The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-07-27

3 thence with letter in his hand. Bi,
t Medicine stopped and glanced up at tn
s window. There stood Carrie. III
Y smiled and muttered
"Right wher 1 fust saw the sweet lii
I. tie thing"
f Mr.. Golding passed him hastily,
great excitement flashing from his face
r Big Medicine gazed wonderingly afte
} his partner, till he saw him disappear u,
the stairs, then went into the store
room. He thought he heard wild or,
of JOY, but it might have been the wind
, When an hour passed, Mr.. Goldins
and Carrie came down to the store
room. How strangely beautiful th,
} girl was nowl
Mr.. Crook, I have glorious new
} this morning" said Golding.
"And what mought it be 2" said Biz
Medicine, as a damp chilliness crep
over him, and his face grew almost a.
pallid as the spotless bosom of his shirt
"The banking-house of Kelly & Krof
ton has resumed payment, which will
give me back nearly all my lost wealth.
Big Medicine was silent.
81 have determined, on the moment
to give you this house and all that's in
1t. can't take the time to write the
deed and fix up the matter now, but ]
will not neglect it. Carrie and I must
hasten at once to Cincinnati. The hack
is waiting, 80 goodbye, my dear friend
God bless you'll" Mr.. Golding wrune
his partners cold, limp hand without
noticing how fearfully haggard that
Roman face had suddenly grown.
Goodbye, Mr.. Crook; come to see
us very soon. 1t will be so lonesome
without YOU" Carrie spoke thus frank
ly as she gave him her hand also.
Big Medicine smiled great flaming
smile, but he spake no word. Carries
woman's heart sank under that look,
though she knew not wherefore.
The hack passed round the curve of
the road. They were gone. Big Medi-
cine stood alone in the door of the cor
ner-brick. He looked back over his
shoulders at the well-filled shelves and
mumbled out She amt here, and
what do want of the darned old store 2"
The wind rustled the elm leaves and
tossed the brown locks of the man over
| his great forehead the blue-birds sang
on the roof, the dust rose in little col
umns along the street, and high over
head, in the yellow mist of the fine June
weather, sailed heron, going to the
distant lakes.
He closed and locked the door and
went out into the woods. A month
passed ere he returned. Meantime
where had he beenp Only hunting for
Mr.. Golding and Carrie. He found
them, after long s-arch, in splendid
cottage on the nights just out of Gin
cinnati. Mr.. Golding greeted him cord
tally, but somehow it did not seem to
Big Medicine that Mr.. Golding was
really before him. His heart did not
realize it.
"Carrie is in the garden. She will be
glad to see you. Go out through the
hall, you will see the little gate"
Mr.. Golding waved his hand after the
manner of rich man, as he spoke and
smiled patronizingly.
With hesitating step and heart
full of unreal sensations, Big Medicine
strobe into the tlower-garden. Sudden
ly vision, such as he had seen in the
dreams of childhood, burst on his daz-
zled eyes. Flowers and vines, and
statues and fountains, on every hand
rich colors, perfumes so mixed and in
tensified that his senses almost gave
way, long winding walks, fairy bowers,
and-music. He paused and listened.
A heavy voice, rich and manly, singing
a love ballad to the tinkling accompani-
ment Of q guitar, and blended through
it all, like silver thread, the low sweet
voice of Carrie Golding.
Two steps forward, and Big Medicine
lowered above the lovers thus reunited
after long separation.
Carrie sprang to her feet with start
led cry; then recognizing the visitor,
she held out her little hand and well
comad him. Turning to her lover, she
said:
Henry, this is Mr.. Crook, papa's late
partner"
Henry Marshal was real gentleman,
so he took the visitors great hard hand |
in cordial way, and said that he was
glad to see him.
Big Medicine stood for a moment |
holding hand of each of the lovers. |
He did not speak, but putting the sweet
girls hand in that of her lover, he turn
ed away. AS he did so tear-a great |
bitter drop-rolled down his haggard
cheek. A few long strides, and Big
Medicine was gone.
Shrilly piped the blue-birds, plain
lively sang the pee wees. sweetly through |
the elms and burr-oaks by the corner
brick blew the fresh summer wind, as
just at sunset, Big Medicine once more
stood in front of the old-building, with
his eyes fixed on the vacant, staring
1t was scarcely d minute that he stood
there, but long enough for tender out
line of the circumstances of the past
year to rise in his memory.
A rustling at the broken lattice, a
sudden thrill through the iron frame of
the watching man, a glimpse of sweet,
face-no, it was fancy.
Big Medicine raised his eyes toward
heaven. which was now golden and
flashing resplendently with sunset glor-
es. High up, almost among the burn
ng clouds, great heron was toiling
heavily westward. Taking the course
chosen by the lone bird, Big Medicine
went away; and the places that once
Knew him know him no more forever
NJ Y. Tribune.
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