- (gr it 11 'Hit IIR :11f'ifilt i It I 4 nrcr"'1 AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. fJET "Vol. "VI. New Bloomflcld, Tuesday, iignet 27, 187S. INo. 35. ?r . its published bvskt Tuesday mornino, bt FRANK MORTIMER & CO., At New Bloomfleld, Perry Co., Ta. Uelnpt provided with Steam Power, and large Cylinder and Job-Presses, we are prepared to do all kinds of Job Printing In -good style and at Low Price. ADVERTISING RATKSl TramimiH Cents per line for one Insertion. 12 " " two Insertions 15 " " three insertions. Business Notices In Local Column 10 Cents f er line. Notices of Marriages or Deaths Inserted free. Tributes of Respect, tc, Ten cents per line. YEARLY ADVERTISEMENTS. Ten Lines Nonpareil one year 110,00 Twenty lines " " " I W OO H.For lonffer yearly adv'ts terms will be given ilipou application. A Treacherous Friend OR An Incident in the Mines. SOCIETY at Monto Hill was based upon the broad principle that so long as a vmau made his living honestly, paid his debts when he could, and minded his own business, it was nobody's affair but his own whence he came, what was his name, or whither he proposed betaking himself when tired of the brilliant society, beauti ful scenery and bracing atmosphere of the Hill. The hero of this story chanced somehow or other, when he first come to the Hill, to speak of Copenhagen, alluding, probably to the Danish capital. From that time -forward he was always referred to as " Co penhagen," until he came to know and an swer to the name as well as if his mother bad called him by it in his childhood. In deed, I fancied that for some private reason he preferred to be known by this soubri quet rather than by the name lie had re ceived from his parents, for I chanced to be standing by when he answered a ques tion touching his personal identity by say ing, " Dey call me Copenhagen;" and the township assessor told me he was entered so on his book; which I thought extremely odd, too, for those continental Europeans, as a general thing like to see their name spread pretty extensively on paper. I have thought that some of them get married, t and others die, for no other purpose under .heaven than to get their name in print. I have intimated that Copenhagen was a continental European. I learned that from .his accent; I might have discerned it from his personal appearance. He was tall, straight and muscular, with regular feat ures, fair complexion, blue eyes and flaxen hair altogether rather of the Apollonio than the Herculean type. But the manly 'beauty of his features was almost constant ly oversliadowed with an expression of sad ness, obscuring the natuial joyousness which should have rested there; as when a .laughing brook is covered with a season's .ice, or the sun is for four weeks at a time veiled behind wintery clouds. Yet as the .ice is thawed and the clouds rifted, so the shade was somewhat lifted from Copenha gen's countenance, and he seemed to ovor Uow.with exuberant enjoyment. At such timet he was quite companlonable,abound ing hr felicitous small talk and numerous anecdotes, which derived additional charm from his foreign idiom and accent, singing melodious Scandinavian roundelays with much spirit, and drinking his glass of wine (he never took anything stronger) with great relish. But each of these " lucid in tervals," as some of the "boys" facetiously termed them; was sure to bo. followed by a period of depression, during which he secluded himself as much as possible from human society, treating all who ventured to intrude upon his privacy "with coldness and taciturnity that they did not care to .press their attempts at sociality. Of me alone he made an exception. I was but a boy then, just turned of eighteen, but alone in the world, and try ing as well as I could to 1111 the plaoo and discharge the re sponsibilities of a man. Copenhagen and .1 seemed to be drawn together by the sym pathetic bond of loneliness; and I used "to spend many an hour in his company when others were repelled by him with coldness almost amounting to rudeness. We never conversed much together, however, but sat ' .silently communing with our own thoughts, 'finding a strange pleasure 'in the compaiv lonship. ; ..'.. - Copenhagen had not built his cabin in the -village, as most of the miners had done for the sake of such social advantages aa Monte Hill afforded. He had placed it nearly a mile away, on a bench of a hill overlooking the little ravine in which he toiled alone, his nearest neighbors being out of sight and hearing. His cabin, built of logs, was sufficiently rude externally, but was arrang ed inside with some approach to taste and comfort. Everything within it was clean and neatly ordered; the walls were lined with muslin, and, in addition to the usual furniture of such an abode, the occupant had improvised a stationary writing-stand and some shelves for books, of which he had quite a number in a tonguo to me un known. He also received several news papers through tho newsdealer at the Hill, one of which was from Norway; whence I concluded that Copenhagen was a Norwe gian, although he avoidod all associa tion with the Norwegians in the camp, of whom there were several. He worked very industriously, but no one except himself knew with what suc cess. He always paid his way, and gave liberally to such objects as appealed to public or private charity. But whether his claim was paying five dollars per day or fifty whether he had amassed twenty ounces or twenty thousand dollars