The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-05-17

7
tcntious switch of her yellow name.
Mr. McClosky rubbed ono side of his
beard, which already had the appear
ance Of having been quite worn away
by that process, and family lodged
the question.
jimmy, he said, tcndcrly stroking
the bed-clothcs as he spoke. This
yers what's the matter. Thar il
stranger down stairs--a stranger to you,
lovey, but a man ca I've knowcd for
o long time. Hes been here about
an hour, and he'll be here until Tower
o'clock, when the up stage passes.
Now, 1 want yc, jimmy, dear, TO get up
and come down stairs and kinder help
me to pass the time with him. III no
use, jimmy he went on, gently raising
his hand to deprccate any interruption,
its 10 use--hc won't go to bed, he
went play kcerd.; whisky don't take
any affect on him. Ever
since | knowed him he was the most
unsatisfactory critter to hev round
What do you have him round for
thcn?' interrupted Miss Jenny, sharply.
Mr. McClosky's eyes fell IF he
hadn't come out of his way to do me
good turn, wouldn't ask yc jimmy,
! wouldn't so help me- But / thought
ez | couldn't doanything with him, you
might come down and sortcr fetch him,
ez you did the others
Miss Jenny shrugged her pretty
shoulders.
i, he old or young;
Hes young enough, Jenny, bu, he
knows u power Of things.
What does he dol?
Not much, reckon Hes cot
money in the mill at -Four Forks. lie
travels round a good deal I've heard
jimmy that he's a poct--writcs them
rhymes, you know. Mr.. McClosky
appealed submissiycly, but directly to
his daughter. He remembered that
she had frequently been in receipt Of
printed elegaic couplct- known as mot
toes, containing inclosurc. equally
saccharine.
Miss Jenny slightly curled her pretty
lip, She had that fine contempt for
the illusions Of fancy which belongs
to the perfectly healthy young animal.
Not, said Mr.. McClosky rubbing
his head relcctiyely no, ca I'd advise
sc, jimmy, to say anything to him
about poetry. It ain t twenty minutes
ago ez | did. | set the whisky aforc
him in the parlor wound up the
music box and set it goin Then ]
SEE to him, sociablc like aud free, Jest
consider yourself il your own house
and repeat what you allow to be your
finest production, and he ragged. That
man, jimmy, jest ragged. Thars no
end to the names he called me. You
see, jimmy, continued Mr. McClosky
apologctically, he's knowed me long
time.
But the daughter had already di,
missed the question with her usual Iii
rccuons. III IL IUnu ia af,u mo
ments, father, she said, after a pause,
but don't say anything about it-dont
say | was abed.'
Mr.. McCloskys face bcainei. You
was alters a good girl, jimmy, be said,
dropping on one knee the better to
imprint respectful kiss on her fore
head. But Jenny caught him by the
wrists, and for a moment held him cap
tive. Father, she said trying to fix
his shy eyes with the clear, steady
glance Of her own all the girl, that
were there tonight had some one with
them. Name Robinson had her aunt.
Lucy Rance had her mother, Kate
Pierson had her sistor-all eXcept me
had some other woman. Father. dear.
her lip tremblcd just u little. i wish
mother hadn't died when was 30 |
small. | wish there was some other |
in the family besides me. |
iin't lonely with you, father, dear, but
+ there was only some one, you know
when the time comes for John and
ne
Her voice here suddenly gave out
ler brave eyes, that were still fixed
earnestly upon his face Mr.. McClosky, !
apparently tracing out pattern on the
'ed-quilt, essaycd words of comfort
There amt one of them gals ez
'ou've named, jimmy, ez could do cz
ou'ye done with whole Noah's ark
t relations at their backs Thar amt
ne ez wouldn't sacrifice her nearest re
alton to make the strike that you hev.
IL to mothers, may be, my dear,
ou're doin better without one. lie
ose suddenly, and walked toward the
COR When he reached it he turned,
nd, in his old, deprecating manner,
aid Don't be long, Jimmy, smiled d
nd vanished from the head downward
is canvas slippers asserting themselves !
esolutely to the last.
When Mr.. McClosky reached his s
arlor again his troublesome guest was ;
OF there. The decanter stood on the /
lble untouched, three or four books v
y upon the floor, number of photo Il
raphic views of the Sierras were scat <
red over the sofa; two sofa pillows, '
newspaper, and Mexican blanket II
y on the carpet, as if the late occu- a
mt of the room had tried to read in c
cumbent position. a French win h
Nv, opening upon vcranda, which q
'yer before in the history of the house e
I'd been unfastened, now betrayed by c,