The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-09-18

married another man that never let me know.
Come, come old man, don't take 1t so 10
heart" said Lumley, soOthingly Their II be
pleasant home, dear little woman, and
brlghtcycd children in the future for you
"Never!'
Lumlcy's Pardncr brought down his fist
like Il sledge.hammer; then he leaned for
ward in his seat, with teverish cagcrneSs IN
his manner which he tried hard to keep out
of his voice.
"Tell me, how would you have given W
your Luliey"
Lumley laughed with easy, good nature
"You put me in u tight place" he said,
But suppOsing the case the first question
| should ask would be, Did she go over 10
the enemy's camp,-in other words, forsake
me for an old rival"
"N.no." answered Lumley's Pardner, slow
~.
Il, was some one had never seen. I've
nothing ag'in the man
why. then" went on Llmley, "truth some.
times cuts hard, old fellow,-I think It was
your fault, and not the girls. It's mans
privilege to speak his mind; woman's dcs-
tiny to fold 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 ieels the need OF
love in her life; women as often marry to be
loved as because they love. Then instead OF
wasting her lite for that which may never
come to her, she takes up the fate lying al her
feet. Does she go very much astray?"
Llmley's Pardner dropped his head upon
his breast Poor girl! never thought OF
that" he said
bercd all the words so plain There was no
more said, and, feeling guilty like for stealing
a mates secret which 1t was not meant for
me to know, creptto my shanty, bunked in,
and let the broken pick lie over until morn
ing.
/ always lel, sorry for Lumley's Partner af-
ter that.
Well for time, things went on IN the old
way. Then Lumley's Pardner came down
with mountain fever, and Lumley nursed him
through it, He was tender as woman, was
LumIey When | used to drop in of nights,
occasionally, to lend hand at watching, the
sick mans eyes would follow him about the
ROOM IN helpless, beseeching way that vas
pitiful to see
1t was only the ghost of Lumley's Pardner
that got up from it, but the two men were
higher together after that.
When Lumley got back to the claim, and
Lumley's Pardner was just able to crawl
about, they came into wonderful streak OF
luck. Lumley struck into big pocket, and
there they were, in the turn of 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 pIize.
1t does not matter the exact amount this
prize netted, If had remembered it. Lam
ley was jubilant over his "pile," anxious to
sell out, and leave the mines; SO nobody was
. m
for good round sum- 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
lose him, for he had not any but well wIsliers
among US.
Well, six months went by, and then came
a little white letter. "scribed' in dainty
woman's hand, to Lumleys Pardner. The
man ,rem bled all over like leaf when II was
put in his hand took it into his cabin and
shut the door. Within the next half hour he
came out in n desperate hurry, saduled his
mule and rode down the trail.
unexpected business" was h haSty eX.
PLANTATION Gould not say how soon he might
| be back
The news came TO us at last by party of
traders, stopping TO noon in camp.-lhen
knew what these marks or weakness about
the mouth stood for; Lumley had never left
the city at ali! lie had sat down TO the gam
bling .table, one night and gotten up from ii,
the next morning, poorer than he had come
into the mines. He had first won, then lost
and los, and won, and won again; and then
at las, total blank stared him in the face.
Lumley could never give up at that. lie
must win all back Luck was surely in store
for him yet, lie haunted the gambling -hells
played reCkleSsly, desperately, so long as he
could win enough to keep the ball rolling
payning his watch his ring, even his clotn
Ing, when other resources failed.
! So Lumcy's Pardner found him-hcavy
eyed, with secdy tlashncss III his dress
marks Of dissipation on his face, womanisl
iace,.--a pretty nearly playcd-out indivl
dual.
! The blood rushed ali over his face for the
manllne,s yet left in him coula but feel thu
shame of that meeting. But there was NJ
backing out now. Lumlcy's Pardncr took
hlm to one side.
| 1--WE heard OF you, old man he said, ii
his maltcr.oiiact way, "and I've come to sc,
you out OF this How much do you LAY vii
! clear you up, and have triile ahead 2
Lumlcy never raised his eyes.
"Old pard," he answered, choking up
you're better friend than descrvc.-Don'
ask me To take anything from you. l wen
in with my eyes open, and, thanking you al
the same, I'll have nobody's help out
Lumley's Pardner laid broad hand on
each Of the pitifully dropping shoulders
"Old man, when the fever had me down
| I'd ha' gone under if it hadn't been Tor you
So help ne God I'd rather ha' died thar
taken what did at your hands. DO you
dare deny me this small return, now? What
Il paltry sum of money between you and me
and the little mother waitin' at home:'
Lumley pvt down his head upon that ant
cried like baby; the which, II il be no
manly, like him the better for. There art
tears, am thinking that are far from t!sgrac
| ing even the eyes of = man.
Pm ashamed OF myself, through ant
through, for what's gone by, were l.amlcy:
last words, but can't give il up now. Mat
tiers cant be any worse, and there's chance o
lettering Perhaps, tonight shall win i
all back
! There were the old wiliulncss and pride