no one but himself had any idea. He never com plained of his luck or boasted of having "struck it rich;" he never made a remit tance; and if Adams & Co., had have failed at the time of which I write, they would not have owed Copenhagen a cent. Notwithstanding our friendship, ho nover confided to me the cause of his molancholy, or even remotely alluded to it, during the first three years of our acquaintance. Yet he seemed to be as certain of my sympathy as if I had known everything. But one Sunday afternoon, when I was sitting with him in his cabin, he opened his trunk, and placed in my band a miniature on ivory of a young girl of exquisite beauty of the blonde type. " Ah !" said he, as I gazed upon it with unfeigned admiration, "is not alio boauti ful?" " She is certainly very lovely," I replied.. " Yes very lovely very lovely 1" said be, softly, taking it from my hand and covering it with kisses and tears. Then, having subdued his emotion,he restored bis treasure to its hiding-place, and neither of us alluded to it again. The scene, however, impiessed me as a revelation. I was cer tain Copenhagen was the victim of unre quited affection; and I, as yet untouched by a shaft from Cupid's quiver, marveled much that a strong man like my friend should permit himself to become infatuated with an objoct which ho could never hope to attain. The days passed rapidly on; summer mellowed into autumn, and autumn con gealed into winter for Monte Hill is perch ed upon the western slope of the Sierra Nevada at an altitude which scorns the mild temperature and balmy airs which winter brings to the lower valleys of Cali fornia. With us the season was very rig orous, with boisterous winds, nipping frosts, and snow covering tho ground for months to the depth of from ten to fifteen feet Yet, though the ruggedness of our roads and the depth of the snow put sleigh ing as a pastime quite out of tho question, and no one was enterprising enough to in stitute askating rink, we passed our winters as merrily as the inhabitants of regions apparently more highly favored. The Nor wegian minors had introduced the pastime of snow-skating, so common in the moun tainous parts of their native hind; as the great bulk of our population was debarred from employment during tho greater part of the season, old and young, great and small, adopted the exciting sport with such zest, and practised it so assiduously, that after two or three seasons many of the American-born skaters surpassed their in structors in the execution of feat involving hazard or requiring special dexterity. The snow-skates are made of ash, spruce or other tough and flexible wood. Tbey are from six to twelve feet in , length, ac cording to the weight of the skater; about four inches broad, and half an inch thick, and turned up forward like ordinary steel skates. Leather straps hold the feet on the middle of the skates, the solos of which are anointed before use with "dope," com pounded of resin, tallow, lamblack, eta., the objoct of which is to cause the skates to " take hold'.' in ascending a hill, and to retard thoir speed in descending. Armed with a long stafr.siinllar to the Alpinestock used by the Swiss mountalueert, the ex pert snow-skater ascends a hill or traverses a level space about as . rapidly as he could walk upon bare ground, but in descending his speed depends upon bis own skill, and courage. The best time ever made by Fly ing Childors or Eclipse, Norfolk or Ken tucky, was slow compared with the records of somo of the contestants in the annual races of the champion belt, in Sierra county, California. Of course a novice dare not attempt such feats. He would infallibly break bis nock or split himself in two. A convenient depth of snow had accumu lated in the neighborhood of Monte Hill, and it had settled sufficiently, in the estima tion of exports, to admit of exoellent sport. For a fortnight the citizens had been pre paring for the opening day. The last year's skates had been brought forth from thoir resting-places and put in order; new ones has been fashioned, and a large quantity of dope had been prepared after a vast num ber of receipts, each warranted superior to all others. About the middle of the forenoon, two-thirds of the inhabitants of the Hill, of all ages and of both sexes, might have been seen sliding along, with the assistance of their staves, towards the summit of " Of Baldy " a favorite rendez vous, because it was almost destitute of trees or other vegotation, and, since tho ra vines and gulches were filled with the drift ed snow, it presented a clear slope of over a mile in extent, with breadth enough to ac commodate the entire multitude. There was not in all tho mountains anothor such skating ground. In the crowd on this occasion was a group of Norwegian miners, among whom was noticed a stranger apparently, from his pe culiar fur-trimmed garb, newly arrived from Norseland. When, the top of the hill having been gained, the sport commenced, the stranger attracted much attention by his rare dexterity, the effect of his perform ances being much enhanced by his pic turesque costume. Some of our skaters migrated to other parts, and there was no one in the camp who could match the new comer, unless it was Copenhagen, who, however, rarely joined us in the pastime, and was by no means expected on this oc casion. " 1 wish, though, he would happen to strike a good-humored streak, and come out here and take the conceit out of that fancy duck," said a young man