Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-06-18

were. papered with illustrated journals,
arranged with feminine taste and discrim-
nation. The furniture was extemporized,
and adapted from candle boxes and pack
| ing cases, and covered with gay calico, or
the skin of some animal. The arm chair
of the helpless Jim was an ingenious va
ration of a -four barrel. There was neat
/ ness and even taste for the picturesque
to be seen in the few details of the long
low room. s,
The meal was culinary success. But
more, it was a social triumph chiefly,
think, owing to the rare tact of Miggles in
guiding the conversation, asking all the
Questions herself, yet bearing throughout
a frankness that rejected the idea Of any
lconcea]ment on her own part. So that
we talked of ourselves, of our prospects,
of the journey, of the weather, of each
other--of every thing, but our host and
hostess, 1t must be confessed that Mig
g1es' conversation was never elegant,
rarely grammatical, and that at times she
used expletives, the use of which had
generally been yielded to our sex But
| they were delivered with such lighting
up of teeth and eyes, and were ussaally
| followed by a laugh-a laugh peculiar to
| BllgSlSS-SO ITduk 5Hu IL
seemed to clear the moral atmosphere.
Once, during the meal, we heard a noise
like the rubbing of a heavy body against
the outer walls of the house. This was
shortly followed by a, scratching and sniff
Miggles, in reply to our questioning
glances "would you like to see him?"
/ Before we could answer she had opened
the door, and disclosed halfgrown griz-
zly, who instantly raised himself on his
haunches,~with his forepaws hanging
down in popular attitude of mendicancy,
and looked admiringly at Miggles, with
very singular resemblance in his manner
to Yuba, Bill. "7That's my Watchdog"
said Miggles in explanation. go, he don't
bite" she added, as the two lady passen-
gers fiuttered into corner. Does he,
old Toppy t"-(the last remark being ad-
dressed directly to the sagacious Joaquin).
" [ tell you what, boys" continued Mig
giles, after she had fed and closed the door.
on Uasa Minor, You were in big luck
that Joaquin wasn't hanging round when
you dropped in tonight"
"Where was he ?" asked the Judge.
"With me-" said Mggles. "Lord love
you; he trots round with me nights like
as if he was man"
We were silent for few moments, and
listened to the wind Perhaps we all had
the same picture before us-~of Miggles.
walking through the rainy woods, with
her savage guardian at her side. The
Judge, remember, said someting about
Una and her lion but Miggles received
it as she did other com mpliments, with quiet
gravity. Whether she was altogether
unconscious of the admiration she excited
she could hardly have been obliyious OF
Yuba Bills adoration-I knew not; but
her very frankness suggested perfect
sexual equality that was cruelty humiliat
ing to the younger members of our party
The incident of the bear did not add
anything in Miggles' favor to the opinions
of those of her ownsex who were present
In fact, the repastA over, q achInmess gradi'
ated from the two lady passengers, that
no pine boughs brought in by Yuba Bill
and cast as a sacrifice upon the hearth
could wholly overcome. Miggles felt it;
and suddenly declaring that itgwas time
to "turn in,"' offered to show the ladies'
to bed in an adjoining room. You, boys,
will have to camp out here by the fire as
well as you can," she added, "for thar aint
but the one room" sy-
Our sex-by which, my dear cir, / al
lude, of course, to the stronger portion OF
humanity-has been generally relieved
from the imputation of curiosity, or
fondness for gossip. Yeti am constrained
to say, that hardly had the door closed on
Miggles than we crowded together, whis
pering, snickering, smilifig and exehang-
ing suspicious, surmises and d Thousand
speculations in regard to our pretty host
ess and her singular companion. | fear
that we even hustled that .imbeeile para
lytic, who sat like voiceless Memnon liz
our midst, gazing, with the serene indlf-
ference of ytheapast with, his passionless
eyes, upon our wordy councils. In the
midst of our exciting discussion the door
opened again, and Miggles re entered.
But not apparently the same 'Mggles
who few hours before had flashed upon
u.s. Her eyes were ,downcast, and as she
hesitated for moment on the threshold,
with blanket on her arm, she seemed to
have left behind her the frank fearlessness
which hadlcharmed US q moment before
Coming into the room, she drew a low
stool beside the paralytic's chair, sat down,
drew the blanket over her shoulders and
saying. "If it's all the same to you, boys,
as we're rather crowded, I'll stop here to-
night" took the invslid's withered hand
i'm her own and turned her eyes upon the
diving fire An instructive feeling that
sthis was. only Ypremenitqry to more con
tidential relations, and perhaps some
-shame at cur previous curl osity, kept ns
silent. The rain still beat upon the rodf ;
wandering gusts of wind stirred the
embers into momentary brightness, until,
in lull of the elements. Migeles sud
denly lifted up her head, ard throwing
her hair over her shoulder, turned her
face upon the group and asked
"Is there any of you that knows me ?"
There was no reply.
"Think again! l lived at Maryville in
SO. Everybody knew me there, and
everybody had the right to know me. Il
kept the Polka Saloon until l come to live
with Jim. That's six years ago. Perhaps
I've changed some"
The absence of recognition may have
Disconnected her She turned her head to
the fire again, and it was some secord be.
fore she again spoke, and then more
rapidly. xesHsaH F.4
"Well, you see I thought some of you
must have known me. There's no great
harm done, anyway. What was going
to say was this: Jim ere"-4she took his
hand in Goth of hers as she spoke" used
to know me, if you didn't, and spent a
heap of money upon me. l reckon he
spent all he had And one day-it's six
years ago this winter-Jim came into my
back room, sat down on my sofa, like as
you see him in that chair, and never
I T. l.