not know that Walt will miss a day or two, any more than the rest of us. Well, darling; as soon as you are ready—”

"I am dressed and coming out now, papa, so you can sound the gong and let the slaves prepare the banquet at once."

They do not sound a gong, Pet, in the best Eastern society. They merely clap their hands; and then the hundred menials appear, each bearing his golden dish upon his head."

With that he clapped his own hands, and instantly lifted the cover from the stew pan, took the coffee pot off the fire, and spread out two tin plates before him. As he did so, Grace crawled out from the tent and took her seat beside him. A pleasant little figure that of a girl of eighteen--not large, but having a pretty air of dignity and self possession that was not at all unbefitting her slight, almost fragile, build, but rather seemed to supplement it with a peculiar grace which otherwise it might have been held to lack. Pleasant in face, too-pretty, with quaint, teasing, and provoking expressions, which lighted up its well-formed features with a beauty that mere form and outline alone could not possibly have given. With something of taste and piquancy in her costume; partaking of whatever could most safely and conveniently be retained in the female dress on a long and toilsome journey, together with little additions and adaptations, which, though not borrowed from the stronger sex, gave all the ease and facility of movement that a man can enjoy. Such were the half-opened vest, and the loosewaisted sacque, with pockets well placed for storing the usual requirements of travel, and the neat velvet cap slightly pulled over to the left in the wearing, and now allowed to fall entirely back, hanging on only by the strap under the chin, permitting her short thick curls to struggle free and unincumbered down either side of her face. Nestling close beside her father, with her unwounded hand she helped herself to her

share of the simple breakfast, as contentedly and with as much freedom from all nervousness about her singular situation in such a wild scenery and concourse, as though she were still in a comfortable room in her former quiet city home. And he, not for the moment speaking, partook of his own share, occasionally assisting her crippled movements, while they gazed around and noted the varying scenes about them.

Some of these, indeed, were scenes to which they had been accustomed for many weeks past. The horses and mules tethered near the tents, and endeavoring to get a scanty meal from the roots of what in the season of it might turn out to be grass; the smouldering fires dying out here and there, the blue puffs of smoke curling up and losing themselves in the tree-tops; the whitecovered wagons standing at the edge of the plain-one of them, indeed, being slowly dragged off by four oxen to another mine; the groups of men passing to their work, or sauntering listlessly across the valley, or else, their day's work not yet begun, sitting in circles before their tents--all this was already an old story to them.

But there were a few individual traits that had something of the interest of novelty. There was the Mexican gambler, for instance, who spread his oilskin cloth upon the ground at a little distance off, and upon it dealt his monte-pack; intent upon reaping large gains, but only succeeding in victimizing one person, a ragged Chilian, who, having merely a single dollar, stood idly by when he had lost it, and however sorely tempted, could not continue, and submit to further plundering. There was the Kanaka cooking his little panful of rice, and humming to himself some doleful native dirge. There was the Chinaman passing along, with the usual broad-pointed straw hat and turned-up wooden clogs, and his hair hanging down in one long plait below the line of his knees-almost as much an object of curiosity to the miners as to the Judge him

self, since at that time Chinamen were few in California and remained mostly in the cities, and it was a rare thing for one of them to stray off by himself into the interior. These and other single objects afforded abundant food for curiosity and speculation, and gave bright promise of yet more striking novelties in the city itself.

"How strange all these things seem, dear papa; do they not?" said Grace. "And to think that you had meant to leave me at home where I could never have seen them! Are you not glad now that I put down my foot, and said that I would not be left behind, but would go with you? And why indeed, should I have been left behind? Are we not all to each other, papa? And who would care for either of us if the other were gone ?"

"Glad? Of course I am, darling. You know I did not wish to leave you, but only feared for you by reason of the long journey," he said.

