The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-12-10

gave NSut 70 low Nliues 4OOASu
once again into his masters face and
ct the men, trembled Q moment, shut
the light from his eyes, aud was dead.
The Partner did not stir, but still
continued to stroke the long eSTs and
sob. Then with an impatient gesture
he brushel the seslding tears from
his cheeks, aud said
"BOys, it are many a long year
since theSe eyes war wet as you sees
'em now. IL are many, many long
year. P'Frsps you fellers know what
is is ter lose sich friend as this dog
wuz, an mebbe you don't. Did you
ever, boys, did you ever have a father,
a mother, AM sister die all at to
wuDst, an all yer friends forsake ye
Eff ye have them ye can know how l
feel now. Fer ten long years. added
;. the old man, as his tears broke out
afresh, "this pup supported himself
and me by performing in a circus;
an, boys when he got old an couldn't
do it any more, he used to steal meat
from hatcher shops in Frisco to keep
US both alive. But he wasn't a thief,
gentlemen, it guz me as alters put
him up to it, an 'spose ef he's gone
to heaven he'll have ter suffer for it.
Poor feller Boys, had ruther had
this right arnold an weak an use
less as it is-cut square off my body
than had Juno die. He was friend
to mesieh as I never will see agin;
but he's gone-gone. o! Juno, why
i didnit yer wait fer the old man ter 90
with yer Come back old boy Come
back 4 Yer mustn't leave mel OF
Juno.D and The Partner in his grief
swayed back aHd forth, and the tears
rolled down frOn his cheeks, falling
upon the bleeding head in his lap like
rain.
"Boys he continued, again quelling
his weeping, Il wish some of you
fellers would rerder me a leetle ser
vice. / hain't GOT no money ter pay
you with, but kin thank you all the
same. There'snO use in my living
any longer now that Juno is dead.
He wuz all lived for anyhow. You
fellers have long wanted me to leave
the Bari wish some OF you would
shoot me! Yes shoot me-right in
here" and Tie Partner placed his
finger upon bis forehead. The min
ers gathered abound who, four hours
before, would have felt that The Part
ner's death was q blessing to Good
wins Bar, nov had their soft hearts
touched by the old mans startling re-
quest. 81 tell yer, Pete" said old
Bentley to Singleton, while q little
tear glistened in his eye and fell to the
earth, 'I never thought The Partner
was so much of man. He Is in love
with that dorg as sure as gun. Let's
move him away fore he freezes to
the corpse an goes crazy. Poor old
| devil"
"Pardner,n said Pete, going to the
weeping man, and bending over him,
''ye don't want ter die now. There's
many long day in this world yet
afore you shuffis off. Now, git up, l
old fellow, and let's give Juno a de-
cent burial, for we all thort as much
o. him as you did. Here, catch a
holt Of me-"
mo, yer iIdn't. Pete" replied the
old man, paying no heed to the mi
ner's request to arise: ''you nor no
other man knows how loved Juno.
That dorg," he continued, still fond
ling the silky ears, "was MORN a
world fer me. Poor feller, he lost his
life cause i asked him to, an he
would have done the same for any of
you. Oh, Juno, come back 1t seems
I don't want ter live any more But,
never mind, boy, I'll meet yer agin,
cause ye must ave went ter heaven.
Good old feller = dead = no -ye
mustn't be dead nobody can kill such
a mind as you had i'm that head"
Persuasions finally caused The Part
ner to relinquish his position beside
the dead body, and Pete Singleton al
most carried him to the b9r-room of
the Red Lion, he was so weak.
"Bill, ye air q good feller," the old
man said as the stout miner laid him
upon a cot, and administered dose OF
Bourbon. One potion followed an
other until The Partner was very
much under the influence of liquor,
but in spite of it his mind wandered
to objects and scenes no one in the
camp had ever heard of or witnessed.
JuDO's body was encased in a sugar
pine box, q neat grave was dug beside
the cliff, and be was put away forever
-AIittla mound only marking the
spot. The sorrow and regret for The
Partner was universal, and all with
one accord considered him an object
of pity rather than animOsity. A
watch was set with him and Good
wins Bar went TO sleep.
Morning dawned. THE camp rose
early and went to its work, while The
Partner sought the little mound and
sat beside it weeping all day long. The
sun went down behind the hills that
night, and saw him with its last glance
still at his post. The stars twinkled
hesitatinglY in the armament, and
the moon raised his bright, golden
visage into view. The cool evening
breeze whirled along merrily through
space, and sll saw the same scene. 1t
was not until Pete Singleton went end
reminded the discOnsolate man that
the heavy dew was falling and it was
going to rain, that he relinquished his
watch. Again Pete almost carried
him to the little cabin saloon. "An'
1 tell YER" said Pete, Immediately af-
ter laying him down. "that man will
never git off that bed agin.n
His prophecy was verified. Early
in the morning The Partner awoke de.
lirous, and raved uninterrupted until
evening. One moment a phantom
whip was lashing him, and the strokes
unseen to all eyes save his own, left
welts upon his back; another moment
Juno was beside him, and he was
stroking the black head and silky ears
affeetiOnately. About midnight he
aWoke rational, but his strength was
absolutely gone, for he could not lift
his arm, and could only converse in
whispers. a dose of liquor was ad-
ministered, the only infallible medi-
cine of the Bar, which seemed to re-
vive him. Turning partly over he
said to Singleton, who was watcher
"Pete."
"WelI ?''
"a lettle closer-old-man."
Pete put his ear near to The Part
ner's face and listened. Again the old
fellow whispered
"Pete."
"WelI Pr
"I'm goin'-ter die-in few min
utes."
sob, no, yer ANTI
HYes, 1 see, Pete. seed Juno just
then L seed bis soft eyes and black
head Just as plain as L see you now.
He was lOokin' square at me, too. An
he spoke to me, Pete-spoke to me
do you hear ?-spoke to me ~
"No, 1 guess not, pardner."
f'Yes, he did. Pete 2"
"Well ?"
"Closer. Pete, 1 want ter ask a
Ieetle favor, very leetle one, you
know, Pete; will you bury me side o.
him termorrer-side o. hiHl-side o.
Juno. Will yer, Pete p"
"Yes."
"Thank yer, old man. Gimme yer
claw" Pete extended his hard, sun
burned palm, which The Partner
grasped and held q long time. He lay
gazing at spot upon the ceiling for
an hour, until the huge clock on the
wall attracted his attention, and he
transferred his eyes to its face. The
hands pointed at one, and as the
little bell pealed out its single note
the dying mans senses seemed to re-
turn to him. Family he whispered:
ffPeteu tF
"WelI?"
"Juno got that bird out of the river
an brought him to land, didn't he"
"Yes."
"I didn't know but he dropped him.
All right. Say, Pete" continued The
Partner, after long pause. nat 2
o'clock.n
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