who had been re garding the stranger's proceedings with en vious eyes. " And here be comes," said another who hod turned his glance in the direction of Copenhagen's cabin. " Now we'll have some fun." The tall, strong figure forced its way briskly along the hillside, and soon Copen hagen, in one of his good-humored fits, stood among his frionds. He had never seemed in better spirits, and when reques ted to measure his skill with the stranger, he readily assented. " If he beat me, well ; if I beat him so," said he. Then gliding down to where the stranger was exercising on the hillside, he wheeled so as to meet him face to face. Each of them suddenly rocoiled as if he had been struck, and those who chanced to be close to them observed that the stranger grew ghastly pale, while Copenhagen assumed an aspect of terrible sternnoss. " Erio 1" shrieked the stranger. " Jarl 1" thundered Copenhagen. The stranger was under pretty fair head way, and was carried swiftly past the place of his unexpected encounter before he could gather his scattered senses. When he had partially recovered from the shock, on look ing back over his shoulder ho observed Copenhagen bearing down upon bim in hot pursuit, and mechanically ho quickened his pace. Still nearer and nearer drew his pursuer, and still he urged his flight, until both of them seemed to be gifted with wings. Thoir course was diagonally across the face of the hill, downward along the course by which Copenhagen had come up from bis cabin. Most of the crowd fol lowed them as well aa they could, but were left far in the rear by the two Norsemen, who sped along with the celority of light ning. Still faster and faster tbey fiew,until tho lookers-on grew giddy with the sight. Only madness could have prompted them to such a reckless pace, which the bold est of . us could not contemplate witho ut shuddering. Now Copenhagen seemed al most to touch the stranger, and then the latter by a mighty effort would shoot away leaving a gap between him and his pur suer, to be quiokly closed again, The race could not last long however. They wore noaring the bottom of the hill, where was a wooded place at whioh they must check thoir speed or be almost oertaiuly annihila ted, The catastrophe which many feared aotually happened. The stranger in avoid ing one true ran against another wltU ter rible force and was thrown backward ap parently lifeless. I was among the foremost of those who had followed the contestants in the fearful race ; but before any of us could reach the spot where the stranger lay, Copenhagen had turned, and had raised the poor fellow's head out of the snow into which it hod been driven the nerveless feet had fallen from the skates, which stood upright in the snow. " My Gott I" exclaimed Copenhagen, us we came up ; " I do not want to kill bim no 1 What for he run away so fast t Here, some people bring him to my cabin, and some oder ones go for de doctor quick I He don't die yet I shall not let him die t" The Insensible form was speedily con veyed to Copenhagen's cabin, which was close at hand, and a surgeon soon arrived, who, after a careful examination, expressed the opinion that the man's injuries were not nocesBarily fatal, although his right leg and arm were broken and he had received a severe contusion on the side of the head, which might produce brain fever. "He is a strong man," said the doctor, "and with great care and good nursing may come safely through, although just now the chances look very much against him." " He will live, will live, doctor he will live," reiterated Copenhagen. "He come so far to me, he cannot die till he speaks to me." The broken limbs were set and bandaged the contusion dressed, and the necessary medicines left for the still insensible suf ferer. Copenhagen selected me to assist him in watching the patient, and would permit no other to stay, on the ground tbat the cabin was not largo enough for more ; although the Norwegians who accompanied the stranger to the skating giound seemed determined tbat one of thelrnumber should remain with him, evidently distrusting Copenhagen because of what bod occurred. Having procured a supply of bedding and other necessary articles from town, Copen hagen and I dovotod oursolves to the care of the sufferer, who only awoke to semi sensibility to fall into delirium, from which he did not recover for many days. He ra ved almost incessantly in his own tongue, and Copenhagen was often much moved by his utterance, which I did not understand. One day, when our patient was calmer than usual, Copenhagen took me by the hand, as we sat by the stranger's bedsido, and said: " My young frent, I dells you now all apout dis affair. We were young men to gedder in Norway, dis man Jarl Jorgenson and I. We loved the same beautiful girl Ilda Torson but she love ub not both ; my dear Ilda love but me alone. I have show you her picture, which you call very , love ly' I remember that " verjr lovely I" We did engage to marry. Don dis man. Jarl, was very much angry, and look around to do me harm. De opportunity was come. A man is found dead near my house. He is shot with a pistol. I have lose a pistol some time before, and dey find it by de dead man. I am arrest. Dey search me. Dere are many people In my house, and Jarl is dere. Dey find noting on my per son, but dey find somtiug of de dead man in my house. Dey find too muoli myOott! Dey make me in jail. Dou dis Jarl come to me. He say to me, 'Dere is too much proof; you will die. You