A Plucky One

Front matter

Y MRS. GEORGE E. SPENCER AUTHOR OF "SALT LAKE FRUIT,'' "THE STORY OF MARY.' etc., etc. LONDON JOHN AND ROBERT MAXWELL MILTON HOUSE, ST. BRIDE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS AlsD SHOE LANE, FLEET STREET, E.C. [All rights reserved] TUB MILTON LIBRARY OF POPULAR AMERICAN AUTHORS Crown 8vo. cloth extra. Price 3s 6d. each. WHO IS GUILTY ? By Philip Wools, M.D. THE MAGIC OF A VOICE. By M. E. Madarlane. THENEW MAN AT ROSSMERE. By Mrs. J, H, Walworth. AS COMMON MORTALS. RU HAINA H. A story of Afghan Life. By Evan Stanton. Other Volumes are in preparation and will be pub lished at short intervals. Selectedfrom thebest American Literature, printed and bound in a superior manner these volumes will be found very suitable for presentation. London: J. & R. MAXWELL, Milton House, 14 & 15, Shoe Lane, Fleet St., AMD 35, St. Bride St., Ludgate Circus. E.C. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

"WITH HOPES HIGH BURNING." DASHING along the road, crossing the wide valleys and the wonderful natural passes of the mountains, came four strong horses with a stout carriage. And what a happy party ! Father, mother, a boy of five, and a baby girl in the arms of her colored nurse. They were coming into the interior of Nevada to make a great fortune, and noble plans of helpfulness filled their hearts " with hopes high burning," sayeth an old song. And their hopes burned even to the glorious skies spread above this wild and romantic country — skies of such beauty, an atmosphere of such clearness that its inhalation invigor ates like a tonic. Six months before Owen Merilton, the head of the party of travelers, was living in Virginia, and " doing a good busi ness." He was not rich, but he had enough of this world's goods to have a pleasant, pretty home and a contented wife.

A clever and active man of thirty-five, he had come of that which is most dear to the Virginian's heart, an aristocratic family, and seven years before had married sweet Eliza Knowlton, the belle of his native town. Seven happy years they had been to her and to him too until bitten by that asp of American life, the desire to be rich •that viper whose fangs once fastened in a good American's honest heart, makes all pleasure, like the Dead Sea fruit, turn to ashes on his lips. Thus it was with Owen Merilton in the quiet town of old Virginia. Money accumulated so very slowly ; the best years of his life were gone, and he had only a competence. To add to his discontent, he had of late been receiving letters from an old acquaintance who was living in the in terior of Nevada. Captain Alcorn had commanded the company in which Owen, a mere boy, had fought during the Civil War.

As a lad he was brave and daring, a favorite with his comrades, and had always cherished the kindliest memories of those with whom he had gone through that bitter struggle. This Captain Alcorn wrote to Owen that he had discovered a very rich gold ledge in the hitherto almost unknown camp of Cetewayo, and offered him the half of it for the small sum of five thousand dollars. " I would not think of taking this from any other fellow in the world. But I know you are ambitious, capable, and can raise ready money. A very little ready money will realize to you an immense fortune. I have been at Bodie, was one of the original locators, and I have never seen any such prospect as this. I make the first offer to you, and will give you thirty days to consider the proposal. If I don't hear from you by that time, I will close with some parties in the neighboring town of Nappias.

To them I can sell for several thousands more, but I would like to have you for my partner. So I write first to you. And with this immense ledge of rich rock a few thousands more or less are of slight consequence." This letter was the bomb that, thrown into Owen's quiet life, shattered its peacefulness into ruins. Full of excite ment, he had come home from his office the hour he received it, and walking into the room where his wife, with her " with hopes high burning." 1 1 baby at her breast, smiled love and welcome upon him, he said : " Eliza, I am weary of this quiet life, this slow, up-hill grind of putting penny to penny as the years go on. Are you plucky enough to go with me to the wilds of Nevada, where we can dig out our fortune in a few months ? Or shall I leave you here, among your friends, and face the new life alone ?

