The Republican journal., 1870-04-21

green baize door, entered dark passage
opened another door with a pass-key, and
found himself 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
design. The embroidered arm-chairs were
discolored, and the green velvet lounge on
which Mr.. Hanlin threw himself, was soiled
at the foot with the red soil of Wingdam.
Mr.. Hamlin did not sing in his cage He
lay still, looking at highly colored painting
above him, representing young creature OF
opulent charms 1t occurred to him then for
! the first time, that be had never seen exactly
that kind of a woman, and that if he should
he would not probably fall in love with her.
Perhaps he was thinking of another style Of
beauty But just then some one knocked at
the door. Without rising, he pulled a cord
that apparently shot back bolt; for the
door swung open, and man entered.
The new conner was broad shouldered and
robust--a vigor not borne out in the face,
which, though handsome, was singularly
weak, ard disfgured by dissipation. He ap-
peared IL be also under the influence of
and said, II thought Kate was here y stam-
Ai0l .Ai % tSiAiiiSo Noih''7,N teiiNt tip'ei
rasscd.
Mr.. Hamlin smiled the smile which he
had worn on the Wingdam coach. and sat
up, quite refreshed and ready for business.
"You didn't come up on the stage" contin-
ued the newcomer, "did you?'
NO" replied Hamlin; II left it at Scotts
Ferry. 1t isn't due for halt an hour vet But
how's luck, Browne"
"D- bad" said Brown, his face sudden
ly assuming an expression of weak despair;
''I'm cleaned again. jack" he continued,
in whining tone, that formed a pitiablc con-
trast to his bulky figure, ''can't you help me
with a hundred till to-morrow's cleanup?
You see I've got to send money home to the
old woman, and-you'ye won twenty times
that amount from me-
The conclusion was perhaps, not entirely
logical, but Jack overlooked it, and handed
the sum to his 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 agn' faro ? You
know you amt marred"
"Fact, sir" said Brown, with a sudden
gravity, as if the mere contact of the gold
with the palm of his hand had impaired some
dignity to his frame. 1--WE got wife-a
d-good one, too, if do say it-.n the States.
Its three year since I've seen her. and year
since | writ to her, When things is about
straight, and we get down to the lead, am
going to send for her"
"And Kate ? qucried Mr. IIamlin, with
his previous smile.
Mr.. Brown of Calaveras, cssayed an arch
ness Of glance, to cover his confusion, which
his weak face and whiskcy -muddled intellect
but poorly carried out, and said
kJ t. Al
liberty, you know. But come, what do you
say to little game? Give us q show to
double this hundred"
Jack Hamln looked curiousl1 ut his tltu-
Gus friend Perhaps he knew that the man
was prcdestined to lose the money, and pre-
ferrcd that it should flow back into his own
Golfers, rather than any other. He nodded
his head, and drew his chair toward the ta-
BILE At the same moment there came Il rap
upon the door.
dts Kate said Brown.
Mr.. Hamlin shot back the bolt, and the
door opened. But for the first time in his
life, he staggered to his feet utterly unnerv-
en- and abashed and for the first time in his
life, the hot blood crimsoned his colorless
cheeks to his forehead. For before him stood
the lady he had lifted from the Wingdam
coach, whom Brown-dropping his cards
with hysterical laugh greeted as
sMy old woman, by thundern'
They say Mrs. Brown burst into tears, and
of her husband l saw her in
1857, at Marysville, and disbeleved the story,
and the Wingdam Chronicle, of the next
union,' said: Gone of those beautiful and
touching Incidents, peculiar to California life,
occurred last week, in our city. The wife
of one of Wingdam's eminent pioneers, tired
of the etfete civilization of the East, and its
climate, resolved to join her
noble husband, upon these golden shores.
Without informing him of her intention, she
undertook the long journey and arrived last
week. The joy of the husband may be easier
imagined than described The meeting is
said to have been indescribably affecting.
We trust her example may be followed"
Whether owing to Mrs. Browns influence,
or to some more successful spcculations, Mr..
Browns financial fortune from that day stead
lily improved. He bought out his partners in
the Nip and Tuck" lead, with money said to
have been won at poker, week or two after
his wites arrival, but which rumor, adopt
ing Mrs. Browns theory that Brown had
forsworn the gaming table, alleged to have
been furnished by Mr. Jack Hamlin. IFe
built and furnished the ''Wingdam House."
which pretty Mrs. Browns great popularity
kept overtlowing with guests. He was elect
ed to the Assembly, and gave largess to
churches. A street in Wingdam was named
in his honor.
Yet it was noted that in proportion rs he
waxed wealthy and fortunate, he grew pale,
thin, and anxious. AS his wife's popularity
he became fretful and impatient
The most uxorious of husbands-he was alb
surdly Jealous. If he did not interfere with
his wife's social liberty, it was because-it
was maliciously whispered-that his first
and only attempt was met by an outburst
from Mrs Brown that terrified him into 81
lcncc Much of this kind Of gossip came from
those of her own sex whom she had sup
planted in the chivalrous attentions of Wing
DAM which like most popular chivalry, was
devoted to an admiration of power, whether
of masculine force Or feminine beauty. 1t
should be remembered, too, in her extenua-
ton, that since her arrival, she had been the
unconscious priestess Of a NEUROLOGICAL wor-
ship, perhaps not more ennobling to her
womanhood than that which distinguished an
older Greek democracy. | think that Brown
was dimly conscious of this. But his only
confidant was Jack Hamlin, whose infelix
reputation naturally precluded any open in
timacy with the family, and whose visits
were infrequent.
1t was midsummer, and a moonlight night
and Mrs Brown, very rosy, large-eyed, and
pretty, sat upon the piazza, enjoying the fresh