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

/. u
THE night the Ocean Belle was sig
nailed into port, Lumley's pardner beck
oned g Monte Bill aside, and some
secret understanding passed between
them. -'a-7t- ,sgab Z T'ai'a 1n
In the midst Of a game, Lumley's
pardner left his post, which was some
thing unusual, passing Monte Bill on
the way to the door. 1t was not generally
noticed, but as he passed he dropped
small, compact package into the
gamblers hand; then slouehing his SOM
brero over his eyes, he left the Lall.
Pausing in the street, Lumleys pard-
ner looked anxieusly down. 1t would
have been dark but for the street lamps,
for it was full two hours to moonrise !;
but down by the wharf shown out the
CLEAN of new signal-light, which,
poised at mast head, glowered through
the dark like the fiery eye of a gigantic
Cyclops the Oceen Belle was in. Ten
minutes later, pushing his way through
the bustling crowd that thronged the
deck, he hurried across the plank and
made his way straight to the cabin. ,.,
The past seemed all dream, as he
stood again with wildly beating heart
before once familiar form. Her flce
was even fairer than of old, blushing
with its own wild-rose tints of loveliness,
her soft eyes shining up in glad expecta-
ton. The broad sombrero slouched
over his forehead shaded his features.
She saw only bronzed cheeks and a
strong, brown beard. The tremor in
his voice might have meant diffidence.
Pardon me, madame, you are--I be-
ieve-tha is to say am Lumley's
pardner." f" sH sva
She held out white hand cordially.
And my husband" el ..6 os
SIS well. am to take you to him. y
He took timidly the hand she extend
ed, awkwardly the little woman thought,
and let it go. 5a.
Give me the child. e f
He took the sleeping boys in his arms,
and so burdened piloted the way to a
carriage close beside the wharf. Put
!, ting her inside, he laid the child gently,
almost reverently, upon her lap,
"We're to drive around and take
up Lumley. 1t is only few minutes
ride"
One last searching glance from under
the protecting sombrero, and he closed
the carriage door, mounting to his place
beside the driver" -...... .-
Oddly enough, Lumley had just finish
ed winning game with Monte Bill
when Lumley's pardner came hurriedly
in. AS he slipped quietly back to his
post, Lumley sat eyeing the "pile -
4 twenty five hundred dollars. He put
out his hand to rake it up, paused,
drew it back, picked up the cards and
began to shuttle for another stake not
that he had forgotten his oath, or the
woman and child he loved, but long
way ahead of anything else was the
thought that luck had turned-that he
had only to follow it up and win back
: all the past. Lumley's pardner stopped
: to his ear: -a.s.. ..r.ssssf -.H .,.r9.
"a +" You'd better throw up this game.
The little mother and your boy are
waiting here, outside" af.
Lumley started-half rose to his feet,
looked up into his pardner's face, and
then at the cards, then at the door, then
wistfully at the cards and the gold. AS
with heavy sigh he sunk into his seat
again, Lumley's, pardner, dashing the
cards from his hand, raked up the stakes
and forced the money into Lumley s
pocket. ssh. a. -sH.
f"How long will you keep your wife
and child waiting alone, at night, in a
strange city before the door of gam
bling house?" Haaaa
The thrust struck home. Like a. man
awakening from dream, Lumley
sprung up, crushed on his hat and flew
to the door.
Once in the little woman's arms, he
was safe. Lumleys pardner knew him
well enough to be sure of that. He
never followed him, but slipped out OF
the side door and the next day saw him
back in camp a trife pale and sternel
than was his wont, but the clear gray
eyes dauntless, honest and brave.
II And | reckon, to this day, Lumley
never knows how much he owes to his
old mate, Or that his Luhe had one true
lover, whom he once knew and appro
p-iated to himself in the person of Lum
loxr,o ,,opJpor