunity to take him in hand your
self."
The general reflected a moment, pulling
Ins gray imperial.
"You are not going to us. violence, 1
hope,” he said, with a half humorous air.
“You sent for your gun,” replied OtiS
Maxwell. "I have a less noisy weapon than
that.” .
"Weh. sir. whan I might desire to do I
have no wisli to set* you do. 1 will leave the
eK.ilure to you, provided you do him no
bodily harm. 1 am a man el’ peace except
under sew re provocation, and 1 have no
wish to see a gu< st of mine embroil him
self." The general uttered this sentimnt
with great dignity.
"There .r'il bt 7io trouble, general, not a
bit,’ said Otis Maxwell. "1 simply desire
to give Mr. Beasley a little valuable infor
mation.”
"Humph'” exelaimel General Herndon.
"They're on the veranda, lather, said
Ethel. She looked appealingly to Otis Max
well and clung to her father as they went
out.
XVII.
"Ladies and gents, good mornin’! Giner 1,
I hope .vou’re well.” Thus : poke High Si.et
iit Balmer, as the general, f.u.el and Otis
Maxwell stepped out on tin veranda.
"I'm .w well as common,” r piled Gen
eral He rndon. "1 trust your good wife and
the little ones are well.”
"Tollable, .dr. Tollelble,” responded Sher
iff t’altatr. . .
Then he pausi d and looked around. He
was evidently embarrassed. His eye fell on
Beasley, who was standing somewhat in the
baekgi-und testing his Leard nervously
and catching it in his teeth.
“Gmer’l.” the embarrassed sheriff went
on. luting up first one toot and thet the
otner ... an urnasy way. "Hs is a nighty
miser'ble piece of business they ve got n t
in Ta-nt none of my seekin ; you know
that j ourself I’d rutb r have my’ right arm
cut off than to come here a-wonym you.
1 would that-my right arm.
•Oh, I know that. Panner; I am util
aware of the., ’ said the ni .a .
• Taint my special business, nuther. the
she, .!, -x a- >HU. ’ .mt H asl 'y, heie .
"lie’s a purty lookin' thing. Nou, am
he?” exclaimed Mrs. Fincannon, indig-
• \Vell. he ain’t my kind of a man, I<m
know that. ” said the sheriff, slil apologiz
ing "Beesley here, he mistiusted that 1
had b tter come along and testify
bid in Herndon Wood at the sale toda .
•That’S the point, exactly, tema.kid
Beasley, coming forward a little.
• Ute moment, general,” said Otis Max
well seeing that the tiery old g ntleman
was about to make hostile demonstr.itlon,
“Mr. Sheriff, the bill of sal you have given
Mr. Beasley, then, isn't worth the paper on
which it is written.”
• You n ar that, Palmer! 'i hey doubt the
legality of your proceedings. 1 told you
ti'« re would be trouble." Having said this,
Mr. Beasley began to chew on his beard
again.
"Well, mister,” said Sheriff Palmer to Otis
Maxwell, "I’m mighty sorry to dispute
your word. The law’s th? law, and we'v'
tracked it right straight through. That’s
what hurts me. Ther’ ain’t a flaw here.”
“Mr. Sheriff,” responded Otis Maxwell,
“tnis property Is held in trust, and I hap
pen to be the custodian of the papers.”
Beauty, clinging to General Herndon’s arm,
beamed on the young man. “I have them
here. This deed transfers the domain of
Herndon Wood, in trust, to Eustace Max
well, of Boston. It is rigned by Bushrod
Herndon and witness d by Benjamin Al
sup.”
"Well, it looks all right, ’ said the sheriff,
examining the paper, “but it'll have to be
’stablished in court. They ain’t no two ways
about that."
“Why, certainly,” assented Otis Maxwell.
"Here is ..nother pap r that 1 thought was
a duplicate. It is a deed transferring Hern
don Wood, in the event of Bushrod Hern
dor.’t death, to Appleton Otis Maxwell, for
the use and behoof of Ethel Herndon.”
”\,ny, bless my soul!” exclaimed General
Herndon, “1 thought those pap rs were
lost.”
“They are yours, general,” said Otis Max
well. “They were handed to you long ago
by your old friend in Boston, and you have
been using them as a bookmark to Horace.
