19/04/2021
Connie Mason
Even now Glenna could picture in her mind's eyes her father shoveling creekbed gravel and sand into the hopper whose wire mesh covering screened out stones and pebbles. Then he would douse the sand that went through the screen continuously with water, washing it down and out the trough. Heavier gold was caught behind the riffles and Glenna recalled vividly the thrill she experienced when she watched her father scrape out the gold that remained behind.
But no matter how many nuggets or flakes Paddy O'Neill panned out of Clear Creek, he searched continually and tirelessly for the mother lode and greater wealth. The mother lode, Glenna knew, was the source of the gold her father panned from Clear Creek. So far the elusive riches had remained concealed from Paddy's eyes.
Once Paddy made up his mind about his daughter's future, he acted decisively and swiftly, startling Glenna with his haste. Within weeks of her sixteenth birthday she was packed off to Miss Murdoch's Boarding School For Genteel Young Ladies in St. Louis. What a change it made in her life!
Overnight she went from a wild tomboy, indulged by her father, to a sedate young lady with much to learn in order to satisfy the standards set forth by stern-faced Miss Murdoch and enforced by her equally staid staff of teachers. For four long, frustrating years Glenna longed to return to her farther and his Golden Promise, but Paddy was adamant that his only child have every advantage. So as long as Paddy and Golden Promise prospered, Glenna remained with Miss Murdoch.
"Is your father meeting you in Denver ?" Sal queried, picking up the lagging conversation that had ground to a halt while Glenna's thoughts roamed.
Startled by the question, Glenna flushed, then admitted somewhat sheepishly, "No, he doesn't even know I'm coming home. I . . .just decided I'd had enough of St. Louis and school. Besides, I haven't heard from Da in weeks. My allowance failed to arrive when it should have and I'm worried about him. I scraped up what money I had and left Miss Murdoch's behind. For good, I hope."
Sal smiled indulgently. " was it that bad? Miss Murdoch's, I mean. "
"Worse," grimaced Glenna distastefully. "I know Da expected me to stay another year and possibly find a rich husband, but I've had enough. And I don't need a husband. I 'm sick of the big city, tired of playing the lady and languishing behind closed doors unable to move about freely without prying eyes following my every move......