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


bernian "deck passengers, set the table
with all the available crockery, we had
become quite joyous, in spite of the rain
that beat against the windoT the wind
that whirled down the chimney, the two
ladies who whispered together in the
corner, or the maybe who uttered sa-
tirical and croaking commentary on their
conversation from his perch above. lp
the now bright, blazing fire we could SEE
that the walls were papered with Illus
trated journals. arranged with feminine
taste and discrimination. The furniture
was extemporized, and adapted from
candle-boxes and packing-cases. and
covered with gay calico, or the SKIN OF
some animal. The armchair OF the help
less Jim was an ingenious variation OF a
flour barrel. There was neatness, and
even taste for the picturesque, to be
seen in the few details of the long, low
room.
The meal was a culinary success. But
more, it was social triumph, chiefly, l
think, owing to the rare tact OF Ml@gles
in guiding the conversation, asking all
the questions herself, yet bearing
throughout frankness that rejected the
idea of any concealment on her own part,
so that we talked of ourselves, Of our
prospects, of the journey,of the weather,
of each other,-of everything bat our
that Miggles's conversation was never
elegant. rarely grammatical, and that at
times she employed explosives. the use
of which had generally been yielded to
our sex. But they were delivered with
such lighting up Of teeth and eyes, and
were usually followed by a laugh-a
laugh peculiar to Miggles-so frank and
honest that it seemed to clear the moral
atmosphere.
Once, during the meal we heard a
noise like the rubbing of heavy body
against the outer walls of the house.
This was shortly followed by scrutch-
ing and shifting at the door. THAT s
Joaquin" said Miggles, in reply to our
questioning Chances; would you like TO
see. him p Before we could answer
she had opened the door, and disclosed
half grown grizzly, who instantly raised
himself on his launches, with his fore
paws hanging down in a popular attitude
of mendicancy, and looked admiringly at
Miggles, with very singular resem-
blance in his manner to Yuba Dill.
That's my watch dog" said Mlggles,
in explanation O, he don't bite, " she
added, as the two lady passengers 1utter-
ed into corner. ''Does he old Toppy?''
1.-THE latter remark being addressed to
the sagacious Joaquin Il tell you what,
boys" continued Miggles, after she had
fed and closed the door upon U1sa Nj
nor, you were in big luck that Joaquin
wasn't hanging round when you dropped
in tonight"
Where was he?" asked the Judge.
with me-" said Miggles. Lord love
you, he trots round with me at night as
if he was man.
We were silent for a few moments, and
listened to the wind. Perhaps we all
had the same picture before us,-of Mig
giles walking through the rainy wood,
with her savage guardian at her side.
The Judge, I remember, said something
about Una and her lion; but Miggies re-
ceived it as she did other compliments,
with quiet gravity. Whether she was
altogether unconscious of the admiration
she excited-she could hardly have been
oblivious of Yuba Bills adoration,-I
know not, but her very frankness sug-
gestod perfect sexual equality tina, was
cruelty humiliating to the younger mem
bers of our party.
The incident of the bear did not add
anything in Miggles's favor to the opin-
ions of those Of her own sex who were
present. In fact the repast over, a chill
illness radiated from the two lady passen-
gers that no pine boughs brought in by
Yuba Bill and cast as a sacrifice upon
the hearth could wholly overcome. Mig
giles felt it and, suddenly declaring that
the ladies to their bed in an adjoining
room You boys will have to camp
out here by the fire as well as you can,
she added, ''for thar amt but the one
room.
Our sex-by which, my dear sis, I al
Jude Of course to the stronger portion Of
humanity-has been generally relieved
from the imputation of curiosity, or a
fondness for gossip. Yet am constrained
to say, that hardly had the door closed
on Miggles than we crowded together,
whispering, snickering, smiling and ex-
changing suspicious, surmises, and a
thousand speculations in regard to our
pretty hostess, and her singular compan-
ion. [ fear that we even hustled that
little imbecile paralytic who sat like a
-voiceless Memnon in our midst, gazing
with the serene Indifference Of the Past
in his passionless eyes upon our wordy
counsels. In the pidst of an exciting
discussion the door opened again, and
Miggles re-entered.
But not, apparently, the same Miggles
who few hours before had flashed upon
US. Her eyes were downeast, and she
hesitated for moment on the threshold,
with blanket on her arm, she seemed
to have left behind her the frank fearless
ness which had charmed us moment