The Wedge of Gold

her real name-at their summons entered the parlor he was transfixed. Just medium height was she, slight but perfect in form, with darkish-brown eyes and clear-c

could think. Once outside the house, he hailed a cab, told the driver to jog around for an hour or two, and then land hi

sew the pieces up in canvas to bring me to the surface. It is a clear case that I am gone, and what the mischief am I going to do? Suppose I brace up and try to win her, and fail, then I shall be done for sure enough. The old world so far has had no particular attractions for me, and were I to ask her to look at me, and she, like a sensible woman that she is, should first look surprised at my assurance, and then respectfully decl

ve enough to do any needed thing, you on the first real trial lowered your flag and fled in a panic. A nice fix I have got myself into. All my life, through all my dare-devil days, on the ranges in Texas, down amid the swelling clay of the Comstock, everywhere, my soul has been equal to the occa

ames of famous points of interest along the route, which had been unheeded by the absorbed oc

is Westmin

and great soldiers and schol

igh there, do they

ich was hundreds of years ago set aside for England's great dead to be b

en they get there

bie, "when they get

ace!" sai

n all England,"

en who are in a hurry to be

the best of them are no

always dreaming of going to a place and stil

k seemed to be. He drove on in silence for half an hour or forty minutes before he rallied enough t

uliar about Newgat

amous Newgate pri

lf and asked, "What d

e, "what do they do? Why, the

will charge to hang me," said Sedgwick. He

gwick got out and was walking off mechanically, when cabbie said, "Five shillings, please, sir." Sedgwick, with "O, I had forgotten," handed the man a guinea, a

went out in a moment, and an hour later when Browning, radiant, joyous, and exulting, returned, he found him there, still h

have seen her, and it is all settled. She is an angel, Jim,

hope with all my heart no cloud will ever cross the sunshi

Browning. "Does this great

ing as you came in that I had better pull out for home. T

, of course, just before midday. You will be the best man-as usual. You and my sister shall do the honors that day. All my friends will be there. I will have the ch

k that maybe I would be a little out of training for a performance of t

would not feel half married unless you were present, an

away the bride?

and Grace that before I went home to live I would have to be invited by the governor. And that reminds me, too, Jim, there must not be a word about my money. I have

away if the facts were known about my little fortune. But, Jack, could you not get along just as well without me? You ought to be in your own home a

e, and we will cabin together as of old. We will, by Jove! If he does not, then you must help me hold the f

ercival Jenvie were brought in. Browning received them, and glancing at them handed them to Sedgwick, whispering, "They ar

ied him and were presented to Jack. They were very gracious, invited Sedg

e were ladies present, but

miner, not yet a month from underground. I have lived a miner's life for years. You do not

uarters there. When you become bored you can retreat to them. You shall have a key and go and come when you please.

If I can gather the courage, maybe I

My house is but a step from Hamlin's; make it your home half the time. Re

re old-fashioned people, just up from Devonshire. What would you have thought ha

nks were packed in a few minutes, t

e to their apartments, and were informed that s

present. Grace met them at the door, shook hands with Sedgwick, and welcomed him with a word and a smile which set all hi

ht of his host; Grace took the seat at

ick with a mighty effort threw off the depression whi

t to engage him in conversation, with beautiful tact brought him to tell the company of hi

ed) I merely wandered slowly through the southwestern States, almost to the Gulf in Texas, then bending north and west again, continued until I reached th

"What was the most precious thing you

ion, it would be cruel not to te

said: "Is it true, did you an

neither of us handsomely attired. I thought h

wick," said she, "is not Texas a land

f them," wa

on where the cowboy is al

id Sedgwick, and looking across the

and good shots, are

and nearly all of them sh

at her mother, she laughed gaily and said: "If ever one of those cowboys, with broad hat and

his heart was throbbing so that h

ining in Nevada was not mostly

and clothed as well as other generous people feed and clothe their families. They want their children educated. They have, moreover, all around them examples of rich men who a year or five years previous were as humble and poor as they now are. The young men have hopes quite as sweet, purposes quite as

a watch above it. To work it everything has to be carried to it. The forest away off on some mountain side has to be felled and hauled to the spot. For many months the great Bonanza has received within it monthly 3,000,000 feet of timbers, machinery equal to that in the holds of mighty steamships has to be set in place and motion; drills are kept at work 2,000 feet

be drawn into a thread-like silk, or hammered into a leaf so thin that a breath will carry it away; it is the very spirit of the rock, the part that is imperishable. Moreover, it is labor made immortal, for, tried by fire, it grows bright and loses no grain

ation among the people they are always prosperous, their children are always educated, and the advance is so marked that it can be measured

nd carrying such hopes and aspirations in their souls

withdrawn from any class of men, they do not more and more gravitate toward savagery, for they but follow a natural law; but the tend

he glanced across the table and noticed a look of full appreciation on Ros

when the young ladies sang or played. When Sedgwick first heard Grace sing, he sat, as he said afterward, "in m

not nearly ethereal enough to want to give

pon the two old men. They were exceedingly gracious, but they gave Se

his eyes which was enough to show any miner where his bonanza was. Sedgwick was wildly smitten, himself, but he kept his wit

oat, put on slippers and lighted a cigar, crossed the hall, first tapped upon the door of Sedgwick's room, th

" was the reply. Sedgwic

ch girl in all the w

is, old boy; not anot

t an infinite grace! 'Whether she sits or stands or walk

e just that way,

flesh and blood to keep one in mind that while

o hold the precious metal

e, and so Sedgwick, quite as deeply involved, rep

himself and said: "Jack, old boy, te

with remorse ever since, that he had sought in vain to find me. And old man Jenvie, with a hearty welcome and jolly laugh, declared that I ser

eased speaking there was silence f

you thinki

ed my mind. I will stay and help you through the wedding

ur mind, Jim," said Jack.

on, for which I can give myself no tangibl

h way do the indicati

hough, as I said, it is a mere suspicion which I cannot explain to myself; only, Jack, I will stay to the wedding, and be sure to give no hint to any soul in England that I

dream of Rose Jenvie, and Jim went to bed,