Yes, that was all. He would have grieved to part from her, and would not have thought of it for a moment had he not feared that the way across would be too toilsome for her. Dangerous, too, it might Dangerous, too, it might be: and that not merely from Indian tribes, but from his own comrades. For there had not been wanting friends who depicted in fearful colors the lawlessness and license to be met with upon the plains, and how that even a week of such exposure was not a safe thing for a young girl. Representing these things so pathetically and earnestly to him, indeed, that at times his resolution seemed about to give way, and he would surely have left her behind had it not been for her own invincible fortitude, puttting herself for the first time in opposition to him, and insisting upon sharing his lot, whatever that might be. Then at last he had yielded; not only because she thus pleaded with him, but because he felt all the while an inner assurance that a more kindly trust could be placed in human

nature, and that mere roughness and lack of cultivation in men, did not presuppose lawlessness and cruelty.

And he had been right. From the moment of leaving civilization behind, who so tenderly treated and regarded by all, as Grace? What backwoodsman or hunter was there in the train that did not put a pleasant face upon his gnarled features as he strode past her? Who did not hush the oath or coarse expression, when there was even the hundredth chance that she might be near? What wide influence for good, indeed, did not her presence exert upon the whole long line? Who, as he saw her sunny face peeping out from the baggagewagon, or bending at odd times over the mane of her gentle little pony, did not feel a brightness steal into his heart, making him clench his hand with the picture of any coming danger to her, and scan the horizon closer for signs of Indian foe, and swear to himself that he would fight all the harder against attack by reason of her presence? And so to her the long, long jour

ney had been no hardship, but rather a pleasant excursion, in which she had received from all sides kind attentions and deeds, and had repaid them with those smiles of gratitude which, welcome everywhere, are always a thousand times better appreciated when scattered in the loneliness and rigor of a wilderness. No; he was not sorry that he had brought her. It was all the better perhaps apart from the mere fact of their close association; for now he could feel that all his worldly happiness and hopes were with him, that there was nothing left behind for him to look back upon with uncertain lingering, that the past was indeed the past, and that the future lay spread out before him with no divided. interest.

"Look, dear papa!" she suddenly cried, breaking in upon his musing. "Has there not a new tent been put up the past night?"

So there had; a clean, white little tent,

not more than twenty feet from them, partly hidden by the lower branches of the pines that grew behind, but now that attention was especially directed to it, seeming to stand out so clear and distinct that they wondered they had not observed it from the very first. A little tent, not more than large enongh for one--a box or two being crowded outside, it would seem; and before the door a few feet one side, grazed a gray pony.

While the father and daughter looked, the flap of the tent was thrown outward and a single figure emerged. A young man, slight and well built. Not altogether unpleasing in appearance at the first sight; having well-shaped features, set off with a dark beard trimmed close to the face. At a casual glance, rather a prepossessing figure. And yet, after a moment's scrutiny, it was somehow felt that those shapely features were only a cover to some unworthy trait of character. There was a subtle, cool, crafty gleam in the eye, indicative of unruly thought, an expression that spoke of license and depravity lurking under the guise of something better. There was a sullen impress in the sharply drawn corners of the mouth, mingled with a contemptuous sneer faintly traceable in the thin, almost imperceptible lines. And even as one looked at him, the lines appeared to grow broader, until they controlled the whole expression, and from being mere inconsiderable indications of a transient emotion, gave permanent impress to it; so that when once seen the crafty sneer seemed afterward never absent, and became the real prevailing tone of the face. In fact, when, after the first careless glances of possible admiration, the face was deliberately studied, it became recognized rather as that of a man, who, naturally engaging and prepossessing, had lived a life of indolence, heartlessness, and want of principle; preserving through all, as will sometimes happen, something of his original manly bearing, but not succeeding

in retaining so well those kindly, honest, and reassuring expressions which, beneath the blight of corruption, will always fade away so much sooner than mere delicacy and bloom of feature.

