Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-08

One afternoon--it might have beer
three weeks after the exodus of Lot.
partners-one of our neighbors, en-
gagged in mining three miles further uI
the gulch, refined into camp on his wa,
back from the city. where he had been
To deposit his dust in the Miners bank
and got out a lot of supplies.
''Ilalloo, George Chris Here are
letters for you" he cried, tossing us
the welcome mssives.
Lot. lettering up, with quizzical
smile perpetrated his standing joke -
wall, saay, ye amt got nothin' fur
me, naow, amt yep
No. l guess not" returned the 9th.
er, with peculiar twinkle beneath his
bushv eyebrows "but thar's woman
an four small children on the way.
asking for jest sich a looking feller as
you"
Lots jocularity vanished in an in
stant. his jaw dropped, and with visi-
bic agitation he blurted out -
Come, naow. none of yer foolin'
lc don't pull that on with me-"
"Fooling: Nary time It's sober
Truth
\ sickly pallor swept the mans
countenance. and he seemed to shrink
within himself until dwarfed much be-
low his usual diminutive stature.
What what's that yaou say" he
stammered wildly.
81 say woman an four small chill
dren ar coming this way, searching for
a husband and father"
"How fur behind" gasped the anx-
ious Lot. whose legs were fast getting
trcmulous under him.
/ ''Oh, 4 matter of three miles or
/ thereabouts - and with nod and
knowing glance, and mo further news,
boys" to us, the little mule, answering
the spur Of his rider. struck into a
brisk gallop, which speedily carried
them both out of sight.
There we stood, inquiringly facing
Lot. He gulped awhile; but finally
/ out with II.
The fact is, boys-Pm married :"
And with this lucid explanation, Lot,
with rapid and somewhat unsteady
step, disappeared within his cabin.
After n few seconds. he hastily
emerged, bearing in his hand a pack
of thumbed and greasy cards, set of
dice. several worn "dime novels" and
an old "Comique Songster."
II guess. boys, shan't need these
any longer" he said flushing painfully
alternately standing on one foot, and
then shifting his weight to the other !;
$50 thought I'd jist clean 'em eout.
Some wimmen folk is pertickerler, We
know"
Chris took the articles, and offered
TO keep them for him.
"Wall, if ye've mind TO. I'd be
much obleeged 10 ye. Ii mought be
possible-barely possible, We know
they'd come handy some time" And
Lot, his neck just bending to receive
the yoke, looked forward with vague
expectancy TO a dim chance Of future
release.
Plying the poor fellows evident dis
comtiture, we refrained from joking or
questioning him, and impatientlv
awaited those coming events which
had 50 Enthusiastically least their shad-
ows before"
just at sundown, a novel train was
seen weuding its way toward the camp.
Lot stood in the door OF his cabin,
while we, drawn together little in the
background, watched for developments.
In advance rode a figure in female ap-
parel, perched upon the back of a
guant pack-horse, child, just past the
threshold of infancy, clasped by one
arm, and another, also Of tender years,
sitting astride the pillion, its limited
embrace aspiring to encircle the ma
ternal waist. A trifle in the rear came
rough mountaine"r, in the capacity
of guide, sandwiched betweel two
children Of larger growth, the elder
of whom could not have exceeded the
age Of ten years. A monstrous dog
OF the st. Bernard breed formed, sue
cessively, flank and rear.
Checking the beast within few rods
of us, the woman gave keen scruti-
nizing glance around, which rested at
last iixedly upon the countenance OF
Lot.
That's him." she exclaimed, in a
strong, decided, though not unmusical
voice, nodding significantly to the
guide. "We'll STOP"
Clasping the infant tightly, and loos-
ing the arms of the other from about
her waist, down she slid, 1.-the as a
young girl and in twinkling had the
three children on their feet, and the
youngest transferred to the arms of
the ten-year-old.
Lot waited in an apparently defect
ed mood. while she settled with the
guide from her own pocket, with busi-
ness like dispatch. Then she led her
little brood, followed closely by the
dog, up TO the door of our neighbor's
cabin.
"Well, Lot, we've come"
IL see you have, Marier"'
And the door closed upon Lot and
his family.
On the ensuing morning we were
able to arrive at more correct esti-
mate of the new comer, who early in
troduced herself to US as Lots wife"
She was of fair complexion, short in
stature and very slim about the waist.
Her thin. flaXen hair was drawn
smoothly back from prominent fore
head. and fastened in a tight button
| like knot at the back of her neck.
Restless blue eyes, a sharp nose, thin
checks. and a firm large mouth, filled
with even, white teeth, completed the
list OF her personal characteristics.
Energy, decision, business, was writ
ten on every lineament of the little
woman's countenance-spoke in every
restless move Of her ''lissome" body.
In the first three sentences she spoke
a contract was matured to the effect
that we, furnishing the wherewith,
should thenceforward look to her to