ssell groaned in spirit. Would the parent never
understand him?

"Then you expect her to remain here, sharing in all the vicissitudes
of the place? It cannot always stand still; it will either increase,
bringing with it many bad elements, or it will cease to exist and
these people will have to go elsewhere: what then of the child whom
you have left behind you?"

"Oh, by that time," airily replied the father; "she will be married to
some good honest fellow, like the parson, who seems to be fond of her,
as I know she is of him, but I will not allow her to think of marriage
for a long while to come," he added with emphasis.

Lieutenant Russell had heard all he wished. He had learned that the
father would not consent to the marriage of his daughter for a number
of years, and when that time came, he would select one of the shaggy,
uncouth miners for her life partner.

"He has never thought of _me_ in that capacity, but he will have to
entertain the thought before he is much older."

In her dreamings of the mysterious world, with its teeming multitudes
and all manner of men, Nellie Dawson was sure that none lived who
could compare with this young cavalier who had come out from that
wonderful realm into the loneliness of her mountain home, bringing
with him a sunshine, a glow, a radiance, a happiness, and a thrilling
life which she had never believed could be hers.

She often sat with her eyes upon his countenance, when, in his chair
opposite her father, he recalled those marvelous experiences of his.
To her no man could ever possess so musical a voice, and none so
perfect features and winning ways. It was young love's dream and in
her heart the sacred flame was kindled and fanned until her whole
being was suffused and glowed with the new life.

One of Lieutenant Russell's firsts acts of kindness to Nellie Dawson
was to present her with his massive dog Timon. She had shown great
admiration from the first for the magnificent brute, who became fond
of her. The maiden was delighted beyond measure and thanked the donor
so effusively that he was embarrassed. It is not probable, however,
that Timon himself was ever aware of the change of ownership, for it
brought no change of conditions to him. He had learned to divide his
time about equally between the home of the lieutenant and that of
Captain Dawson, while, like the young lady herself, he wandered about
the settlement at will. He was a dignified canine, who stalked
solem