The Republican journal., 1870-04-21

was to show his contempt for his wife's COM
panions; perhaps, like other weak natures,
he found pleasure in the exercise of absolute
power over inferior animals. He had GER
tain qualification in the training of chestnut
mare, whom he could beat or caress as
pleased him, which he couldn't do with Mrs
Brown. 1t was here that he reco gnized
certain gray horse which had Just come in,
and looking q little farther on, found his
rider Browns greeting was cordial and
hearty; Mr.. Hamlin's somewhat restrained.
But at Browns urgent request, he followed
him up the back stars, to narrow corridor,
and thence to small room looking out upon
the stable-yard. It was plainly furnished
with a bed, table, q few chairs, and a rack
for guns and whips.
''This yer's my home, Jack" said Brown,
with sigh, as he threw himself upon the
bed, and motioned his companion to chair.
'Her rooms tother end of the hail. It's
MORN six months since we've lived together,
or met, except at meals. It's mighty rough
papers on the head of the house-ain't it ?'
he said, with q forced laugh. "But Pm glad
to see ye, Jack. d - glad" and he reached
from the bed, and again shook the unrespon-
sive hand of Jack Hamlin.
81 brought ye up here, for didn't want to
talk in the stable; though for the matter OF
that, it's allround town. Don't strike light
We can talk here in the moonshine. Put up
your feet on that winder and sit here beside
me. Thar's whiskey in that Jug"
Mr.. Hamin did not avail himself of the
information. Brown, of Calaveras, turned
his face to the wall, and continued:
eff | didn't love the woman, Jack,
wouldn't mind. But it's loving her, and
seeing her. day arter day, goin' on at this
rate, and no one to put down the brake ;
that's what gifts me! But I'm glad to see We,
Jack, d-glad."
In the darkness, he groped about until he
found and wrunghis companions hand again.
He would have detained it, but Jack slipped
it into the buttoned breast of his coat and
asked, listlessly, elbow long this had been
going on ?"
''Ever since she came here; ever since the
day she walked into the Magnolia. I was a
fool then Jack, I'm 4 fool now; but | didn't
she hasn't been the same woman since
''But that amt all, Jack and it's what l
wanted to see you about, and l IN 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, l staked her
love and lost it, as l did everything 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, l think
i think she loves somebody else. Don't
move, Jack; don't move; if your pistol hurts
yc, take it Off.
'It's been more'n six months now that
she's seemed unhappy and lonesome. and
kinder nervous and scared like. And some-
times, I've ketched her lookin' at me sort of
timid and plying. And she writes to some
body. And for the last week she's been
gathering her own things-trinkets, and fur
bellows, and jew'lry-and, Jack, I think she's
goin' off l could stand all but that. To
have her steal away like a thief" He put
his face downward to the pillow, and for a
few moments there was no sound but the
ticking of a clock on the mantel. Mr. Ham
lin lit u cigar, and moved to the open Win
dow. The moon no longer shone in the
room, and the bed and its occupant 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"
s'But, Jack?"
''He's took the riskn'
''But will that bring her back ?"
Jack did not reply, but moved from the
window toward the door.
''Don't go yet, Jack; light the candle, and
sit by the table. It's q comfort to see We, it
nothin' elsc'
Jack hesitated and then complied He
drew pack of cards from his pocket and
shufiled them, glancing at the bed But
Mr.. Hamlin had shuffled 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 The
first was deuce his own card, a king. He
then shutled and cut again. This time
dummy had queen. and himself a four
spot. Jack frightened up for the third deal.
1t brought his adversary Il deuce, and HIM
self king again ..TWo out of three,n said
Jack, audibly
'What's that, Jacken said Brown.
''Nothing.'
Then Jack tried his hand with dice but he
he always threw sixes and his imaginary
opponent aces. The force of habit is some
times confusing.
Meanwhile, some magnetic influence in
Mr.. Hamlin's presence, or the anodyne of
liquor, or both, brought surcease of sorrow,
and Brown slept. Mr.. Hamlin moved his
chair to the window, and looked out on the
town of Wingdam, now sleeping peacefully
its harsh outlines softened and subdued, its
glaring colors mellowed and sobered in the
moonlight that flowed over all In the hush
he could hear the gurgling of water in the
bitches, and the signing of the pines beyond
the hill. Then he looked up at the firma-
ment, and as he did so, a star shot across the
twinkling field. Presently another, and then
another. The phenomenon suggested to Mr..
Hamlin !. fresh augury. If, in another fif-
teen minutes, another star should fall.
He sat there, watch in hand, for twice that
time, but the phenomenon was not repeated.
The clock struck two, and Brown still slept.
Mr.. Hamln approached the table, and took
from his pocket a letter, which he readily the
tlickering candle light. 1t contained only
single line, written in pencil, in a wolnan's
hand:
''Bc at the corral with the buggy at threc.''
The sleeper moved uneasily, and then
awoke. care you there, Jack?''
"Yes.''
Don't 90 yet. l dreamed, Just now, Jack
dreamed of old times. I thought that Sue
and me was being married again, and that
the parson, Jack, was-who do you think p
you!'
The gambler laughed, and seated himself
on the bed--a paper still in his hand.
''It's u good sign, amt it?" quered
Brown.
81 reckon. Say, old man, hadn't you bet
ter get up?"
The cold man, thus atfectionately appeal