In order to get them, Uncle Cato. Shack nnd
1 w..re compelled to burglarize your library
last night.”
“It’s an infernal swindle!” Mr. Beasley ex
claimed. “I won’t submit to it. I’ll hava
my rights.”
"Your rights consist in the accounts you
hold. Every fa ’thing of them will he paid,
anu with interest. Just at present I would
advise you to retire.”
"For mercy’s sake don’t let him get away
till 1 git my han’s on him!” exclaimed Mrs.
Fincannon. The earnestness and vigor of
her request had considerable influence of
Mr. I*< asley. He turned and walked away.
“General,” said Otis Maxwell, “I am au
thorized by the Union marble works, of
Philadelphia, to offer you SW,OOo for ten
acres of Herndon Wood containing a de
posit of black marble. 1 think the de
posit will be worth a hundred thousand
dollars to you.”
“A hundred thous’n’ dollars!” muttered
> Uncle Cato. "Gaberl, blow yo’ horn!”
"We are grateful to you, sir; grateful,
indeed,” said General Herndon, laying his
hand on Otis .Maxwell’s shouder.
“Not for finding the deposit of marble,
General. Blind Shack discovered that —
or, rather, he was the cause of its discov
ery. Be has a black rock in his pocket
that he calls his fortune stone. 1 knew it
was marble the moment I saw it, and lie
showed me where he found it. Bight
there I found the deposit.”
“Where is Susy?” called Air. Beasley
from the yard. "She shall not remain here.
Susy!”
"I’ll ’Susy’ you, you catawampussed vil
lun!” cried Mrs. Fincannon, starting to
wards him.
But in this instance Mr. Beasley deemed
discretion to be the better part of valor,
and so he beat a hasty retreat.
“General Herndon,” said Otis Maxwell,
"you know 1 have another request to
make.”
“It’is already granted,” persisted General
Herndon.
"I’m not sure about that. It is very
important to you 'and to me.”
”1 desire to make it in my own name—
in the name of Otis Maxwell, the son of
your old Boston friend.”
"Why, my dream was true, then,” ex
claimed General Herndon, seizing the young
man by the shoulders and searching has
face fox- some clue that he expected to find
there.
“Did I ever?” said Airs. Fincannon.
In?
r S'
HIGH SHERIFF PALMER.
“Where’s my fur-seein' specks? I believe
in my soul I’ve lost ’em.”
“Father, I think you and Mr. Otis—l
mean Air. Maxwell could find some com
fortable chairs in the library. You have
been on your feet the whole morning.”
Poor child! She was afraid the eager
young man would make his second request
before them all.
“And won’t you come with us?" A.'axwell
asked.
"If you are sure I’ll not lie in the way
of your rem niscences and explanations,”
lie replied.
An<l so it happened that when they all
gathered at dinner there was a good deal
of happiness at the hospitable board. Ethel
was radiant, and Ous Maxwell abandoned
himself to the joys that only young lovers
Know. Compared to tnese two, Susy and
Burrell were comparatively sedate.
“Perhaps 1 ought to explain why I have
been masqueraamg under a part of my
name," sa.d Otis Maxwell during dinner.
“No, no!” protested the general. "We
have had explanations enough, and they
have all been satisfactory. For a while let
us all be happy.”
At that moment there was a noise in the
hall, a noise as of some oner trying to at
tract attention by tapping gently against
ihe wall with a stick. Uncle Cato, who
was waiting on the table, went to the door
in a very dignified manner to see what it
was. Before Uncle Cato had time to say
anything Blind Shack appeared in the door,
lie was dressed 111 his Sunday best.
"Young marster!” said he. Then he paus
ed, as 11 feeling his way with his voice.
“H means you, suh,” said Uncle Cato to
Otis Ala.x well.
“Well. Shack, what it is?” the young man
asked.
"Wuz dat yo’ fo’tune, suh?”
In a flash Otis .Maxwell remembered his
meeting with Sna<k in the woods, and he
repxieu;
•Go away, nigger. 1 feel too good!”
Shack went out douliii u up with laughter.
