A candle stuck in a bottle flickered beside them.

They were honest, kindly faced miners, roughly dressed and heavily bearded, but it could be seen that they had hearts of gold.

The beautiful young girl, who wore a simple dress of blue calico, and whose hair hung about her fair face in curls of a radiant buff, now served them food and poured steaming coffee from a large pot.
The miners seemed loth to eat, being excited by the gold nuggets.

They must have struck it rich that day, Merton Gill divined, and now with wealth untold they would be planning to send the girl East to school.
They both patted her affectionately, keeping from her the great surprise they had in store.
The girl was arch with them, and prettily kissed each upon his bald head.

Merton at once saw that she would be the daughter of neither; she would be their ward.