The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-11-26

| diNl TOtN- VII lOi a uoStUl w oAiNN oiiN
intruder away.
When he returned he found all the
men in the camp seated OH Il log III
front of his own door. and then he
knew he mu7t prepare for the worst
only one OF the great influences
of the world could force every Pike
from his own door at exactly the same
time. There they sat, yellow faced,
bearded. long-baeked and bent. each
looking like the other, and all like
| Sam, and, as he dismounted, they look
ed at him.
''Ilow is she?" said Sam, tying
his horse and the doctors, while the
latter went in.
"Wcll, "Said the oldest man. with
deliberation. ''wimmin's all thar, if
that's any sign"
Each man on the log inclined his
head slightly but positively to the left,
thus manifesting belief that Sam had
been correctly and sufficiently answer
ed. Sam himself seemed 70 regard bis
information in about the same man
ner.
Suddenly the rawhide whicn formed
the door of Sans house was pushed
aside. and a woman came out and
called Sam, and he disappeared from
his log.
As he entered his hut all the women
lifted sorrowful faces and retired; 10
one even fingered, for the Pike has
not the common human interest in
other peoples buSiness-he lacks that,
as well as certain Similar virtues Of
civilization.
Sam dropped by the bedside and was
human, his heart was in the right
place. and. though heavily intrenehed
by years Of laziness, whisky and to-
bacco, it could be brought to the front,
and it came POW.
The dying woman cast her eyes aD-
pealingly at the surgeon, and that
worthy stepped outside the door. Then
the yellow-faccd woman said:
sam. doctor says amt got much
time lett."
MARY" said Sam, II wish ter God
Icould die fur yer. The children"
''Tt's them | want to talk abont,
Sam" replied his wife, An wish
they could die with me, rather'n hev
'em live ez I've he'd to. Not that You
amt been q kind husband to me, for
YOU hev. Whenever I've wanted meat
yev got it somehow; an when yev
been ugly drunk yev kept away from
the house. But I'm dyin', Sam, and
it's cos you've killed me-"
Good God, Mary" cried the as
tonished sam, jumping up; 'yu're
crazy-here. doctor"
doctor can't do 10 good, Sam ;
keep still and listen, ct yer love me
like yer once sed yer did ; fur | hewitt !
got much breath left" gasped the
woman.
MAR" said the aggrieved Sam;
II swow to God dunno what yer
tlrivin' at"
"Il's Jest this, Sam, replied the wo-
man. Yer TUX me, tellin' me yed
love me an honor me, an perfect me.
You mean ter to say now yer done it?
I'm a dyin', Sam hain't got no IA
vors to ask of nobody, an I'm tellin'
the truth, not KNOWN what word III
be my last"
"Then tell fellcr where the KILN
came in, Mary, for heavens sake"
said the unhappy Sam.
ITS come in all along, Sam" said
the woman. "There is women in the
States, so I've heem, that marrics fur
q home an bread an butter, but you
promised more'n that, Sam. An I've
waited, an ii ain'tcome. An there's
III me that's all starved and
cut to pieces, An it's vour fault,
Sam. TUX yer fur better or far wnss,
m I've never Grumbled. "
II know yer hain't, Mary" whis-
Dered the conscience-Stricken Pike.
AN | know what yer mean. Ef
iod'll oaly let yer be fur few years,
III see il the thing can't be helped.
Don't cuss me, Mary I've never
how I've been agoin'. Iwish
here WIS something | could do fore
'ou go. to pay yer all owe yer. I'd
70 back on everything that makes life
worth hevin'."
"Pay it to the children, SAM said
he sick woman, raising herself in her
miserable bed. I'M forgive yer every
hing if you'll do the right thing for
hem. Do--do--everythin said
he woman, throwing up her arms and
alling backward. Her husbands
rms caught her; his lips brought to
ler wan face a smile, which the grim
,isitor, who an instant later stole her
,reath, pityingly left in tull possession
II the rightful Inheritance from which
had been SO long excluded.
sam knelt Tor II moment with his
ace beside Ills wife--wllat he said or
lid the Lord only knew, but the doc !,
or, who was Of a speculative mind,
afterwards said that when Sam aP-
,eared ut the door be showed the first