Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-26
BRET HARTE's NEW STORY.
THE ROSE OF TUOLUMNE.
Pictures Of Life Among the Miners
Of California.
From the New York Times.
CONCLUDED From YESTERDAY

1
Of California.
From the New York Times.
CONCLUDED FROM YEsTERDAY.1
CHAPTER II.
Before noon the next day 1t was general
ly believed throughout -Four Forks that
Ridgeway Dent had been attacked and
wounded at Chemisal Ridge by highway
man, who had fled on the approach of the
Wingdam coach. 1t is to be presumed that
this statement met with Ridgeway's APP
proyal, as he did not contradict it, nor sup
plement it with any details. His wound
was severe, but not dangerous. After the
first excitement had subdued, there was, 1
think, prevailing impression, common to
the provincial mind, that his misfortune
was the result of the defective moral quality
of his being a stranger, and was in a vague
sort of way a warning to others and
lesson to him. '.Did you hear how that
San Francisco Teller was took down the
other night?o was the average tone of in
troductory remark. Indeed, there was a
general suggestion that Ridgeway's pres
ence was one that no self-respecting, high
minded highwayman, honorably conserva-
tive of the best interests of Tuolumne
county, could for moment tolerate.
Except for the few words spoken on that
eventful morning, Ridgeway was reticent
of the past. When Jenny strove to gather
some details of the affray that might offer a
clue to his unknown assailant, a subtle
twinkle in his brown eyes was the only re-
Spouse. When Mr.. McClosky attempted
the same process the young gentleman
threw abusive epithetS, and eventually slip
pers, teaspoons. and other lighter articles
fl,a Of att 1,a hoa
of the questiOner. 81 think he's coming
round, jimmy" said Mr.. McClosky, che
laid for me this morning with a candle
stick"
1t was about this time that Miss Jenny,
having sworn her father to secrecy regard
ing the manner in which Ridgeway had
been carried into the house, conceived the
idea of addressing the young man as "Mr.
Dent" and of apolOgizing for intruding
whenever she entered the room in the dis
charge Of her household duties. 1t was
about this time that she became more
rigidly conscientious to those duties, and
less general in her attentions; il was at this
time that the quality of the invalid's diet
improved, and that she consulted him less
frequently about it. 1t was about this time
that she began to see more company, that
the house was greatly frequented by her
former admirers, with whom she rode,
walked and danced. 1t was at about this
time, also, and when Ridgeway was able to
be brought out on the yeranda in a chair
that, with great archnesS of manner, she in
troduced to him Miss Lucy Ashe, the sister
of her betrothed-a flashing brunette and
terrible heart-breaker of Four Forks. And
in the midst of this gayety she concluded
that she would spend week with the Rob
inSOns-tO whom she owed a visit. She
enjoyed herself greatly there, so much in
deed 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 I.must
make the most of my time" and she laughed
an odd little laugh, which had lately
become habitual to her. 'And how
is Mr.. Dent getting On?" Her father re-
piled that he was getting on very well in
deed, so well, in fact, that be was able TO
leave for San Francisco two days ago. '.He
wanted to be remembered TO you, jimmy
rendered kindly'-yes, they is the very
words he used, said Mr.. NcClosky, looking
down and consulting one of his large shoes
for confederation. 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 join his friends
again, who must love him so much and be so
anxious about him. Herfather 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 had
become distasteful at home-if her own
father was DESTROYS of getting rid of her
if, when she was so soon to leave his roof
forever, he still begrudged her those few
DAYS remaining-if-'MyG God, jimmy, so
help mey' said Mr.. McClosky, clutching
despairingly at his beard, II didn't 90 for
to say ANYTHING of the kind. l thought
that YOU '.Never mind, father" inter-
TIpted Jenny, magLanimously, 'you mis-
understood me; of course you did, you
couldn't help figure a MANI Mr.. Nc
ClOsky, sorely crushed, would have vaguely
protested, 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, difiident
feet. Sometimes he came upon her sud-
denly at her household tasks with an ex-
cuse so palpably false, and careless man
ner so 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
repassing through the hall after she had re-
~ l,.ax
by sleep and then by the early-rising Jenny
as he Law on the rug outside her chamber
door. "You treat me like child, father"
said Jenny. Il thought, jimmy" said the
father apologetically, Il thought l heard
sounds as if you was tal1in' on inside, and
listenin' l fell asleep" "You dear old
supplemented baby" said Jenny, looking
past her fathers eyes, and lifting his griz-
lied locks one by one with meditative fin
gers, "what should l be takin' 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
lis head rapidly with both hands, as if she
was amounting his hair with some rare
unguent, she patted him on the back and
returned to her room. The result of this
and one or two other equally sympathetic
interviews was to produce a change
in Mr.. McClosky's manner, which
was, if possible, still more dis
composing. He grew unjustifiably hila-
riOus, cracked jokes with the servants,
and repeated to Jenny humorous stories,
with the attitude of facetiousness carefully
preserved Throughout the entire narration,
and the point utterly ignored ndforgotten.
Certain incidents reminded him of funny
things, which invariably turned ont to have
not the slightest relevancy or application.
He occasionally brought home with him
practical humorists, with a sangIine hope
of setting them going, like the music-bOX,
for his daughters edificatiOn. He esSayed
the singing of melodies with great freedom
of style and singular limitation of note.
He sang Come, Haste to the Wedding, He
Lasses and MaidenS," of which he knew a
single line, aud that incorrectly, as being
peculiarly apt and appropriate. Yet away
from the house and his daughters presence
h y-oe 81 and diStr-aunbt His absence