“Well,” riamrKed Airs. Fiucamioii, wuh
something; very much like a sigh, "if you
ad had a let me trail old Beasa-y out, I’d
’a’ been ready to ax a blessxn’ just now.”
EPILOGUE.
Gentlest of gentle readers (Air. Howells
says you are a woman, and it is to be hoped
he is right, for who else will have tixe
patience or the curiosity to look beneath
lhese crude episodes to see if the breatlx
of life is pulsating there'j—gentlest ox gen
lie reaueiu, no y. ix Know way tne end uas
been leaexxed : It is necuuse xxa.ipines-i is com
monplace. its history wouiu be null and
monotonous; its deiaas would be fatiguing.
Contentment is a fat little pony that is >oun
curried, ri.xy the word, and its whole rec
old is before you and nothing can be added.
Therefore, when hxippiness and content take
possesion of Herndon Wood the pen stops,
the curtain falls, ami out go the lights that
have made it sp etacular.
THE END.
N//./.A /’ GltlEF.
She seems scarcely more than a child, then
why
Are her eyes tear-dimmed, and why that
sigh
From those lips, whose quivering seems to
tell—
In the mute, heart-language cur eyes know
H 11
Wh.tt this grief may be which r«morsel • ly
Casts a shade where sunshine alone should
be?
Our pool’ hear s m ed furrowing, little one,
And this silent glief in your spring begun
Will prepare your soul for a harvesting
Which the angels glean after souls take
wing—
For 1.0 bravery seiirs as great to me
As these sorrows suffered thus silently.
—E. AL Weiler.
A
! 1 ?
I ' •
-4:5? H 1 Wifi k u
\ - : -s
'U
WHY UNCLE SAM’S GOLD GOES ABROAD.
Cut the ropes with which he is tied against defense and see how quickly
he can take care of himself.
TALESOFA MINER. '
now aozn ir.<s foua /> ittut: vat- :
TVE CEE I E MIXES.
ONE MAN GOT SBO,OOO OUT OF IT.
That was as A.iich as lie Wanted Accord-
ing to the Tradition, ami He AVeut
Off and Bought Him a Farm.
Battle Branch C. ’’ch. Lumpkin County,
Geomla. July •«. -_> '-til.i—Perhaps no
gold mine in the world It. s had a more
chequered career than that ki own as Battle
Branch.
Seated upon a rock by the tiny 'stream ;
w hence it takes its name,y >ur correspondent
listened with intense interest to the stories i
told of its wonderful yields. anA the con- j
tests which have been waged for its pos- ;
session. ;
The principal speaker was a miner named 1
Gayden, who for forty-five years has been I
digging ami delving into the heart of the '
mountain for its precious treasure. The .
listeners were Mr. W. G. AlcNelley, the {
present lessee of the mine. Captain F. W. ,
Hall and several other gentlemen.
“My proper name is Guyton,” said he.
byway of explanation, “but ever since my
father br light me here, over fifty years
ago. the people have pronounced it Gay
den.' so that 1 was forced to accept their
pronunciation, in order to have a name at
all.”
After composing himself under the shade
of a small hickory tree, Mr. Gayden went
on:
"About the first work I ever did here
was away back in 1850. An Englishman,
John Hock, x.iiull, came around on horse
back one ilay. ami said he was going to
work the mine, which had not been touched
since the first workers had deserted it for
California. He selected a spot over on the
eastern side of the mountain for his cabin,
into which lie brought his wife in a few
days, and w ik began. He employed about
a dozen men, who at once began a power
fill attack. All were full of hope, and
worked with a will, for Hockenhull had a
way about him of attracting the good opin
ion of all who came in contact with him.
A. month passed away, and then two, and
■
,- v #•. a
V ; - ,l|
---'•; Ai?t »
W%*“ ? - ; M
~ •~~ ? - " Z <J> „?X-T'-1
THE LITTLE GIANT AT PLAY.
Showing How Earth and Kock Are Broken Up to Disc! ;se the Hidden Gold.
an immense cut had been mad * in the hili,
but with no result. Hoekenhul. s siii.it
began to droop, and. owing to the giving
out of all his money, the men w re be
coming dissatisfied for their pay. Still they
worked on, until finally Mr. Hockenhull
called them from work one m rr.ing about
9 o’clock.
