The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-05-26

Don't go yet. Jack; light the can
die and sit by the table. It's a COM
fort to see We, If nothin' else"
Jack hesitated, and then complied.
He drew a pack of cards from his
pocket and shuf1ed them, glaneing at
the bed. But Browns head was
turned to the wall. When Mr.. Ham
linn had shuf1ed the cards, he cut
them, and dealt one card on the oppo-
site side of the table and toward the
bed. and another on his side of the
table. for himself. The first was a
deuce; his own card king. He then
shufled and cut again. This time
dummy" had a queen. and himself q
four spot. Jack Frightened up for the
third deal. 1t brought his adversary
a deuce, and himself a king again.
1.-TWO out of three" said Jack. audi
bly,;
Nothing"
Then Jack tried his had with the
dice, but he always threw skies, and
his imaginary opponent aces: The
force of habit is sometimes confusing.
Meanwhile. some magnetic influence
in Mr.. Hamlin's presence, or the an
odyne of LIQUOR, or both. brought sur
cease 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 armament. and, as
he did so, a star shot across the
twinkling field. Presently another
and then another. The phenomenon
suggested to Mr.. Hamlin a fresh
augury. If in another fifteen min
utes 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.. Hamlin approached
the table and took from his pocket a
letter, which he read by the Pickering
candle light. It contained only a
single line, written in pencil, in a
woman's hand:
BE at the corral, with buggy, at
three"
The sleeper moved uneasily' and
then awoke.
Are you there, Jack2'
Don't go yet. l dreamed. just
now, Jack-dreamed of old times.
I thought that Sue and me was be-
ing married again, and that the par
SON, Jack. was-who do you think P
you'll"
The gambler laughed, and seated
himself on the bed-the paper still in
his hand.
Its good sign. amt it9' queried
Brown.
Il reckon. Say. old man. hadn't
you better get up2"
The "old man" thus affectionately
appealed to, arose, with the assistance
of Hamlin's outstretched hand.
Smoker"
Brown mechanically took the prof
fered cigar.
Light?"
Jack had twisted the letter into a
spiral, lit it, and held it for his COM
panion. He continued to hold it
until it was consumed, and dropped
the fragments-a fiery star-from the
open window. He watched it till it
fell. and then returned to his friend.
"Old man." said he, placing his
hands upon Browns shoulders, lin
ten minutes I'll be on the road, and
gone like that spark. We won't see
each other again; but before / go,
take FOOLS advice; sell out all you've
Al A. ,v1
the country. 1t amt no place for
you nor her. Tell her she must go |;
make her go, if she won't. Don't
whine because you can't be a saint,
and she amt an angel Be a man
and treat her like a woman, Don't
be fool. Good-by."
He tore himself from Browns
grasp, and leaped down the stairs like
a deer. At the stable door he col
Jared the half sleeping hostler, and
backed him against the wall. Sad
die my horses in two minutes or I'll
-" The ellipsis was frightfully
suggestive.
"The missis said you was to have
the buggy" stammered the man.
"D-n the buggy"
The horse was saddled as fast as
the nervous hands of the astounded
hostler could manipulate buckle and
strap.
us anything up, Mr.. Hamlin2''
said the man, who. like all this class.
admired the clan of his fiery patron,
and was really concerned in his vel
| fare.
Stand asidel''
The man fell back. With an oath
bound and clatter, Jack was into
the road. In another moment, to the
mans half awakened eyes, he was but
a moving cloud of dust in the distance
toward which a star just loosed from
its brethren was trailing stream Of
fire.
But, early that morning, the dwell.
ers by the Wingdam turnpike, miles
away, heard voice, pure as a sky
lark's, singing in a field. They who
were asleep turned over on their rude
pouches to dream of youth and love
and olden day. Hard faced men and
anxious gold seekers, already at work
ceased their labors and leaned upoI
their picks to listen to a romantic
vagabond ambling away against lht
rosy sunrise.
~ ~rD