Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-21
Stlrttr0 Storp.
Prom tho Overland Moa;hly.l
LCMLEG'S .PARDNER.

have forgotten the name he brought
with him from The States, for nobody ever
called him anything else but "Lumley' :
parducr.~
We miners have familiar knack Of
re-chris,ening, and name once altered
sticks to man as long IS be sticks to The
mines; 80. even alter Lum!ey had thrown
up bis claim aud leli the diggins, a good
three years ago. Llmley's rArduer still
remained, finger pos, TO trace the dis
tauce back. After all. John Jones, or
Lumley's IardUer. what mat,ered it. in
that doubtful tide OF immigration setting
IN toward Tie wild regions, where the
iils; confidential question after intimacy
seemed to warrant the liberty. was inya
rmb.y, "S4y Conraie. rll 'cq, Y,r
A4u., i.iyr. goa came h,rt.'
You see. l knew Lumley's PIrdner
when he first came iuto The mines was
up q, Wood, Diggings al the time he and
party OF two or three more came around
prospecting. Iremember thought what
a line stalwart fellow be was. straight Is
Young pine tree. and no loolilhness
about him either. ior be had been rough
ing il year or Two down on the Texas
border never saw the boys more
down right pleased over a new conner
than when he bought claim and went
10 with Us. lie was not man 10 talk
much about himself nor one YOU would
feel free to question but there was honest,
square dealing looking out OF his clear
gray eyes, Tor all the trouble and unrest
laid up behind them.
I.umley was IS different man Is could
te. have often noticed that men take
to unlkes in m1tiug among themselves
a well as in choosing mates for lite. Tie
came into the diggins a week or 50 later,
and they some how fell in together.
Lumley was what you might call an extra
clever fellow. lie looked scarcely more
than a boy-these fair skinned people
never show their age-~ith his handsome
womauish face, bright blue eyes, and
trim built figure but he had confidence
until YOU could rot rest, plenty OF the gIit
OF gab. and something about him i
believe people call it magnetism; at
least. when you were with him you be
Heved lust as be did, and then wondered
AZ Yourself alterward for doing it.
Lumley always had knack oftwistins
folks round his little finger. tor all that
the lines OF frnuess were quite lacking
about his month. Lumley's Pardner,
now, with his close set lips and square,
massive jaw-you might as we'll hope to
move q mountain as him against his will.
He would be strong to do or to bear; you
could easily see that.
DO not know as it was exactly lair l
never meant TO caves drop. but II happen
ed in this wise; one night | went into
Lumley's shauty-it was amazing strange
how soon his name got tackled to every
thing-to see about q broken pick he
wanted mended. used to DO the smith
ing in those days. As / opened the door,
| saw there was no one in, and being tired
with my days work. dropped down on
a log Just outside. lit my pipe. aud sat
leaning back against the pine boards
waiting for LumIey to come back.
guess | must have got drOwsy and fallen
asleep. Tor the first thing 1 heard was
voices. and Lumley's Pardner speaking
out bitter and short, in a way We seldom
heard him speak.
IL reckon it's Of 10 use TO ask II there 5
any letters come to my name" he SAID.
There's no one TO write TO me-"
rubbed open my eyes and saw two
CLEANS of light streaming out through
the open door and the one loop hole OF
window, aud then knew that Lumley
and his mate must have passed me by and
never seen rue in the twilight. Raising
myself up. saw Lumley through the
window, sitting down to the pine table,
beside a tallow dip, with two or three
letters lying before him, and one open IN
his hand. Then it flashed across my
mind that one Of the boys from camp
beyond had gone in to the station and was
due with the mail that night.
Lumley's Pardner sat over the far side
of the table with a gloomy look in his
eye. Being in the same boat myself,
knew how lonesome it was never to have