For the moment he stood at the door of his tent, gazing in lazy attitude down the valley, unconscious that he was being observed. Then, recovering himself, he took from his pocket a little meerschaum pipe and filled it carefully from a bag of cut tobacco, placed the stem between his lips, and hunted in his bag for a match, making as though he would sit down and have a quiet smoke. But the match did not seem to be forthcoming, and while looking around for some substitute, his eye fell upon a piece of board, evidently a portion of the head of a barrel. This seemed to suggest a new idea; for, putting his filled pipe in his pocket, he re-entered the tent, emerged again with a hammer and a couple of nails, and proceeded to fasten the board against the front pole of his tent, above the line of his head, in the place where residents of the mines who had mercantile pursuits were wont to emblazon their business.

What was it to be? The tent was too small for a drinking saloon or grocery store, and there seemed to be no other commercial occupation adapted to the wants of the district. But the stranger speedily enlightened the two spectators; for again disappearing and reappearing, this time emerging with a bottle of ink and a small brush he roughly traced out upon the board the word "DOCTOR."

It was a moment or two before anything was added to this; for evidently pleased with his success at sign painting, he was obliged to retire a few paces and contemplate his work in all its details from a bird's. eye distance of ten or twelve paces. Appearing more than ever satisfied with the view, he returned, added the word "BARTLEY," took another minute for distant observation and gratifying self-laudation, and

a moment or two we shall know the man's full name; but what matter for that, Grace? As long as we know that he is a doctor, it answers all our purpose; does it not? A week ago, indeed, I would have gone fifty miles to find one. And even now-"Even now is not a week ago; do you not see papa?" was her response. "My wrist is nearly well. What need to have any one at all to attend to me!"

It was evident that both father and daughter spoke with some inward shrinking from the stranger, so completely did that palpably forbidding tone of his expression repel them. For the For the moment neither spoke again, seeming partially to read each other's secret doubts, and forbearing any further discussion of the actual necessities

of the case, and so remained, silently observing the further proceedings of the man. He again took up the brush and seemed about to fill out the whole name. But some contrary impulse now appeared to restrain him from further effort; and dropping his brush, he once more pulled out the pipe and put it to his mouth, and as before sought for a match, forgetting that he had already ineffectually gone through that performance. Failing again at that, for the first time he looked around, saw the camp-fire so few paces off, and approaching, took off his hat and begged a coal.

The Judge of course furnished him with one; and, as the man stood lighting his pipe, gazed at him with some curiosity. The outward lines of character certainly did not improve under a nearer view-even seemed to grow worse as more plainly developed; the sneer, at first scarcely perceptible, now covering the whole face and leaving to the naturally clear, bright eyes and finely chiseled nose nothing whatever of good to

say for themselves. More and more did the Judge feel a repulsion to the stranger grow over him, and he was disposed to let him go off again with hardly a salutation. But then came another furtive, half anxious glance at Grace's lame wrist, and he controlled himself sufficiently to give at least a civil word. "Been long here, sir?"

"Came last night. From the lower mines."

"Ah! A physician, I observe."
"Yes."

With that the man, having lighted his pipe, threw down the coal, muttered a word of thanks, and prepared to move away. Again the Judge hesitated and glanced at his daughter's hand. But why should he hesitate at all? Was not the man a doctor, and so far, of the very profession of which they stood in need? Grant that he did not seem personally all that could be asked, what mattered it, as long as his skill, which was all that they required, might prove effective? Why shrink from him because of the absence of other good qualities? After all, this was not the land in which one should be overnice and particular in matters of mere character. Many who came out to California were flying from some stigma which in their own place had hindered success. And was there to be no opportunity allowed in this new country for the growth of a better reputation? Even he, Markham, might in this respect wish to be judged charitably. He had left at the East much that he would fain forget; and at the thought he hung his head and dug his nails into his clenched hand. There were sins of omission and commission in plenty behind him. There were faults, and errors, and neglects in plenty. What if, away out here, people were now to remember all these matters, and bring them forward to his detriment? Nay, let him not therefore judge others harshly, if he would not himself be judged.

"Doctor," he said, yielding suddenly to the combined impulses of charity and neces