must escape and leave Norway forever.' To live seem good. I do not suspect Jarl a villain. He assist me to escape. I reach Denmark; I come to America : I come here. I write many let ters.. I get none. I think a long time, and don I remember some tings. I know that Jarl bring suspicion on me, to get, me away that he may take Ilda to himself. It break my heart, yet I dare not go home. Now be is here.1 Qott have put bim in my hand. He shall live and he shall make me Inno cent, tbat I may return In peace to my homo and Ilda." "But," said I, "suppose Ilda is mar ried ? Perhaps he accomplished his design and gained her in your absenoe." "Never!" said he, with earnestness. " My Ilda love me too well she will mar ry none but me. Besides, do I no hear what he say ? My Gott, my Ilda have suf fer much for me I" "But persisted I, instigated by the spir it of perversity. " are you sure she is yet alive?" "Iam sure," he replied, ," of everthing but dispue ting, I am not sure if dey make me innocent or make me guilty." .' At length the patient' disease took a favorable turn. Tho fever was broken; the delirium left bim. I sat by bis bedside when be awoke from a peaceful slumber and looked at me iuquirlngly. Just then Copenhagen approached, and the stranger closed his eyes with a shudder. " Fear not me, Jarl," said Copenhagen, in a soothing tone, and, laying his hand caressingly on the sick man's brow ; " I forgive all if you do me right and speak me true. But sjteak not now, my child ; you are not strong. To-morrrw, or another day, you shall toll me all." Copenhagen waited patiently, however, until the third day after this, before he questioned the sufferer. "Why did you fly from me so fast?" he asked. "You looked so threatening," said the stranger, " and I knew tbat I deserved your anger." ' " Did I look so? my Gott I maybe I did ; but I would not hurt you, Jarl. I only would make yon tell me all the truth. You will tell me now ?" Jarl made a reply in his native tongue but Copenhagen said. " Speak in English you speak it well. Dis young man is my dearest friend in dis country. What I know already be knows. What I know not I wish hira to know also. Tell me, is Ilda well." " She is well, except that she grieves for you.". " And my parents, and my sisters are they well?" "They are well." " And now tell me dis and tell me true do dey make me guilty, or innocent?" " Your innocence is established. The real murderer was found, confessed his crime, and was execrted." . "Thank Gott 1 Now Jarl Jorgeason, I forgive you everything. I have no bad thought for you any more. I am too hap py 1" " You do not know," continued Jarl, with an imploring glance towards me, as if ho craved my charitable consideration, "how guilty I have boon Erio. It was I who found the murdered man's corpse, and placed beside it the pistol I had borrowed from you so long previously that you had forgotten the circumstance. It was I who conveyed the articles taken from the dead man's body to your bouse who purloined . your glove and placed it near the corpse. It was a desperate game, and might have ruined myself instead of you ; but no one suspected me except Ilda, for whose sake I had contrived and cxecutod the damnublo plot. You, who so well know and appre ciate her worth, and loveliness, can estimate the strength of my temptation. It was never my intention to cause your conviction and execution for the murder ; I was de termined from the first tbat you should es cape ; but I wished to get you out of the way, vainly hoping tbat wbon you were disgraced and banished she would loathe you and smile upon me. But I found that I had too lightly estimated hei character. She charged me directly with my treach ery, spurned my addresses with contempt, and finally demanded of me, as the price of a bumblo place in her regard, that I should seek you out and restore you to hor. I had managod, so long as you wrote to your fam ily and friends, to intercept your letters. I had preserved the name of the town where you had first sojourned after your arrival in New York, and I wrote to you there, but received no answer, I then went there in search of you and found that you hod gone to California. I followed, and have been seeking you here forsoroo months without success, until your sudden ap pearance at the skatlng-ground so fright ened mo. I have long ago repented of the evil I did you ; and now, if you can forgive me I am ready to die in peace." ' " Forgive you, Jarl ? my Gott, yes a tou sand times 1 We are all woak peoples, aud . I tink many wrong tings myself, dough I do dem not. But you shall not die Jarl. You shall altogedder recover, and accom pany me borne to Norway, where we will have do grand time, such we have not in dis country. My Gott, yes ! you shall get well right away." The next day Copenhagen despatched two voluminous letters to Norway. Great at must have been bis impatience to return be restrained - it, that be might nurse Jarl until his recovery. Never was a mother more attentive to the wants of a sick child than was Copenhagen to those of bis for mer enemy. I have teen him, when. he thought . be was not observed, shedding tears at he gazed upou Jarl't wasted fea tures. ,i, ... , ; " Poor fellow I" he would say ; be , was notabadmau, after all.".. . ., , ,. , Jarl at length so far recovered as . to sit up for a few hours at a time, lie seemed to be very thoughtful and at lost informed CONCLUDED OH EIGHTH PA0B.
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