" Paling a little, for with a woman's quick instinct, she felt, rather than knew, the consequences of such an abrupt breaking of old ties and associations, she gave her little girl to the waiting nurse before she answered : " Darling, you are my life. No new country can be strange and wild to me if I have you. I will go with you, anywhere, and be content so long as you are happy." Touched by her love, he stooped and kissed her ; but his eyes, already fixed on the wonderful castle of his hopes, looming up before him, looked beyond the lovely face up raised to his. Selling every thing as advantageously as possible, they had said farewell to their friends and relatives, and with faithful old Em, the baby's nurse, had turned their faces toward the setting sun. There had previously been some correspondence be tween Owen and Captain Alcorn, the owner of the rich discovery.

Owen agreed to take the half at Alcorn's price if the ledge realized his description. He commissioned Alcorn to have built for his family a small frame house of six rooms, and Alcorn had sent a box of immensely rich rock for Merilton to have assayed. " A fair sample of the ledge," he had written. The assays went " way up in the thousands," and already Owen felt himself a millionaire. He was a noble fellow, filled with the kindliest sympathy for the unfortunate, and always ready to stretch out the helping hand to the needy. "And now, love," he would say, during those busy weeks of preparation, " we need no longer help as niggards. We will soon have the golden key that unlocks the gate to peace and plenty. Never shall you grieve again over those we can not aid. We'll build homes for the decrepid, col leges for the student ; and make Em independently rich," he added, smiling at the old colored woman's open-mouthed wonder.

By the time Alcorn's letter arrived, saying that the furni ture shipped had reached Cetewayo, and the house was ready for their occupancy, they were ready to start. The leave-taking was sad. Partings are always painful when we leave those we love ; and, though Owen felt sure that a year at furthest would see them back again — "with all the money we will ever want," he said to his mother — still it was hard for the stately old lady to keep back her tears. And Eliza had to part with a dear and only brother, who had been most devoted to the little sister, committed to his care by their dead parents. Em and Harry Merilton were the only ones for whom the separation brought no pangs. The boy was impatient to be off, and have a pick, " to mine just like a man." And Em's whole affection being centered on " Miss 'Liza and her chillen," she was happy to be wherever they were.

All her leisure time was spent in bragging to her friends of the wonderful things " Mars' Owen was gwine to do, when he made his fortune." " I guess we'll never have no more iron shoes to our horses," she'd say, with a toss of her turbaned head ; " jes' pure gol' and nuffin else." When once started on the journey, and while rushing across the continent with the speed and comforts of mod- " with hopes high BURNING." 13 ern travel, Owen's hopes wakened echoes in Eliza's heart. She who had ever been readiest with sympathy for him was not now lacking. Mining was their sole topic, with the wonderful results to be accomplished by the wealth that was surely to be theirs within the year. They had left Virginia in April. Already the sweet breathed violet was peeping out its pretty head in the wood lands, and in Eliza's garden the hyacinths were in bloom.

But in Nevada the snow lay everywhere. They had stopped a few days on account of storms at Eureka, one of the most successful mining camps of the West. To them it seemed an extremely picturesque town, with its irregularly-built cottages climbing up the mountain side, but as soon as the roads were declared practicable, they started off, impatient to reach their destination. They had a very pleasant trip, traveling in the most luxurious and expensive manner. In Eureka Owen had told Eliza of his arrangements for the long ride, that was usually made in the stages. When she remonstrated, be cause of the expense, she was silenced by his ready answer : " Why, love, in a year at furthest, we'll be immensely rich ; let us be comfortable now." He had always been her law and guide, for she loved him ; there fore she said no more.

