Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-05-07
StIefteo storn.
Written for the New Yors Times
The Rose OF Tuolumne.
Bf BRET HARTE..


Il was nearly tao o'clock in the morn
ing. The lights were out in Eobinsou's
Hall. where there had been dancing and
revelry. and the moon, ridin. high, painted
the black windows with silver. The caval-
cade that an hour ago had shocked the Sc
date pises with song and laughter, were
all dispersed; one enamored swain had
ridden east, another west, another north,
another south. and the object Of their
alteration, left within her bower at Chemi.
sal Rrdgc. was calmly going to bed.
regret that am not able to Indicate the
exact stage Of that process. Two chairs
were already ilcd with delicate enwrap-
pings and white confusion, and the young
lady herself, half hidden In the silky
threads OF her yellow hair, had at one time
borne a faiu; resemblance TO partly-husk-
ed ear OF Indian corn. But she was now
clothed In that one long. tormless 2arment
that makes all women equal, and the round
shoulders aud neat waist that m hour ago
had been so fatal TO the peace Of mind Of
-Four Forks had utterly disappeared. The
face above II was very pretty, the foot be-
,ow. albeit shapely, WAS not small. The
flowers. as Il general thing don't raise
their heads much to look after me" she
had said with superb frankness 10 one Of
her lovers.
The expression of the The Rose" 10
night wa. contentedly placid. She walked
slowly to the window. and, making the
smallest possible peep-hole through the
curtain. looked out. The motionie.s fig
ure Of a horseman still fingered on the
road with an excess of devotion that only
a coquette or a woman very much in love
could tolerate. The Rose" at that mo-
ment was neither. and amer a reasonable
pause turned away. saying, quite audibly.
that il was "too ridiculous for anything.
As she came back 10 her dressin.-table II
was noticeable that she walked steadily
and erect. without that slight arec;stion
of lameness common to people with whom
bare feet are only an episode. Indeed. it
was only four years ago that, without
shoes or stockings, a loug-limbed, colty
girl, in waistless calico gown. she ha
Ieaped from the tail board of her father $
emigrant wagon when il first drew up at
Chemsal Ridge. Certain wild habits OF
the Rose had outlived transplantlng and
cultivation.
a knock at the door surprised her. In
another moment she had leaped into bed,
and. with darkly-frowning eyes. from is
secure recesses demanded Who's there p
An apologize murmur on the other side
Of the door was the response.
'why-father-is that you:'
There were further murmurs, affirmative.
deprecatory, and persistent.
Wait said the Rose. She got up, un-
locked the door, leaped nimbly into bed
again, and said, Come
The door opened timidly. The broad,
STOPPING shoulders and grizzled head OF a
man past the middle age appeared; after a
moments hesitation pair of large difilde.t t
feet shod with canvas slippers concluded
to follow. When the spparitiOn was com :
plcte it closed the door softly, and stood
there very shy ghost indeed, with sp
parently more than the usual spiritual in
disposition,t to begin a conversation. The
Rose resented this impatiently, though l
fear not altogether intellisibly;
DO. father. declare.'
You was abed. Jenny said Mr.. McClos-
Ky, slowly, glancing with singular mix
/ ture of masculine awe and paternal pride
upon the two chairs and their contents.
| You was abed and undressed.'
/ i WAS.
Surely said Mr.. McClosky, seating
/ himself on the extreme edge Of the bed,
aud painfully tucking his feet away under
it, Surely After q pause he rubbed a
short, thick stumpy beard, that bore gen.
eral resemblance to badly-worn backing
brush. with the palm of his hand. and
went on, You had good time, Jennys'
Yes. father
They was all thereY
Yes, Rance and York and Ryder ant
Jack
And Jackr Mr.. McClosky endeavoret
to throw an expression of arch inquiry In
to his small, tremulous eyes. but meeting
the unabashed, widely-Opened lid of hi
daughter, he winked rapidly and blushe'
to the roots of his hair.
Yes. Jack was there, said Jenny, with
out change of color. or the least self-c0n
sciouspess in her great gray eyes, and b
came home with me- She paused q nc
ment, locking her two hands under he
head, and assuming a more comfortabl
position OH the pillow. He asked IN
that same question again, father, and
said Yes It's to be-so0n. We're goin
| IN live af Hour Forka In hia own h0s,s