Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1857-01-20

ing but extravagant tastes. My father
died, my mother soon followed it was
happiness scarce looked for SO soon.-
| married, married on nothing. l did
that as had done everything else in my
life, without thought / applied to the
man, my gripping cousin, who by false
looks, false debts, false deeds had beg
CARED mine and me- He had me driven
from his house, not that my father lived
IN, for his soul was to small 10 fill gar
ret corner. My wife died. How loved
her. He who heard my prayer tonight
on that old bridge knows money might
have saved her, but had none, and SO
eighteen years ago, was left alone, no
hot alone, would that it had been So
She left me child, a girl. Ibecame reck-
less, turned to anything for daily bread
actor, scribbler for the daily press. Too
unstable for these, for anything, | went,
low, lower, and then to a gambler. NY
child was cared for somehow. / made
enough TO do this. Desperate one night,
1 saw the man again. / asked but for a
mite of what was my own by right, and
he cursed me for strolhng thief. What
has since been my lot, let me blot OUT
Drunkenness became a passion. / could
not help 1t. | was chained in a mad
house. My child cared for by strangers
saw but seldom, and that always in such
wretchedness and ruin, that at last 7 was
forbid the house. Again and again saw
that man. The fancy possessed met
came upon me in the mad house-,o
haunt him like a ghoul on Christmas. TO
make nm fear it as day of death. to
make HIM count the time by days, seconds
as they flew, bringing me nearer to him.
looked to find him dying at some such
moment, that might gioat over his gasp
ings, that with his latest breath he mioht
take fresh with him my look of hate down,
down. For five years l have not seen
my child !; she must be a woman now
Seeking to do well, TO do better, among
thousands of broken fortunes such as mine
| went to California. l ,oiled and toijed
for her, all for her, bu: the good time had
passed. have returned little better than
went. | hurried home to make nv
Christmas visit. 1t took near all had
but would not miss his death for worlds
Something, who can tell what, made me
desperate tonight. As you said, | had
no courage to die, nor energy to live
Chance led me to the bridge A moment
came when all my life, IN It's waste, was
full before me there was nothing but
blank-hate for enemy, love for child, all
gone: a momentary phrenzy-and YOU
came"
Timberwilk's pipe was quite out. He
was looking steadily at the dying fire.
:" 1t was lucky that l did," grasping the
others hand.
" Whether you did we'll or not is prob
lem yet to solve. You meant we'll, and
perhaps may live to thank you for it
yet, who knows o.
A clock in the vicinity was striking
The wind had lulled, and the deep tones
sounded like solemn warning.
Cone" said Jefferson, rising and turn
ing down the clothes on the lounge
" Come, my friend, turn in here; after
oil this wear and tear, you will sleep
without rocking. Yours has been a hard
lot in life, bu. of that no more tonight"
/" | will sleep where l am, in this chair,
if sleep can"
Timberwilk would have dissuaded, but
there was decision in the mans tone,
that shut out all remonstrance
Jefferson had taken off his coat, when
the bell labelled might on the outside"
was rung violently. The stranger start
ed, and Jefferson, with an eye to the en-
durance of the wire, enquired, in loud
key, whether it was meant to ring the
house down.
1t would have startled any but a goblin,
but master Cheep slept on.
9" It's damaged Pointer exclaimed
Timberwilk.
"A what 2''
" A Five Pointer : | wish they would
get their pugilism over before this time.
1t don't pay
He passed into the store, and having
scratched off another spot of salts looked
out fogily at the alarmist. If all the bells
that had rung out SO merrily that night,
had presented themselves before Mr..
Timberwilk to be treated for sore throats,
arising from their previous exertions, he
would not have been more astonished.
La belle!
Perhaps he might have stood there and
looked at her through the glass as at some