As they climbed the steep mountain road, crossing the last range that lay between them and Cetewayo, the driver looked around and told Mrs. Merilton that in a few moments they would be in sight of the camp. They reached the summit, and a glorious view burst upon them. To the left of the canyon the rocks, like mighty fortresses, stood out from a gently sloping hillside ; opposite, in every variety of form, the great mountains topped and o'ertopped each other. Snow, with its dazzling brightness, covered these, while the brown rocks that faced the wintry giants, had not a vestige of its white mantle. In little clusters, looking like pigmies in this grand company, were the small cabins that composed the camp — some of logs, some of canvas, and some unpainted lumber. And on the sunny side, under the great brown rocks that looked down protectingly, was a small cottage of new lum ber ; tiny enough, but large in comparison with the still tinier cabins in the hollow of the canyon.

" There's your home, ma'am," the driver had said, point ing to the cottage. " The captain chose that site, for the view. You can see right through a cleft in the rocks, twenty miles across the valley." Her home ! Eliza's eyes grew misty as she looked at the little cottage, without a single beautifying tree or shrub about it. The fair mansion she had left, with its smooth lawn, carefully tended garden, its rippling stream, and the noble trees rose before her. But she was brave as well as loving, so the mist cleared away from the soft brown eyes, and the sweet mouth wore a smile for Owen, when he turned to say : " Can you be content in that mite of a house ? " " Any place is large enough for me when I have those I love with me," she answered. But he hardly heard her, so busy was he with his thoughts.

That voice had been his sweetest music until this fatal desire to be very rich had fastened upon his heart. And now he could not spare the time to listen to it. " Are you ready, ma'am ? " asked the driver, and when Mrs. Merilton bowed, he fixed the brake, tightened the reins, and down the steep road they dashed, making Em's black face pale with affright. Rushing upon the little camp like an avalanche, they did not, apparently, create even a ripple of excitement, nor awaken the slightest interest. " WITH HOPES HIGH BURNING." 15 Several men looked up from a door, above which a pair of antlers proclaimed it to be the butcher's shop, but these strangers, coming to this wilderness from the great world, did not even cause a cessation to their gossip. A very old man hobbling across the open space in front of the one store did not turn his head.

Only the children, ragged and dirty as it is possible for children to be, stopped their play to stare at the strangers. All that broke the silence was the barking of dogs. And these rushed out in such num bers that Harry privately assured Em this was " Dog town," and then " No one seems glad to see us," he said with quivering lips. • It was a steep pass up to their little cottage, seeming impossible for a vehicle. " But I'll do it, ma'am," said the driver, vexed in his heart that the citizens of Cetewayo should have manifested so little interest in the coming of " Mr. Merilton and party." Again Em's face blanched, but the feat was accomplished quickly. Up the face of the mountain went the carriage, and with a clatter and rolling of rocks under the horses' hoofs, the driver reined in the team at the door.

Jumping down, he held out his hand to the sweet lady who had ever a smile on her face during the hours of their long ride, wishing her " good-by and good luck." Already Owen was at the cottage door talking eagerly to a tall, slender man, with a smiling face. He seemed to have forgotten them. So Eliza, with a word of thanks, put her hand in the driver's and jumped lightly to the ground. Harry came next, then Em and the baby. Em, muttering to herself, " Dat man knows nuffin 'bout helpin' down a lady," marched, nose in air, into the house, while Mrs. Merilton joined her husband. " Eliza, my friend, Captain Alcorn. Mrs. Merilton, my wife," said Owen. A PLUCKY ONE. Eliza cordially held out her hand. Determined to like her husband's friend, she saw nothing displeasing in the face of the man who had just been presented to her, and hardly noticed that the blue eyes, after glancing at her for a moment, looked down, as if in embarrassment.

