The Portland daily press., 1874-07-04


posterously eXtravagant offer for a choice OF
the flowers. Presently he returned to the
carriage with his arms full of roses, hello
trope, and verbena. and cast them in the lap
of the invalid. While she was bending over
them with childish delight, Mr.. Oakhurst
took the opportunity OF drawing her husband
aside.
Perhaps" he said, in low voice, and
manner quite free from any personal annoy
ance, perhaps it's just as well that you lied
to her as you did. You can say now that
the pickpocket was arrested the other day,
and you got your money back" Mr.. Oak
hurst quietly slipped four twenty-dollar gold
pieces into the broad hand of the bewidered
Mr.. Decker. Say that-or anything you
like but the truth. Promise me you won't
say thatP
The man promised. Mr.. Oakhurst quietly
returned to the front of the little carriage.
The sick woman was still eagerly occupied
with the flowers, and as she raised her eyes
to his, her faded cheek seemed to have
caught some color from the roses, and her
eyes some of their dewy freshness. But at
that instant Mr.. Oakhurst lifted his hat, and
before she could thank him vas gone.
/ grove to say that Mr.. Decker shameless
ly broke his promise. That night, in the
very goodness of his heart and uXorious self
abnegation-he, like all devoted husbands,
not only offered himself but his friend and
benefactor, as a sacrifice on the family altar.
1t is only fair, however, to add that he spoke
with great tervor of the generosity of Mr..
Oakhurst, and dealt with an enthusiasm
quite common with his class, on the mystic
rious fame and prodigal vices of the gambler.
''And now, Elsie dear, say that you'll for
give me-" said Mr.. Decker. dropping on one
knee beside his wife's couch; 81 did it for the
best. 1t was tor you, dea.ey, tina: | put that
money on them cards that night in Frisco.
/ thought to win Il heap-enough to take you
away, and enough left to get you new
dress"
Mrs. Decker smiled and pressed her hus-
bands hand. Il do forgive you, Joe DEAR
she said, still smiling, with eyes abstractedly
fixed on the ceiling; "and yeu ought to be
whipped for decieving me so, you bad boy,
and making me such a speech. There say
no more about it. If you'll be very good
hereafter, and will just now hand me that
cluster OF roses, I'll forgive YOU" She took
the branch in her fingers, lifted the roses to
her face, and presently said, behind their
leaves:
"Joew
''What is it, lovey?'
s'Do you think that this Mr-wha. do you
call him Pack Oakhurst would have given
that money back to you if hadn't made that
speech?"
Yes"
"If he hadn't seen me at all ?''
Mr.. Decker looked up. His wife had man
aged in some way to cover up her whole face
with the loses, except her eyes, which were
dangerously bright
''No; it was you, Else-it was all along
of seeing you that made him do it,
"a poor sick woman like meP'
"a sweet, little, lovely, poorly Elsie--Joe's
Ia xrif, low, l,, I,r1,, -
Mrs. Decker fondly cast one arm around
her husbands neck, still keeping the roses to
her face with the other. From behind them
she began to murmur gently and idiotically,
Dear ole square Joey. Elsie's oney booful
big bear" But, really, do not see that my
duty as chronicler of facts compels me to
continue this little lady's speech any futher,
and out of respect to the unmarried reader |
stop.
Nevertheless, the next morning Mrs. Deck
er betrayed some slight and apparently I'M
called-for irritabilty on reaching the plaza,
and presently desired her husband to wheel
her back home.
Moreover, she was very much astonished at
meeting Mr.. Oakhurst just as they were re-
turning, and even doubted if it were he. and
questioned her husband as to his identity
with the stranger of yesterday as he approach
ed. Her manner to Mr.. Oakhurst, also, was
quite in contrast with her husbands frank
welcome. Mr.. Oakhurst instantly detected
it. Her husband has told her all, and she
dislikes me-" he said to himself, with that
fatal appreciation of the half truths of a
woman's motives that causes the wisest
masculine critic to stumble. He fingered
only long enough to take the business address
OF the husband, and then lifting his hat grave
~, without looking at the lady, went his way.
1t struck the honest master carpenter as one
OF The charming anomalies of his wifes
character, that, although the meeting was
evidently very much constrained and un-
pleasant, instantly atterward his wife's spirits
began to rise. ''You was hard on hn-a
leetle hard wasn't you, Elsie ?' said Mr..
Decker ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS afraid he may
think Eve broke my promise" s'Ah, in
deed" said the lady indiIierently. MIR. Deck
er Instantly stepped round to the front of the
vehicle. "You look like an Al first class
lady riding down Broadway in her own car
riage, Elsie.' said he; 81 never seed you
lookin'so peart and sassy before.'
A few days later the proprietor of the San
Isabel Sulphur Springs received the follow
ing note in Mr.. Oakhurst's welI-known dam
ty hand:
DEAR STEVE: I've been thinking over your
proposition to buy Nichols quarter interest,
ana have concluded to go in. But | don't see
how the thing will pay until you have more ac-
commodaton down there, and for the best
cass-l mean mig customers. What we want
is an extension to tbs main building, and two
or three cottages put up l sent down a build
er to take hold of the job at once He takes
his sick wife with him, and you are to look
after them as you would for one of us.
may run down there myself after the races,
just to look after things ;but shant set up any
game this season. Yours Always,
JOHN oAkHuRsr.
1t was only the last sentence of this letter
that provoked criticism: 81 can under
stand" said Mr.. Hamlin, a professional
brother, to whom Mr.. Oakhurst's letter was
shown, 81 can understand why Jack goes in
heavy and builds, for it's sure spec, and is
bound to be mighty soft thing in time, if
he comes here regularly. But why in blank
he DONE set up a bank this season and take
the chance of getting some of the money
back that he puts into circulation in building,
Ia what gets me. l wonder now,' he unused |
deeply, "what is his little game''
.-Fhe season had been prosperous one to |
MI. Oakhurst, and proportionally disastrous
TO several members of the Legislature, Judges. |
Colonies, and others who had epioyed buf |
briefly the pleasure of Mr. Oakhurst's mid |
night society. And yet Sacramento had be- !
come very dull to him. He had lately formed |
a habit OF early-morning walks-so upusal |
and startling to his friends, both nraIe and fe- |
male, as to occasion the intensest curiosity |
Two or three OF the latter set spies upon his |
track, but the nquisition resulted only in the
discovery that Mr.. Oakhurst walked to the
plaza, sat down upon one particular bench |
Tor few moments, and then returned with
out seeing anybody, and the theory that
lhere was woman in the case was aban-
doned. A few superstitious gentlemen of
bis own profession believed that he did if for
luck" Some others, more practical. de-
ciared that he went out to Study points,
After the races at Marysviile, Mr.. Oak
hurst went to San Francisco; from that place
ne returned to MarysviIle, but few DAYS
liter was seen at San Jose, Sahta Cruz. and
oakland. Those who met him declared that
us manner was restless and feverish. and
quite unlike his ordinary calmness and
,hlegm. Col. Starbottle pointed out the fact
nat at San Francisco at the club. Jack had
leclined to deal. "Hand shaky. Sir: denend
lpon it; don't stimulate enough-blank
limp
From San Jose he started to 90 to Oregon
~ land with rather expensive outfit of
lorses and camp equipage, but on reaching
stockton he suddenly diverged, and four
lours later found him with single horse en-
erlng the canon of the San Isabel Warm
sulphur Springs.
1t was pretty triangular valley lying at