That which in the nature of things was inevitable¹ came to pass. Lieutenant² Russell, in the same moment that his eyes rested upon Nellie Dawson, was smitten³, as hopelessly as ever ardent⁴ lover was smitten by the lady whom he worshiped. The many things which the father had told him about his daughter naturally excited interest in her, but the young officer never dreamed of looking upon such marvelous beauty as that which met his gaze in that secluded⁵ cañon of the Sierras. It required all his self-control from drawing attention to himself by his admiration⁶ of her.  
“I never saw such a perfect combination of face, feature and figure,” he reflected when alone. “It is an illustration of what nature can do when left to herself. Then, too, she has a fund of knowledge that is amazing, when all the circumstances are considered. I haven’t had much chance to converse⁷ with her, but I heard enough to know that she would shine by virtue⁸ of her mind among the most accomplished⁹ of her sisters, who have had every advantage that civilization can give. She is a flower nourished on a mountain 135 crag, exhaling¹⁰ all its fragrance¹¹, untainted by a poisonous breath from the outer world. Who would have dared to say that amid this rough, uncouth¹² people, such loveliness could take root and nourish? And yet it is that loveliness which has permeated¹³ and regenerated¹⁴ the miners themselves. But for her these nights would be spent in drinking, roistering, fighting and carousing¹⁵. It is her blessed influence, which unconsciously to herself has purified the springs of life. Like the little leaven¹⁶ she has leavened¹⁷ the whole lump.”
 
The passing days increased his interest in her, until very soon he confessed to himself that he was deeply in love with Nellie Dawson. She had become dearer to him than his own life. He could not live without the hope of gaining and possessing her. He would remain in New Constantinople and starve, even though a Golconda was discovered a few miles away. He would linger, hopeful, buoyant and believing that the dream of his existence was to be crowned with perfect fruition.
 
But the sagacious lieutenant had learned to be observant and to note the most trifling¹⁸ things that escape the eyes of the majority of persons. Thus it was that the secret which Wade¹⁹ Ruggles and Parson Brush believed was hidden, each from everyone except himself, became as clear as noonday to him. He pitied them and yet he extracted a grim amusement from the fact.
 
136
“They are hopelessly infatuated with her; they are excessively jealous and would rather shoot me than have me win. They are more than double her age, and yet they can see no incongruity²⁰ in hoping to win her. They will hope on until the awakening²¹ comes. Then they will be my deadliest enemies. I shouldn’t be surprised if I receive a call and warning from them, but neither they nor the whole world shall turn me from the prize which is more than all the gold, mined or unmined, in the Sierras.”
 
No one could have been more circumspect²² than the young man. He treated Nellie Dawson with the chivalrous²³ respect of a Crusader of the olden time. He was always deferential²⁴, and, though he managed frequently to meet and chat with her, yet it invariably had the appearance of being accidental. Fortunately his feeling of comradeship for Captain Dawson gave him a legitimate²⁵ pretext²⁶ for spending many evenings in his cabin, where it was inevitable that he should be thrown into the society of the daughter.
 
Wade Ruggles and the parson noted²⁷ all this with growing resentment²⁸. When it had continued for several weeks, the two friends had a conference over the situation.
 
“I tell you, parson, it won’t do to wait any longer,” observed Ruggles, puffing²⁹ away at his pipe; “things is getting dangerous.”
 
137
“Do you think so?” asked his companion, who held precisely³⁰ the same opinion, but disliked to admit it.
 
“There isn’t a particle of doubt of it.”
 
“Let me see,––we agreed to give him warning didn’t we?––just once.”
 
“Yes,––it’s only fair that you should let a man know afore you hit him, so he can brace³¹ himself for the shock, as it were.”
 
“Well, if we are going to do it, there is no use of waiting.”
 
“No use! It’ll git worse every day. Let’s ............