The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-07-13

to the lantern, and finally fixed their
gaze on that luminous object, without
further recognition. "Miggles Be you
deaf? You amt dumb anyhow, you
know ;" and Yuba Bill shook the insen-
safe figure by the shoulder.
To our great dismay, as Bill removed
his hand, the venerable stranger appar-
emily collapsed-sinking into half his
size and an undistinguishable heap OF
clothing.
sWell, dern my skin," said Bill, look
ing appealing to us, and hopelessly retir-
ing from the contest.
The Judge now stepped forward, and
we lifted the mysterious invertebrate
back into his original position. Bill was
dismissed with the lantern to reconnoi-
| tire outside, for it was evident that from
| the helplessness of this solitary man there
must be attendants near at hand, and we
all drew around the fire. The Judge,
who had never lost his Conversations
| amiability, standing before us with his
! back to the hearth, charged us as an
| imaginary jury, as follows -
cit is evident that either our distin-
guished friend here has reached that
| condition described by Shakespeare as
the "sear and yellow leaf, or has suffer
ed some premature abatement of his
mental and physical faculties. Whether
he is really the Migges-''
Here he was interrupted by 'Migglesl
o Miggles Migglesy Mig!' and in fact
the whole chorus of Miggles in very
much the same key as it had once before
been delivered unto us.
We gazed at each other for moment
in some alarm. The Judge, in particular
vacated his position quickly, as the voice
seemed to come directly over his shout
der. The cause, however, was soon dis
covered in a large maybe, who was
perched upon shelf over the fireplace,
and who Immediately relapsed into a
sepulchral silence, which contrasted sin
gularly with his previous volubility. 1t
was. undoubtedly, his voice, which we
heard in the road, and our friend in the
chair was not responsible for the discour-
tesy. Yuba Bill, who re-entered the
room after an unsuccessful search, was
loath to accept the explanation, and still
eyed the helpless sitter with suspicion.
He had found shed in which he had put
up his horses, but he came back dripping
and skeptical. Thar amt nobody but
him within ten miles of the shanty, and
that ar id old skeesicks knows it,
But the faith of the majority proved to
be securely based. Bill had scarcely
ceased growing before we heard quick
step upon the porch, the trailing of a wet
skirt, the door was flung open, and with
flash of white teeth, sparkle of dark
eyes, and an utter absence of ceremony
or diffdence, a young woman entered,
shut the door, and, painting, leaning back
against it.
SO, if you please, I'm Miggles!"
And this was Miggles this bright
eyed, full throated young woman, whose
wet gown of coarse blue stuff could not
hide the beauty of the feminine curves to
which it chung /; from the chestnut crown
of whose head, topped by mans oil
skin sou wester, to the little feet and an
kles, hidden somewhat in the recesses OF
her boys brogans, all was grace this
was Miggles, laughing at us, too. in the
most airy, frank, off-hand manner imag-
Unable.
''You see, boys" said she, quite out OF
breath, and holding one little hand
against her side, quite unheeding the
speeches. discontinue Of our party, or
the complete decentralization of Yuba
Bill, whose features had relaxed into an
expression of gratuitous and imbecile
eheerfulness,-'syou see boys, I was
more n two miles away when you passed
down the road. [ thought you might
pull up here, and SO | ran the whole way,
knowing nobody was at home but Jim
and-and-I N out of breath-and-
that lets me out
And here Miggles caught her dripping
oil-skin hat from her head, with mis-
chievous swirl that scattered shower of
rain drops over US; attempted to put
back her hair; dropped two hair-pins in
the attempt; laughed and sat down be-
side Yuba Bill, with her hands crossed
lightly in her lap.
The Judge recovered himself first, and
essayed an extravagant compliment.
''I'll trouble you for that hair pin, F"
said Miggles gravely. Half dozen
hands were eagerly stretched forward !;
the missing hair-pin was restored to its
owner; and Miggles, crossing the room,
looked keenly in the face of the invalid,
The solemn eyes looked back at hers
with an expression we had never seen be-
FORE Life and intelligence seemed to
struggle back into the rugged face.
Miggles laughed again,-it was singu-
larly eloquent laugh.-and she turned
her black eyes and white teeth once more
towards US.
''This afflicted person is" besitated
the Judge.
'Jim,' said Miggles.
''Y our father ?'
"No."
'Brother?"
"No."
Husband p,
Miggles darted quick. half defiant
glace at the two lady passengers. who