Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-17

YER at his back, sending his voice before
him through the dim woods with plant
about his "Nelly's grave" in way that
oyerhowed the eyes of the listener. A
sparrow hawk, fresh from his sixth victim
possibly recognizing in Mr. Hamlin kind
red spirit, stared at him in surprise, and
was fain to confess the superiority of man.
With superior predatory capacity, he
couldn't sing.
But Mr., Hamln presently found himself
again on the high-road, and at his former
pace bitches and banks of gravel, denud-
ed hill-sides, and decayed trunks of trees
took the place OF woodland and ravine, and
indicated his approach to civilization. -
Then church-steeple came in sight, and
he knew that he had reached home. In a
few moments he was Gathering down the
single narrow street, that lost itself in a
chaotic ruin OF races, bitches, and tailings
at the foot of the hill, and dismounted be-
fore the glided windows of the Magnolia
saloon Passing through the long bar
room, he pushed open green-baize door,
entered a dark passage, opened another
door with pass-key, and found himslf in
dimly-lighted room, whose furniture,
though elegant and costly for the locality,
showed signs Of abuse The inlaid centre
table was overlaid with stained disks that
were not contemplated in the original de-
sign. The embroidered arm-chairs were
discolored, and the green-vevet lounge on
which Mr. Hamlin threw himself, was soil
ed Mt the foot with the soil of Wingdam.
Mr. Hamlin did not sing in his cage
He lay still, looking at a highly-coored
painting above him, representing young
creature Of opuent charms. Ii occurred
to him then, for the first time, that he had
never seen exactly that kind of q woman
and that, if he should, he would not, prob
ably, fall in love with her. Perhaps he
was thinking of another style of beauty. -
But Just then some one knocked al the
door. without rising, he pulled cord
that apparently shot back bolt; for the
door swung open, and man entered.
The new conner was broad-shoudered
and robusta vigor not borne out in the
ace, which, though handsome. was singu-
larly weak, and disfgured by dissipation
He appeared to be also under the influence
OF liquor, for he started on seeing Hamlin
and said, II thought Kate was here" STAN
mered, and seemed confused and embar-
rassed.
Mr.. Hamlin smiled the smile which he
had before worn on The Wingdam coach,
and sat up quite refreshed, and ready for
business.
"You didn't came up on the stage" con.
tinued the new comer. 'did your"
mo" replied Hamlin; II left it at SCOTS
Ferry. Itisn due for half an hour yet. --
But hows luck, Brown"
"Bad, said Brown, his face suddenly as
suming an expression of weak despair;
I'm cleaned out again. Jack" he con-
tinued, in whining tone, that formed a
pitiable contrast to his bulky figure, 'can t
you help me with hundred till to,mor.
rows cleanup? You see I've got to send
money home to the old woman, and
you've won tive nty times that amount from
me-
The conclusion vas, perhaps, not entire
" logical but Jack overlooked it, and
handed the sum to lis visitor "The old
woman business is about played out, Brown.
he added by way of commentary; why,
don't you say you want to buck agin faro?
You know you amt married.
Fact, sir. said Brown, with sudden
gravity, as if the mere contact of the gold
with the palm of the hand had impaired
some dignity to his frame. I've got a
wife-a d good one, too, if do say it
in the States It's three year since
seen her and year since I've writ to her.
When things Is about straight, and we get
down to the lead. I'm going to send tor
her.
"And Kate?" querted IIamlin, with his
previous smile.
Mr. Brown, of Calaveras, essayed an
archness OF glance, to cover his confusion,
which his weak face and whisky muddled
intellect but poorly carried out. and said:
"Well, Jack, "a man must have little
liberty, You know. Blu come, what do
you say to a little Rame? Give Us show
to double this hundred.
Jack Hamlin looked curiously at his fatu-
GUS friend Perhaps he knew kat the man
was predestined to lose the money; and
preferred that it should flow back into his
own Golfers. rather than any other. He
nodded his head, and drew his chair to-
ward the table. At the same moment there
came a rap upon the door
ITS Kate said Mr.. Brown.
i& MIR. Hamlin shot back the bolt, and the
door opened. But for the first time in his
life, he staggered to his feet, utterly I'M
nerved and abashed and for the first time
in his life, the hot blood crimson his color
less cheeks to his forehead. For before
him stood the lady he had from the Wing
dam coach, whom Brown-dropping his
clrds with hysterical laugh greeted as -
"My old woman, by thunder,
They say that Mrs. Brown burst into
tears, and reproaches of her husband. |
saw her, in 1857, at Marysville, and disbe-
leve the story. And the Wingdam Chron-
ice, OF the next week, under the head OF
Touching Reunion, said Zone of those
beautiful and touching incidents, peculiar
/ to California life, occurred, last week, in
our city. The wife of one of Wingham' Is
eminent pioneers, tired of the effete civili-
cation of the East, and its inhospitable
/ climate resolved to join her noble husband,
upon these golden shores, Without form
! ing him of h'r intention, she undertook
the long journey, and arrived last week.
] N 80, ,,t ,.I Inc a ha i'm,