Yet the pall that had fallen on her heart at her strange welcome to the mountains did not lift. She did not allude to it, how ever, as she gave a kind greeting to the gentleman for, despite a certain roughness of garb, such he seemed. " I fear, Mrs. Merilton," — Captain Alcorn's voice was soft and pleasing — " you will find this but a poor place to live in." And the lady replied : " I don't mind the place, Captain Alcorn. The people make the place for me. I shall try to make a home here for my husband and children. And when we are settled, I hope you will find it attractive enough to come often to see us." They both smiled ; and then Eliza followed Em into the house, while Owen, Captain Alcorn and some men who had been called to assist, brought in the trunks and boxes. With different arrangements of furniture, with the addition of ornaments, curtains and pictures, the little cottage soon looked homelike.

So, when Owen came in to a late dinner, he found pretty rooms to rest in. His wife, flushed and tired, yet smiling her sweet welcome on him, as in their home in the far away Virginia. Wearied out, they all slept well. And the morning sunlight awakened them to a busy day. After breakfast, Owen was off to the mine with Captain Alcorn, while Eliza and her lieutenant, Em, had their hands full in attending to the children and unpacking.

Chapter II

"MAKING ACQUAINTANCES." THE days passed quietly. They were all growing accustomed to their mountain home. Harry had become a famous climber of rocks, and baby Hannah was toddling about highly pleased with herself and all the world. Em ruled in the kitchen, keeping a number of Indians busy bringing water from the spring, and chopping wood for her. On her arrival the Indians in the camp had congregated in numbers, wild with curiosity at seeing a woman near their color and not of their kind. They had soon caught the word " nigger" from the white children in the camp, and much to Em's indignation called the Merilton's house the nigger " Wickiup." At first she had been much alarmed at the strange figures of the Indians, who sat on the rocks and waited for hours for a peep at her face. It was a motley crowd.

There were old men dressed after the fashion of the whites, but with sometimes three and four shirts, hanging one below the other. Younger bucks dressed in the same way and often decorated with many-colored handker chiefs tied on their arms, and with streaks of green, red and black paint on their faces. These were tokens that they were courting some dusky maiden. There were old squaws, hideous, wrinkled and attired in rags and tatters ; and pappooses, with their nakedness barely hidden by the odds and ends of garments of all sizes and varieties. The younger squaws were generally pretty, and were often neat in their dress. Their eyes were large and bright, their thick black hair was " banged ; " their very red lips and white teeth constantly showed, as they were constantly laughing. They were a heedless, happy group, caring for nothing beyond present needs.

Those needs being easily supplied by a good meal, Em soon got on famously with them. Giving them plenty of " teacup," as they called food, and in return, having them do what she called " odd chores." Eliza felt a deep interest in these strange, wild people. The first morning after their arrival, while they were at breakfast, she was startled and delighted by the vision of a lovely Indian face pressed close to the window. The large, dark eyes were as soft as a gazelle's, but the girl's sweet smile was more sad than happy. She seemed to belong to a different class from the other merry and care less young squaws, and seemed to fear a hideous old Indian woman who stood close beside her. Raising the window and giving her some sugar and bread, Eliza asked her name. Receiving her gift with the grace and dignity of a queen, she shook her head, as if she did not understand the words spoken.

And then with the same dignified grace, resigned to the greedy clutch of the old squaw every thing she had just received. This awakened Harry's indignation. He jumped from his chair, filled with sugar the pretty hands of the girl, and shaking his fist at the old squaw, said : " Don't you dare touch that." At which the old woman, grinning hideously, took the girl's arm and drew her away from the window. But after a time, Harry and the old squaw became good friends, as indeed he did with most of the Indians. They were always kind to children. The Indian children shared the meals the elders would earn, dipping their hands into the plates, and helping themselves without invitation or correc tion, all these manners and customs interesting Mrs. Merilton, whose chief pleasure just now was their study.

