The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-04-15
Misfellauepus.
BROWN OF CALAVERAs.
A CALIFORNIA STORY.

lIlt WIN'OWS VI tuC w r>N-N'NsSh
male Il evident that one Of the inside
passengers was woman. A disposition
ON the part OF loungers, at the stations, tc
congregate before. the window, and some
concern In regard tn the appearance ol
coats, hats. and collars, further indicated
that she was lovely. All Of which Mr.
Jack Hamlin. on the boN-seat, noted
with the smile Of cynical philosophy,
Not thai he deprecated the sex, but that
he recognized therein deceitful element,
the pursuit of which sometimes drew
mankind away from the uncertain bland
ishments Of poker-of which IL may be
remarked that Mr.. Hamlin was pro-
fessional exponent.
So that. when he placed his narrow
boot on the wheel aud leapcd down, he
did not even glance at the window from
which n green veil was fluttering, but
lounsed up and down with that listless
and grave Indifference of his class, which
was. perhaps. the next thing to good
breeding. His closely buttoned figure
and self-contained air, were in marked
contrast to. the other passengers, and
| their feverish restlessness, and boisterous
emotion; and even Bill Masters, grad
uate of Harvard. with his slovenly dress,
his oyerthrowing vitality, his intense APP
probation of lawlessness and barbarism,
and his mouth filed with crackers and
cheese. / fear, cut but IN -uhromantic
figure beside this lonely calculator OF
chances. with his pa.e Greek face, and
IIomeric gravity.
The driver called all aboard and Mr..
Hamlin returned to the coach. His foot
was upon the wheel. and his face raised
to the level of the open window, when, Mt
the same moment. what appeared to him
to be the finest eyes in the world, suddenly
met his. lie quietly dropped down again,
addressed few words TO one OF the in
side passengers. effected an exchange OF
seats. and rs quietly took his place inside.
Mr.. Hamlin never allowed his philosophy
to interfere with decisive and prompt
action.
fear that this eruption Of Jack cast
] some restraint upon the other passengers
particularly those who. were making
themselves most agreeable to the lady.
One of them leaned forward. and appar-
emily conveyed To her information re-
garding Mr.. Hamlin's profession, in a
single epithct. Whether Mr.. Hamlin
heard il, or whether he recognized In the
informant a distinguished jurist, from
whom. but few evenings before. he had
won several- thousand dollars, 1 cannot
saw. His colorless face betrayed no sign
his black eyes. quietly observant. glanced
indifferently past the legal gentleman. and
rested ON the much more pleasing features
of his neighbor. An Indian stoicsm-
said to be an inheritance from his mat
crnal ancestor-stood him In good SER
vice, until the rolling wheels ratified up
on the river-gravcl at SCOTS Ferry, aud
the stage drew up at the International
hotel, for dinner. The. legal gentleman
and member of Congress jumped out,
and stood ready tn assist the descending
goddess, while Col. Starbottle. of Siski-
YOU. took charge other parasol and shawl.
In this multiplicity of attention, there was
momcntlry confusion, and delay. Jack
Hamlin quietly opened the opposite door
of the coach. took the lady's hand with
that decision and positivencss which a
hesitating and undecided sex know how
10 ndmire-and in IN instant had dexter
ously and gracefully swung her to the
ground. and again lifted her to the plat
form. An audible chuckle on the box. |
fear, came from that other cynic, 'Yuba
\ BILL the driver. look kccrfully arter
that baggage. Kernel said the express
1 man, with affected concern, rs he looked
AFTER Col. Starbottle, gloomily bringing
up the rear of the triumphant procession
to the waiting-room.
Mr.. Hamlin did not stay for dinner.
His horse was already s;slldled, and await
Ing him. lie dashed over the ford. ufl
tho grayelly hill. and out into tho dusty
perspective Of the Wingdam road, like
one leaving an unpleasant fancy behind
him. The inmates of dusty cabins by
the roadside shaded their eyes with their
hands, and looked after him. recognizing
the man by his horse, and spcculatinG
what .was up with Comunche Jack,
Not much of this interest conferred in the
horse, In community where the time
made by French Pete's mare In his run
from the sheriff of Calavcras. eclipsed all
Concern in the ultimate fate Of that
worthy.
The sweating flanks of his gray nj
length recalled him to himself lie check
ell his speed. and. turning into n by-road
sometimes used rs cut of;-trottcd lei
surely along, the rcins hanging listleSsly
from his fingers. As he rode on, the
character of the landscape changed, and
became more pastoral. Openings In
groves Of pine and sycamore disclosed
some rude attempts at cultivation-a flow
cring vine tr,,ilcd over the porch of one
cabin. and woman rocked her cr.dled
babe under the roses OF another. A little
farther ON. Mr.. Hanlin came upon some
barc-leggcd children, wading in tho will
lowy creek. and 50 wrought upon them
with badinage peculiar 10 himself that
they were cniboldcncd tn climb up his
horses legs and over his saddle, until he
was f,in 10 develop an exaggerated feroc'
ity Of demeanor. and to escape, leaving
behind some kisses and coin. And then,
advancing deeper into the woods, where
all sigus OF habitation failed. fe began To
sing-upliftiug tenor SO singularly sweet
and shaded by pathos so subduing and
tender. that wot the robins and linnets
stopped To listen. Mr.. Hamlln's voice
was not cultivated; the subject Of his song
was some sentimental lunacy, borrowed
from the negro -minstrels, but there was
some occult quality Of tone and express
sion that thrilled through all u spirit mex
pressibly touching. Indeed twas won
dcrful sight to see this sentimental black.
leg. with pack Of cards in his pocket
and revolver at his hack, sending his
voice before him throgh the dim woods
with plaint about his "Nclly's grave"
in way that ovcraowed the eyes OF his
listener. A sparrow-hawk. fresh from his
sixth victim. possibly recognizing In Mr..
IIamlin kindred spirit, stared Mt him in
surprise. and was fain to confess the su-
pcriority Of man. With superior pred
atory capacity, he couldn't sing.
But Mr.. Hamlin presently found him
self again on the high-road. AMI Mt his
former place. bitches and banks Of grav-
el. dcnudcd hill-sides, stumps, and decay
ed trunks Of trees. took the place Of wood
land and ravinc. and indicated his APP
proa.h to civilization. Then church.
Il sfeanl,a ea.na ;,, sts-kt .nH h. Euoxv that