The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-08-13

my soly, ike as you see him in that
chair, and never moved again without
help. lie was struck all of heap, and
never seemed to know what allied him.
The doctors came, and said as how it
was caused all along of his way of life
Tor Jim was mighty free and Wild
like-and that he would never get better,
and couldn't last long any way. They
advised me to send him to Frisco to the
hospital, for he was no good TO any one,
and would be baby all his life. Per-
haps 1t was something in Jim's eye;
perhaps 1t was that never had baby,
but L said No l was rich then, for |
was popular with everybody-gentle-
men like yourself, sir, came to see me
and | sold out my business and bought
this yer place, because it was sort of out
of the way of travel, you see, and 1
brought my baby here.' .... ...
With a woman's intuitive tact and
poetry, she had as she spoke slowly
shifted her position so as to bring the
mute figure of the ruined man between
her and her audience-hiding in the
shadow behind it-as if she offered it
as tacit apology for her actions. Silent
and expressionless, it yet spoke for her;
helpless, crushed and smitten with the
Divine thunderbolt, it stretched an in
visible arm around her.
Hidden in the darkness, but still
holding his hand, she went on:
ut was long time before could get
the hang of things about yer, for l was
used to company and excitement. [
couldn't get any woman to help me,
and man 1 dursent trust; but what
with the Indians hereabout, who'd do
odd jobs for me, and having everything
sent from the North Fork, Jim and /
managed to worry through. The Doctor
would run up from Sacramento once In
awhile. He'd ask to see 'Miggles' baby
as he called Jim, and when he'd go
away, he'd say 'Miggles, you are a
trump--God bless you;' and it didn't
seem SO lonely after that. But the last
time he was here he said, as he opened
the door to go; DO you know, Miggles,
your baby will grow up to be n man yet
and an honor to his mother? but not
here, Migglcs, not here! And thought
he went away sad and--and and
hero Miggles' voice and head were some
how both lost completely in the shadow
"The folks about here are very kind,'
said Miggles, after pause, coming 9
little into the light again. "The men
from the Fork used to hang around here
until they found they wasn't wanted
and tho women arc kind-and don't
call was pretty lonely until l picked
up Joaquin in the wood yondcr one day
when he wasn't so high, and taugh
him to beg for his dinner; and thei
thar's Polly-that's the magpie-sh
knows no end of tricks, and makes |
quite sociable of evenings with talk
and so / don't feel like rs l was the on
ly being about the ranch. And jim
here" said Miggles, with her old laugl
again, and coming out quite into th'
freight. "Jim-why, boys, you w0ult
admire to see how much he knows for
man like him. Sometimes bring hin
flowers, and he looks at 'em just as nat
ural as if he knew 'em; and at times
when we're sitting here alone, / rea'
him those things on the wall. Why
Lord " said Miggles, with her franl
laugh, "I've read him that whole sid
of the house this winter. There neve
was such man for reading as jim"
"Why,"asked the Judge,"do you no
marry this man to whom you have de
voted your youthful life?"
"Wcll, you see," said Miggles, ii
would be playing it rather low dow
on Jim, to take advantage of his bein
SO helpless, And then, if we were ma
and wife now, we'd both know that
was bound to do what l do now of IN
own accord"
"But you are young yet and attract
i've"
"It's getting late," said Miggles
gravely, "and you had better turn in
Good night boys;" and throwing tn
blanket over her head, Miggles lai
herself down beside Jim's chair, he
head pillowed on the low stool that hel
his feet, and spoke no more. The fir
slowly faded from the hearth we eac
sought our blankets in silence; an(
presently there was no sound in tn
long room, but the pattering OF the raj
on the roof, and the heavy br eathing {
the sleepers.
Ii was nearly morning when awok
from u troubled dream. The storm ha,
passed, the stars were shining, an,
through the shutterlcss window tn
full moon, lifting itself over the solem
pines without, looked into the room
1t touched the lonely figure In tho chat
with an infinite compassion, and seen
ed to baptize with shining flood th
lowly head Of the woman whose hail
as in the sweet old story, bathed tn
feet OF him she loved. IL even lent
kindly poetry to the rugged outline {
Yuba Bill, half reclining ON his elbo'
between them and his passengers, wit
savagely, patient eyes keeping waite
and ward. And then fell asleep, an
only awoko at broad day, with Yuh
Bill standing over me,and "All aboard
ringing In my ears.
Coffee was waiting for us ON the table
hut Miggles was gone. We wanderc
about the house and fingered long aftC
, the horses were harncssed, but she di
not return. 1t was evident that sll
wished to avoid formal leave taking
and had so left US to depart rs we ha
come. After we had helped the ladi'
into the coach, we returned to the hou'
and solemnly shook hands with Il
paralytic Jim, AS solemnly setting hi
back iuto positionaftere each hand .shak
Then we looked for the last time arour
the long low room, at the stool whe
: Miggles had sat and slowly took OF
seats in the waiting coach, The VIII