The history of the beautiful Indian girl, she heard from some of her visitors. Not of the same tribe as the others, the girl had been stolen when a child, and married to a tall, cruel looking, yet rather handsome Indian, named Pete. This lovely young creature was cruelly treated by her " man," as they called their husbands, but she found a warm friend in Eliza. A custom that seemed odd to Mrs. Merilton was, that the Indian women had no names, but were known only by the names of their " men," as " Pete's squaw," " Bill's squaw ; " yet, if given a name by the whites, they would adopt it, even among themselves. So she called the pretty girl " Nora." And Nora, as she henceforth became, was always welcome in Em's kitchen. From her no labor was exacted, and for her always a warm meal ready. Getting " fair play out of the Indians " kept Em in a constant battle and excitement.

She would rush to " Miss 'Liza " with a history of her grievances, vowing each day " dat's de las' time I'll let dem Injuns come in my kitchen." Yet each day they came for their meals, and each day Em would valiantly battle for her rights. Eliza saw much less of her husband now, than when they were in Virginia. After a hasty breakfast and a hastier kiss for wife and children, Owen would mount his horse and start for the mine. And when he came home in the even ing he would be so absorbed in thought, that he would hardly notice any one or any thing. He had closed the bargain with Alcorn for two-thirds of the ledge called " The California," on consideration of five thousand down, and that he should pay all expense of workings. " The ledge looked splendidly," he had told his wife, and had brought her some rock filled with gold that he had picked off the " dump."

He had put several men at work on the ore, and had made an offer for the five-stamp mill, with water right, that was situated between their house and the little camp. The mill, water right, and a mine, upon which considerable work had been done, were owned by some California parties. One of the partners, wanting to retire, would sell his share, one-half of the property, for fifteen thousand dollars. Owen went through the mine with Alcorn, when, being impressed by him of its great value and the absolute necessity of the mill to work " The California " ore, he offered the owners ten thousand cash, on condition of having the entire use of mill for one year. This offer was accepted. And now, with his working capi tal reduced to ten thousand dollars, he started a number of men on " The California," sent to Nappias for first-class engineers and mill men ; had a road built from mine to mill ; and expected to " start up " the mill on the famous rich rock in a few days.

" And then, Eliza," he said, in one of the few hurried moments he spared to her from his varied and engrossing business, " we will lay the first stone of the great tower of our fortune." Owen superintended every thing himself, deferring on mining matters to the judgment of Captain Alcorn, in whose ability and sincerity he thoroughly believed. The captain came very rarely to the house, preferring to see Owen in the small frame building dignified by the name of office. He had called once on Mrs. Merilton, on one of their first evenings in Cetewayo, and talked chiefly of the people in the camp. He said they were extremely vulgar, and profane — even the children could not be excepted. But they would call in force on her, so Mrs. Merilton could judge for herself. Then he smiled in a manner that implied con tempt for these poor creatures, with whom a gentleman was forced to associate.

Eliza's curiosity, if she had any, was soon gratified. For every woman and child in the camp, attired in their "best bib and tucker," made her a formal visit. At all hours, the most unseasonable, there would come a rapping at the door, and a fresh visitor would be found there waiting a welcome. She knew there were not many people in the camp, the whole number of whites not exceeding one hundred ; and would wonder where all these visitors could spring from. She had been prepared to meet countrified people, very bashful and ill at ease, but was, however, completely puzzled by the self-possession of these women and children who trooped into her sitting-room, choosing always the most comfortable seats. Perfectly un mindful of any inconvenience they were causing their host ess by their long and untimely visits, they were interested only in the latest fashions, upon which they would descant by the hour.

Yet, of course, there were exceptions to the rule. Thus Eliza found herself attracted by the elder sis ter of a large family of orphaned little ones. Herself only a young girl, she was nobly striving to fill the place of guide and mother. Uneducated, yet there was about her an in nate loveliness of womanhood that won Mrs. Merilton's heart, so she was the only one who received a cordial invita tion to come whenever she could, " for you are always wel come," Mrs. Merilton said. " Thank you, Mrs. Merilton," the girl had answered, blushing with pleasure at the lady's kind words. " But I fear that I can not come often. There is a great deal to be done where there are so many children. I try my best, but am ashamed I can not do better. And the poor children ! Don't think ill of them if they are rude and rough.

