The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-03-25

II.
but Jack slipped it into the buttoned breast
of his coat, and asked listlessly, Chow long
has this been going on?" ''Ever since she
came here; ever since the day she walked
into the Magnolia. / was a fool then;
Jack, I'm no fool now; but didn't know
how much l loved her till then. And she
hasn't been the same woman since.
sBut that amt all, Jack; and it's what l
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, l think-I think she loves some
body else. Don't move, Jacb; don't move;
if your pistol hurts We, take it of.
''lt's 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 jewlry-and, Jack, 1
think she's goin' off could stand all but
that. To have her steal away like 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.. 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 l do,
Jack?" said the voice from the darkness.
The answer came promptly and clearly
from the wIndow-side: "Spot the maa,
and kill him on sight"
But, Jack?"
"Hes took the risk p
s'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 a comfort to see ye, if
nothin' else"
Jack hesitated, and then complied. He
drew a 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 shutfied 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 king.
He then shufhed and cut again. This time
dummy" had queen, and himself four
spot. Jack frightened up for the third
deal 1t brought his adversary deuce,
and himself king again. 1.-TWO out of
three" said Jack, audibly.
whats that Jack?" said Brown.
Nothing"
Then Jack tried his hand with dice, bat
he always threw skies, a nd 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 sor-
row, and Brown slept. Mr.. Hamlin moved
his chair to the window, and looked out on
the town of Wingiam, now sleeping peace
fully-its harsh outlines softened and sub
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 frmament, and, as he did
so, star shot across the twinkling field.
Presently another, and then another. The
phenomenon suggested to Mr.. Hanlin a
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 neL re-
peated.
The clock struck two, and Brown still
slept. Mr.. Hamlin approached the table
and took from his pocket letter. which he
read by the Pickering candle-light. 1t con-
tained 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?"
f'Yes."
Don't go yet. 1 dreamed, just now,
Jack-Creamed of old times. l 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 his
hand.
'Its a good sign, amt it?" queried
Brown.
81 reckon. Say, old man, hadn't you
better get upT'
The ''old man." thus affectionately ap-
pealed to. arose, with the assistance OF
Hamlin's outstretched hand.
Smoker"
Brown mechanically took the protfered
cigar
Light"
Jack had twisted the letter into a spiral,
lit it, and held it for his companion. He
continued to hold it until it was consumed,
and dropped the fragment-a fiery star
from the open window. He watched it as
it fell. and then returned to his friend.
''Old man" he said, placing his hands
upon Browns shoulders, ''in ten minutes
I'll be on the road, and gone like that
spark. We won't see each other agin; but
before I go, take q fools advice: sell out all
you've got, take your wife with you, and
quit the country. 1t ant no place for you
nor her. Tell her she must go; make her
90, if she won't. Don whine because you
can't be saint, and she amt an angel. Be
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 deer. At the
stable-door he collared the half-sleeping
hostler, and backed him against the wall.
Saddle my horse in two minutes, or I'll
- The elipsis was frightfully sug-
gestive.
'FThe missis said you was TO have the
buggy, stammered the man.
Cd the buggy !"
The horse was saddled as fast as the ner-
vous hands of the astounded hostler could
manipulate buckle ana strap.
'.Is anything up. Mr.. Hamlin ?" said the
man, who like all his class, admired the
elan of his fiery patron, and was really con-
cerned in his welfare.
''Stand aside J.
The man fell back. With an oath, a
bound and clatter, Jack was into the road.
In another movement, to the mans half
awakened eyes, he was but moving cloud
of dust in the distance, toward which star
Just loosed from its brethren was trailing
stream of fire.
But. early that morning the dwellers by
the Wingdam turnpike, miles away, heard
a voice, pure as sky-larks. singing afeld.
They who were asleep turned over on their
rude couches to dream eff youth and love,
and olden days. Hard-faced men and
anxious gold-seekers, already at work,
ceased their labors and leaned upon their
picks to listen to a romantic vagabond
ambling away against the rosy sunrise
Overland Monthly for March.
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