ve?"

The sorrowful face of the father lit up with a faint smile as he
answered:

"Yes; thank heaven; alive and well."

"May I touch her?" timidly asked Ike Hoe, extending his finger which
faintly brushed the rosy cheek, and was instantly snatched away as if
he felt he had done a sacrilegious thing.

"I say," ventured Ruggles gathering courage, "I wonder now if she
would let me take her in my arms for a minute or so; I won't drop her;
but that's too much to ask, howsumever."

While he stood hopeful, hesitating and doubtful, Nellie with a half
frightened smile, dived her head under the arm of her father, as if to
get away from the embarrassing situation. He gently fondled the golden
hair and drew her face into view again.

"There, little one, there's nothing to be frightened at; these people
are all your friends and will do anything they can to please you."

"You're right!" exclaimed Landlord Ortigies, with a shake of his head;
"we'll do anything in the world for you; if you say the word, I'll
stand on my head or stand any one else here the same way."

And he showed an alarming inclination to invert himself for the
amusement of the child, but she did not seem to grasp the meaning of
the offer. She fixed her eyes upon Ruggles, who made bold by what
seemed a favorable sign, took a step forward and invitingly extended
his hands. She debated for a moment, whether to meet the proffer and
then with the impulsiveness of infancy leaned toward him. With a
thrill of pleasure the grizzled miner carefully placed his huge arms
underneath hers, and lifted her as if she were a doll from her
father's knee. As he did so, every one saw the big tears trickling
down his cheeks.

"I can't help it, boys," he said apologetically; "the last child I
held in these arms was my own Jennie, and she was dead."

With infinite affection, he pressed his bearded lips against the
chubby cheek, while she, relieved of all fear, flung her dimpled arms
about his neck and kissed him in return. With one hand, she lifted the
flapping hat from his head and with the other smoothed away the
luxuriant hair from his forehead.

"I like you ever so much, but you are crying," she said sympathetically;
"what makes you do that? Haven't you got a little girl like me?"

"No, my precious child; I once had just such a sweet tot as you, but
the good Lord took her from me, and I love you just as I loved her."

"And that's what we all are going to do," remarked I