Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-08-28

pCAhnPo oiObhSAg wiz Altto lChduSO w
love her, does speak. She feels the
need of love in her life; women as often
marry to be loved as because 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. ."lF IoiFa a
Lumley's pardner dropped his head
upon his breast "Poor girl | never
thought of that" J" he said. l5 sEaIsaa .
Well, for Ia 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 as tender rs woman, was Lunley
When used to drop in of nights, occa-
sionally, to lend hand at Watching, the
SICK mans eyes would follow him about
the room, in helpless, beseeching way
that was pitiful to see. ...r -.sse.-
1t was only the ghost of Lumley's
pardner that got up from it, but the two
were always 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 q 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 prize. H
1t does not matter the exact amount
this prize netted, if 1 had remembered
it. Lumley was iubilant over his
"pile," anxious to sell out and leave
the mines; SO nobody was surprised
when his pardner bought him out for a
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
that Lumley went away. The boys We're
sorry to lose him, for he had not any
but the we'll wishers among us. Well,
six months went by, and then came q
little white letter, scribed" in a
dainty woman's hand, to Lumley's pard-
ner. The man trembled all over like a
leaf when it was put into his hand, took
it into his cabin, and shut fast the door.
Within the next half hour he came
out again in desperate hurry, saddled
his mule, and rode off down the trail.
Unexpected business % was his
hasty explanation. Could not say how
soon he might be back.
The news came to us at last by a party
of traders, stopping to noon in camp.
Then [ knew what those marks of weak.
ness about his mouth stood for Lum.
ley had never left the city at all He
had sat down at the gaming table, one
night, and gotten up from it, the next
morning, poorers than he had come into
the mines.
Lumley could never give up at that
He must win it all back. Luck was
surely in store for him yet. He haunted
the gambling houses, playing recklessly.
desperately, so long as he could wiz
enough to keep the balls rolling; pawn.
ing his watch, his ring, even his cloth.
ing when other sources failed
So Lumley's pardner found him
heavy-eyed, with a seedy fashiness in
his dress, marks of dissipation in his
fair, womanish face
The blood rushed all over his face, fol
the manliness yet left in him could but
feel the shame of that meeting. But
there was no backing out now. Lum.
ley's pardner took him to one side.
GIVE heard of you, old man." he said
in his matter r-of-factway, " and I've come
to see you out of this, How much dc
say will clear you and have trife
ahead?"
Lumley never raised his eyes.
cold pard," he answered, choking
up, "you're better friend than L de-
serve. Don't ask me to take anything
from you. I went in with my eyes open,
and thanking you all the same, I'll have
nobody's help out" LrH EH@E fl
Lumley's pardner laid broad hand
on each of the pitifully dropping shoul
ders.
cold man, when the fever had me
down, I'd ha' gone under if it hadn't
been for you. So help me God I'd
rather ha' died than have taken what ]
did at your hands. Do you dare deny
me this small return, now? What's
paltry sum of money between you ant
me, and the little mother waitin' q
home 2"
+" I'm ashamed Of myself, through ant
through, for what's gone by" wer'
LumleyIs next words, "but can't Civ,
it up now. Matters can't be any worse
and there's chance of bettering. Per
haps, tonight, I shall win it all back"
There were the old willfulness an,
pride, and the new fascination of th,
gaming table. There was no turnin,
him back, no moving him from that re
solve. st
Lumleys pardner took him by th
arm. .- a'- ~ -A~ aa ~
! ''Either way, I'm bound to see yol
through" he said. "Come."
So night after night, as Lumley play
ed, there's stood Luraley's pardner look
ing on, with never a word of that httl
white letter, his answering message, o
the two passengers on board an ocea
steamer bound for California.
Despite Lumley's hopefulness, luc
never turned, and each morning Lun
ley's pardner led him slowly and silen