They've had so little teaching ; have grown up wild, and uncared for, as the sage brush." And the girl's eyes had glistened with tears, as she made this plea for the wild little band she was vainly trying to soften and restrain. Mrs. Merilton took her hand as if they were friends, holding it, as she said : " Dear girl ! I believe we are judged, not by what we do, but by our opportunities and ability. Were I in your place, I do not think I could do so well. Even if you can not spare the time to call, think of me as a friend. And should you need a friend let me know, and I will not fail you." Then, most rare demonstration for her, she kissed the girl's cheek, and stood on the doorstep, watching her go down the mountain path to the road below. When she looked back and kissed her hand, Eliza felt a thrill of pleasure, for she knew those few kind words had brightened a trying life.

Before May was half over every woman in the camp, with one exception, had called on Mrs. Merilton. And finding these fashionable people of Cetewayo well versed in at least this rule of etiquette, Eliza had returned their calls within the prescribed week. Their homes were mostly cabins of one room, wherein they lived, cooked, slept, entertained their company, and discussed the latest style in which to make up their calicoes or trim their hats. With her return visit the acquaintance generally ended, for, with the exception of Eleanor Hill, the young girl who had so attracted her, Mrs. Merilton did not please the critics of this mount ain camp. They felt contempt for a woman who could afford to keep a servant and wear silks, yet was so indiffer ent to the fashions. Em's nose went higher and higher, and she kept up a con stant muttering about " poor white trash," while the ladies of the town were gratifying their curiosity by calling on her mistress.

" I wouldn't hab 'em come to see me, and how Miss 'Liza can have de patience to 'low sech trash to come and take up her valerable time, jes' s'prises me," she would say to her pots and pans, with an extra flourish as she put them in place. As for herself, she treated with contempt their invitations to call upon them. For in the far West, while a mining camp is in its infancy and has not reached even the vigorous youth of success, there are no grades in society. All men and women, black or white, ignorant or cultured, pure or foul, are spoken of as equals. The Chinese alone stand as things apart. Excellent miners, especially in placer digging, they keep to themselves, and, except in the relation of laundrymen or restaurant keep ers, have rarely any intercourse outside of their own com munity.

The one exception in the camp, who had never yet called on Mrs. Merilton, washer nearest neighbor. At the foot of the mountain, whereon Eliza's house was situated, was a small log cabin of two rooms. Here this neighbor lived with her father. The windows were shaded by snowy cotton curtains, and the ground around the cabin, being less rocky than anywhere else in the camp, was cultivated into a really pretty garden. The public road ran between this little place and the trail that led to the Meriltons' cottage. Eliza had never chanced to be near enough to seethe face of this neighbor, but her figure was tall, and inmost beautiful pro portions, and her movements were vigorous and graceful — thus much distance did not conceal. And Harry, who was always begging to run down to see her, said she was a " regular trump."

She let him go into her stable, feed her horse, and gather the new-laid eggs, and always told him to come again whenever mamma called him home, so he didn't see why mamma should be so afraid of his tiring " Kath," as he familiarly called this rather grand-looking young woman. For she liked him and he liked her, and he meant to marry her when he grew up. He had told her so. And she had promised to wait. As she didn't like men, she thought they were a mean lot, and he was a heap nicer, being a boy. All of which valuable information the little fellow gave his mother, while he was lying full length on the floor at her feet, rolling his curly head, and looking as wise as a pair of laughing blue eyes would let him. Em, too, was an ally of " Miss Kath's." She was a " real lady," Em said. And lady, Eliza knew her to be, though she had never spoken to her, and though, to her amazement, she rode horseback astraddle, like an Indian squaw.