Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-03-24
Mr.. Hamlin did not avail himself of the

III | didn't love the woman, Jack,
wouldn't mind. But it's loving her. and
seeing her, day artar day, goin' on at this
rate, and no one to put down the br Ike;
that's what gifts m! ! But I'm glad to see
ye, Jack -
In the darkness he groped about until he
had found and wrung his companion g
hand again. He would have detained it,
but Jack slipped it into the buttoned breast
of his coat, and asked listlessly, "How long
has this been going on?" Ever since she
came here; ever since the day she walked
into the Magnolia. / was q fool then;
Jack, I'm no tool now; but DIDN'T know
how much i loved her till then. And she
hasn't been the same woman since.
'.But that amt all. Jack; and it's what
wanted to see you about, and I'm glad
you've come. 1t amt that she doesn't love
me any more; it amt that she fools with
every chap that comes along, for, perhaps,
| staked her love and lost it, as 1 did every
thing else at the Magnolia; and, perhaps
foolin' IS material to some women, and thar
amt no great harm done, 'cept to the fools.
But, Jack, think-I think she loves some
body else. Don't move, Jacb; don't move I;
If your pistol hurts ye, take it off.
"lts been more'n six months now that
| she's seemed unhappy and lonesome, and
kinder nervous and scared like. And,
sometimes, I've ketched her lookin' at me
sort of timid and pitying. And she writes
to somebody. And, for the last week she's
been gathering her own things-trinkets,
and iurbelews. and jew'lry-and, Jack,
think she's goin' OFF. could stand all but
that To have her steal away hko thief
-" He put his face downward to the
pillow, and, tor few moments, there was
/ ,x.I Lr,f <k4 II. of II.
mantel Mr.. Hamlin lit cigar. and moved
to the open window. The moon no longer
shone in the room, and the bed and its oc-
cupant were in shadow. "What shall do,
Jack?' said the voice from the darkness.
The answer came promptly and clearly
from the wIndow-side: "Spot the man,
and kill him on sight"
'But, Jack?"
"He's took the risk r.
"But will that bring her back ?"
Jack did not reply, but moved from the
window towards the door,
''Don't go yet Jack; light the candle, and |
sit by the table. It's comfort to see We, if |
nothin' else"
Jack hesitated, and then complied. He |
drew pack of cards from his pocket and |
shuffied them, glancing at the bed. But
Browns face was turned TO the wall. When |
Mr.. Hamlin had shufied the cards, he cut
them, and dealt one card on the opposite
side of the table and toward the bed, and |
another on his side of the table, for himself
rhe first was deuce; his cwn card a king.
He then shuffied and cut aeain. This time
dummy" had queen, and himself four
spot. Jack frightened mp for the third
deal. 1t brought his adversary a deuce.
and himself king again. Two out of
three, /" said Jack. audibly.
whats that Jack?" said Brown.
Nothing"
Then Jack tried his hand with dice, but
he always threw skies, a nd his imaginary
opponent aces. The force OF habit is some
times confusing.
Mean~ hiie. some magnetic influence in
Mr.. Hamlin's presence, or the anodyne of
liquor, or both, brought surcease OF sor-
row. and Brown slept Mr.. Hamlin moved
his chair TO The window, and looked out on
the town OF WiDgdam, now sleeping peace
fully-its harsh outlines softenei and SUBJ
dued, its glaring colors mellowed and
sobered in the moonlight that flowed over
all In the hush he could hear the gurg-
ling of water in the bitches, and the sigh
ing of the pines beyond the hill. Then he
looked up at the armament, and, as be did
so, a star shot across the twinkling field.
Presently another, and then another. The
phenomenon suggested to Mr.. Hamlin
fresh augury, II, in another fifteen min
utes, another star should fall -. He
sat there. watch in hand. for twice that ,
time, but the phenomenon was net re-
peated.
The clock struck two, and Brown still
slept MIR. Hamlin approac ned the table
and took from his pocket letter. which he
read by the Aickering candle-light. 1t con-
tanned only single line, written in pencil,
in a woman's hand:
"Be at the corral. with the buggy, at
three"
The sleeper moved uneasily, and then
awoke.
"Are you there, Jack'"
Don't go yet. / dreamed, Just now,
Jack-Creamed of old times. / thought .
that Sue and me was being married agin,
and that the parson, Jack, was-who do
you think ?-youl''
The gambler laughed, and seated him.
self on the bed-the paper still in ais
hand.
'It's a good sign, amt itG" queried ,
Brown
II reckon. Say, old man, hadn't you ,
better get up?'
The ''old man." thus affectionately ap- /.
pealed to, arose, with tine assistance oil ,
Hamlin's 8 outstretched hand. !,
Smoker"
Brown mechanically took the profferei ,,
cigar
'.Light?"
Jack had twisted the letter into q spiral, =
1T it. and held it for his companion. He :
to bold it until it was consumed, !;
and dropped the fragment a fiery star
rom the open window. He watched it as
t fell, and then returned to his friend.
''Old man. he said. placing his hands !
1pon Browns shoulders, ''in ten minutes !,
LII be on the road, and gone like that
spark. We won't see each other agin; but :
before go. take fools advice: sell out all !
you've got, take your wife with you, and :
luit the country. 1t ans no place for you (
aor her. Tell her she must go; make her q
20. if she won't. Don whine because you 3
ant be saint, and she amt an angel. Be ,
! man-and treat her like q woman. Don't :,
,e a fool Good-by,"
He tore himself from Browns grasp, and B
capped down the stairs like deer. At the =
table-door he collared the half-sleepine :
lostler. and backed him against the wall T
Saddle my horse in two minutes, or I'll q
- The elhpsis was frightfully sue- !,
festive. :, y
''The missis said you was to have the a y
,uggy, "stammered the man. :,
I'D = the buggy r :,
The horse was saddled as fast as the ner- :.
ous hands of the astounded hostler could 4
manipulate buckle and strap. :, =
lis anything up. Mr.. Hamlin ?" said the =
nan, who like all his class, admired the a,
Ian of his fiery patron, and was really con- =
erned in his welfare. =
''Stand aside y = =
The man fell back With an oath, :,
ouLd and clatter, Jack was into the road. >,
q another movement, to the mans half ~
wakened eyes. he was but a moving cloud :.
dust in the distance, toward which a star =.
nst loosed from its brethren was trailing q -
tream of fire.
But. early that morning the dwellers by W
be Wingdam turnpike, miles away, heard D
voice. pure as SIX y-larks. singing afield. is
hey who were asleep turned over on their g
ude couches to dream ef youth and love. is
nd olden days. Hard-faced men and is
nxious gold-seekers. alreadv at work. II