“Boys,” said he» “I have spent all my
money trying to find gold in this mountain.
Not only’ that, but 1 have worn out my
ere’.it in getting supplies. As they say in
England, I am at the end ol my tether.
But 1 am confident as I live that there is
gold there, and that we can strike it yer.
If you will continue t » work the mine, I
wili be able to pt.y you. all I <w-». but if
you do not want to work any lor.- er I will
not blame you. You have done better than
I could have asked, and I leave the whole
matter with you.’
"He then stepped eff and the men dis
cussed the sltuati n. With ihe exception of
one man, they decided that it would be a
PRICE FIVE CENTS
I waste of time to work any further, and
, so notified Mr. Kockenhull.
i “ ’All right, boys.’ he said, ‘I will pay
I you what I owe you as soon as I can.’
“The solitary miner who reman l -d went
j back to the cut with Mr. Haokenhull ar 3
j o’clock that afternoon. At the first touch
of his pick a hard substance was struck,
! and inside of five minutes the earth was
• cleared away from as pretty a pocket of
gold as you ever saw. There it was in
solid nuggets from the size of a pi-i ’o that
of an ae.m. Mr. Hock ahull sat oown in
amazement, overcame Dy the cn ige of
fortu . ■ Which h : i 1 Ollie to him. Tie other
miners, who had been hanging around,
came up an I st< d in a gi >dp v i 1
tli- 1 yellow piece* as th.-y were thi-.•wn up.
Until “ »>i| l ’ul it •-i.it
u - the nuggets until ti p. k U va.~ cleared
out, when the find was> found to be 2.An)
pennyweights. This was enough to pay
> up all the men, to clear Mr. Hockenhull’s
debts elsewhere and to give him a surplus
: to keep on in the future.
[ “From that time on there was a wonderful
streak of luck. The next pocket struck
, yielded 9.000 pennyweights, another 4,0)0,
1 and s<> on. Finally Mr. Hockenhull gave it
J up, carrying off with him, as he told me,
i SsO.OOO in gold. He said that that was all
' the money he wanted, and he went
* into Dawson county, where he
j bought an Etowah bottom plantation, and
lived well until his death.
“Afterwards*- on Unuk-l Mr. Gayden,
“when he used to drive past here to Dahlon
ega, he would stop to see how the old mine
was panning out. On his last trip 1 had a
long talk with him, in which he spoke
about the ol 1 days.
“ ‘That was a terrible night for me. Gay
dan,’ said he, when we struck that first
pocket. I was a stranger in the country,
alone in that cabin with my wife and little
children. The desolation 1 felt in the morn
ing over my failure, was changed into ter
ror at night by my success. Ho much gold in
the house was a temptation to hundreds
of men. I had not only robbery to fear,
but perhaps the murder of my family in
order to dear the way for possession of the
money. 1 put the nuggets under one of the
hearthstones, in a hole which I scratched
out with my hands. I pulled one of the
chinks <r>it of the chimn y and covered
some nuggets in there. Afterwards I would
fill bottks with nuggets, and put them
into the bottoms of trees. After a while as
1 sat in my d >r, I could see a source of
danger in almost every tree and behind al»
i most every rock and covering. It was thug
. that I came to the conclusion that thia
kind of living was full of too much doubt,
so little by little. 1 began moving my treas
ure, either to Dahlonega or to Atlanta.
Every trip I took with me one or two bot
tles or jugs, until 1 had the whole away.
It amounted to JSh.OWO which I concluded
was quite enough for me.’
“Hut the old man’s first love was strong
with him. One day. while Captain Imboden
was in charge of the mine, ue .‘truck some
rich quartz rock. The pieces a -e yellow
J with gold. I was told to carry a pailful to
| Dahlonega wh re Imt odc :w • to let fcim
I see them. I found Mr. Hock- until in tiAvn
; sitting in his buggy. He beckoned me tc
t him, when 1 showe • h.m what 1 had. He
: looked at them ataer.t-mlndeuly, as if ne
j aid not know what they were, it was oy
c short time before his death, and h s mind
| was failing, ••'•■any others up, talk
k! and. picWng* up
