Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-18

self how a manly, fne-looking fellow
like him should be without wife or
sweetheart waiting with woman's pride
in him somewhere.
Lumley was busy reading his letters.
I thought had better stay outside.
He was that intent at first that he seem
ed not to have heard the others words,
but after a moment he lifted his face
with one of the proud, bright looks that
were Eumley's own. cay, comrade !"
he cried, cheerily; ''and don't tell me
it isn't all your own fault. Don't dare
to envy me my wife and child.
There was no reply; but, looking
over, saw such bitter, sorrowful look
on the face of Lumley's pardner that,
scarcely knowing what was doing l
stood and watched and pitied him. I
heard .Lumley read aloud, words OF
love and trust, watching and waiting,
and of happiness in him and the child.
I saw his face as he read, He might be
weak man, but he loved the woman
and the child. From the last letter there
dropped out carte de visite. Lumley
caught it up with boyish eagerness.
0q's Old pard," he cried, you shall see
my two treasures. Here they are-Lu-
lie and the boy !"
He tossed the picture across the table.
The othsr picked it up. I saw a man
die once, stabbed through the healt.
Just such look came into the face of
Lumley's Pardner, as he glanced at the
picture in his hand. Lumley, bending
over his letter, never saw it. When he
had finished reading, he held out his
hand. The other did not even raise
his eyes, but kept them fxedly on what
he held a1
81, too, once thought to have wife
and child, (" he muttered presently, less
to Lumley than to himself.
The words, following that look, were
whole book of revelation to me. Hap
PLY, Lumley did not notice. His face
showed some surprise, mingled with
that placid satisfaction the successful
man always wears.
''Ah !" he returned, shaking his head
knowingly, sis that the way the land
lies? I knew you were always close
mouthed, but disappointment
never suspected that. She, whoever it
was, had precious bad taste when she
looked the other way" and he ran his
eye admiringly over the others splen-
did proportions and manly, handsome
face.
s'She never refused me-" broke in
Lumley's Pardner, in low, smothered
| tone, his eyes still fastened intently on
the picture. ''I-never asked her; but
she knew my mind, and 1 thought I
knew hers. I was sure she would wait
for me until I came back. It was for
her went away"
'But you wrote to her?" questioned
Lumley, with genuine interest.
"Not word-not a line. I am a
poor scribe. But she knew me well
enough to know my intentions. Every
day would be lived for her. There
could be no doubt of that in her mind. 7"
Lumley made hasty gesture of dis
sent ssAnd there, old man, was pre-
cisely where you failed to connect It
don't do, you know, for women to take
too much for granted. They like to be
we'll fortified; and then you are the
surest to win if you take them by storm.
Why, my Lulie -"
ssShe don't look as though she ever
walked over true heart with her dain-
ty feet, and that glad little smile just
curving her lps!' broke in Lumley's
Pardner, his white face still bent on the
picture. His deep voice trembled a
little over the last words.
Lulie is truth itself p answered
Lumley, quickly. "She never loved
anybody but nae. To be sure, she had
admirers could she help that and
be what she is ?-but she loves me truly.
You. can see it in her eyes p
:. Lumley Pardner turned deathly pale.
He caught the ia bic by one hand as If
to steady himself, and fairly hurled the
picture across to Lumley. Itmissed its
mark and fell to the floor. AS he saw
it fall, all the ferceness died out of his
eyes, and a frightened look crept into
them.
"Pick her up" he said, with timid
apprehension, as though it were hui
man being to whom, in moment Of
passion, he had committed some act of
violence. ssI didn't mean to do that
poor little mother last word
seemed to give him a stronger footing
with himself. 81 was thinking how my
aOife married another man, and never
let me know
'sCome, come, old man, don't take it
SO to heart" said Lumley, soothingly.
''There'n be a pleasant home, lean
little woman, and bright-eyed children
in the future for you yet!'' .ra siff
"NEvER
Lumley's Partner brought down his
fist like sledge- hammer: then he lean
ed forward in his seat, with feverish
eagerness in his manner which he tried
hard to keep out of his,voice: 81 JEDI
"Tell me, how would you have given
up your Lulie?" a g9 ~, d.
Lumley laughed with easy, careless
good nature. &c You put me in tight
place, he said. 'sBut, supposing the
case, the first question I should ask
would be, Did she go over to the enc
my's camp-in other words, forsake me
for bold rival % ssf 49,.
emo" answered Lumley's Pard-
ner, slowly. It was some one I had
never seen. I've nothing ag'in the
man." 's FL
uWbv then >, went on Tnm1av =