The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-05
THE ROSE OF TUolUMNE.
A NEW STORY BY BRET HARTE.

And In the midst OF TINS gayety
she concluded that she would spend
a week with the Robinsons- to
whom she owed a visit. She enjoyed
herself greatly there, so much, indeed, that
she became quite hollow eyed, the result, as
she explained to her father. of too frequent
indulgence in festivity. "You see, father,
/ won't have many chances after John and
are married-you know how queer he is
and must make the most of my time" and
she laughed an odd little laugh, which had
lately become habitnal to her. "And how
is Mr.. Dent getting on?" Her father re-
piled that he was getting on very well in
deed, so we'll, in fact that he was able to
leave for San Francisco two days ago. "He
wanted to be remembered to you, jimmy
remembered kindly,'-yes, they is the very
words he used, said Mr.. McClosky, looking
down and consulting one of his large shoes
for oorroboration. Miss Jenny was glad to
hear that he was so much better. Miss
Jenny could not imagine anything that
pleased her more than to know that he was
so strong as to be able to rejoin his friends
again who must love him so mach and be so
anxious about him. Her father thought she
would be pleased, and now that he was gone
there was really no necessity for her to
hurry back. Miss Jenny, in high metallic
voice. did not know that she had expressed
any desire to stay-still, if her presence
father was DESTROYS of getting rid of her-ii,
when she was so soon to leave his roof for
ever, he still begrudged her those few DAYS
remaining-if-"My God, jimmy, so help
mep said Mr.. McClosky, clutching desper-
ately at his beard, 81 didn't go for to say
anything of the kind. I thought that you
:" "Never mind. father" interrupted
Jenny, magnanimously. ''you misunder-
stood me; of course you did, you couldn't
help it-you're a mani" "Mr. McClosky
sorely crushed, would have vaguely pro-
tested, but his daughter, having relieved
| herself after the manner of her sex, with a
mental personal application of an abstract
statement, forgave him with kiss.
Nevertheless. for two or three days after
her return, Mr.. McClosky followed his
daughter about the house with yearning
eyes, and occasionally with timid, difident
| feet. Sometimes he came upon her sud-
denly at her household tasks with an excuse
so palpably false, and careless manner SC
outrageously studied that she was fain to be
embarrassed for him. Later he took to
rambling about the house at night, and was
often seen noiselessly passing and re-passing
through the hall after she had retired. On
one occasion he was surprised, first by sleep
and then by the early rising Jenny as be
lay on the rug outside her chamber door
"You treat me like a child, father" said
Jenny. ST thought, jimmy" said the faith
or apologetically, 81 thought / heard
sounds as If you was takin' on inside, ard
| listenin' fell asleep" You dear old SIM
past her fathers eyes and lifting his griz.
zled locks one by one with meditative fin
gers, "what should be taking on for?
Look how much taller am than you," she
said, suddenly lifting herself up to the ex-
| treme of her superb figure. Then rubbing
his head rapidly with both hands, as If she
were amounting his hair with some rare I'M
guent, she patted him on the back and re-
turned to her room. The result of this and
one or two other equally sympathetic inter-
views was to produce change in Mr.. Nc
Closky's manner, which was, If possible, still
more discomposirg. He grew Enthusiastically
hilarious, cracked jokes with the servants,
and repeated to Jenny humorous stories,
with the attitude of righteousness carefully
preserved throughout the entire narration,
| and the point utterly ignored and forgotten.
| Certain incidents reminded him OF funny
| things, which invariably turned out to have
not the slightest relevancy or application.
He occasionally brought home with him
practical humorists. with a sanguine hope of
setting them going like the music-box, for
his daughters edifcation. He essayed the
singing of melodies, with great freedom of
style and singular limitation of note. He
sang )a"Come Home to the Wedding Ye
single line, and that incorrectly, as being
peculiarly apt and appropriate. Yet away
from the house and his daughters presence
he was silent and distraught. His absence
of mind was particularly noted by his work.
men at the Empire Quartz MILL" "Ef the
old man don't look out and wake up" said
his foreman, she'll hev them feet of his yet
under the stamps. When he amt givin' his
mind to 'em, they is altogether too promis-
kuss."
A few nights later, Miss Jenny recognized
her fathers hand in timid tap at the door.
She opened it, and he stood before her, with
valise in his hand, equipped as for jour-
ney. al takes the stage tonight, jimmy dear,
from Four Forks to frisco. Maybe 1 may
week. Good-by."
Good-by." He still held her hand.
Presently he drew her back into the room,
closing the door carefully, and glancing
around. There was look of profound cum
ming in his eyes as he said slowly: