Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-10-06

human being TO whom, in mo-
ment of passion, he had committed
some act of violence. 81 didn't
mean to do that-poor little moth
er." The last words seemed to give
him stronger footing with him
self. 81 was thinking how my wife
married another man, and never let
me know"
"Come, come, old man, don't take
it so to heart" said Lumley, sooth-
ingly. "Therell be a pleasant
home, dear little woman, and
bright-eyed children in the future
for you yet"
"Never."
Lumley's Pardner brought down
his fist like sledge-hammer; then
he leaned forward in his seat, with
a feverish eagerne IS in his manner,
which he tried hard to keep out of
his voice:
"Tell me, how would you have
given up your Lulie! p
Lumley laughed with easy, care
less good-nature. "You put me in
tight place." he said. ''But sup
posing the case, the question /
should ask would be, did she go
over to the enemy's camp, or in
other words, forsake me for an old
rival 7"
"N-n-o," answeredLumley
ner, slowly. at was some one l
had never seen. l have nothing
ag'in the man."
"Why, then," went on Lumley,
"truth sometimes cuts hard, old
fellow think it was your fault,
and not the girls. It's mans
privilege to speak his mind, wom-
ans destiny to hold her hands and
wait. She can never be quite sure
unless he has spoken out. Then,
perhaps, another, who has learned
to love her, does speak. She feels
the need of love in her life; women
as often marry to be loved as be-
cause they love. Then instead of
wasting her life for that which may
never come to her, she takes up
the fate lying at her feet. Does she
go very much astrayl"
Lumley's Pardner dropped his
head upon his breast. "Poor grill f.
l never thought of that" he said.
/ do not know just how it was
that / remembered all the words so
plain. There was no more said, and
feeling guilty like for stealing o
mates secret which it was not
meant for me to know, / crept to
my shanty, bunked in, and let the
broken pick lie over until morning.
/ always felt sorry for Lumley's
Pardner after that.
Well, for time, things went on
in the old way. Then Lum-
ley's Pardner came down with the
mountain fever, and Lumley nurs-
ed him through it. He was just as
tender as any woman, was Lumley.
When used to drop in of nights,
occasionally, to lend hand at
watching, the sick mans eyes
would follow him about the room,
in a helpless beseeching way that
was pitiful to see.
1t was only the ghost of Lum-
ley's Pardner that got up from it,
but the two men were always nigh
er together after that.
When Lumley got back to his
claim, and Lumley's Pardner was
just able to crawl about, they came
into wonderful streak of luck.
Lumley struck into a big pocket,
and there they were, at the turn of
a die, rich men. Mining, after all
is game OF chance--you buy your
ticket but it does not always win;
there are plenty of blanks to every
prizes.
1t does not matter the exact
amount this prize netted, if I had
remembered it. Lumley was ju-
bilant over his "pile," anxious to
sell out and leave the mines so
nobody was surprised when his
partner bought him out for q good
round sun, saying, in his
quiet way, that he guessed he'd
stay and see the thing through.
1t was very quiet in camp the
morning Lumley went away. The
boys were sorry to loose him, for
he had not any but well-wishers
among us.
Well six monfhs want bx- al