Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-01-01


into a hearty OUTLAW, the first symptom OF
returning spirits he had shown since the
wash-up panned out so poorly. But in
justice to that worthy must say that his
failures never kept him down long at a
time, for he was ore of the irrepressbles.
Never mind the widow, Bill, l did.
MT think you would take seriously to the
notion. But | do want you to come down,
just to see how tho little fellows will en-
JOY the fun; it'll do you good"
1t was with some apparent reluctance
that Mr.. Shively gave me the required
promise, but he did give it. And when
Christmas Eve was come, among the
guests at the Mule City hotel was I'M
| lucky Bill.
If had space should like to describe
the array of beauty there which graced
the occasion, with an elaborate descrip
ton of the toilettes OF the ladies, but as
the whole matter was duly reported in the
local paper at the time, will refer my
readers thereto for further particulars.
The extreme bashtulness of Mr.. Shive-
ly kept him pretty we'll in the background
and II was not until the presents from
the tree were all distributed, and the
squeaking of the fiddles been heard some
time that | was able to catch sight OF
that worthy. He was then standing out
side the door and making frantic efforts
to attract my attention, l went TO him
Mt once.
Say, jim, what woman's that in the
speckled caliker dress ?"
"That's the new widow | was telling
you of. Come on, and III make you ac-
quainted."
"No-no-no jim, this is the cuss-
eldest luck. jim, that's her ~
"And who's her' ?"
Don't you know Bctsey Jane"
" And who the devil may Betsey Jane
be ?"
"The one l told you Of That's her
surer than Scriptcr, and Jim, I'm nearly
pizened to know what sent her up this
way"
The curiosity Of my friend being very
lcudable one | set myself to work to graf
ify it, and after coniding TO my wife
enough Of Bill's history to awaken her
interest, (for women must have why
and wherefore for everything), learned
all that was necessary. Tho widow
Clyne hud laid the amented gentleman
of that name under the chopparal some
eight calendar months previous, in tho
rival village of Dogtown. She had re-
manned near the last resting plnce Of the
departed until grub was hard to get, when
she removed to our hourishng city and
was now ready to take in dressmaking.
| also learned that the late Mr. Clyne
had, during the last few years of his tar
ry on earth, developed weakness for
gin cocktails, keno, and other innocent
but expensive amusements, so that when
no was finally borne out of his house he
left but very little of this worlds goods
behind him in it and that the widow had
been compelled to do some pretty lively
scratching" to make everything come
out just right.
What did they git on the Christmas
tree P" asked Bill, when | had commune
Gated to him the information gathered
from my affectionate spouse.
was sorry to tell him that as the wild
ow's circle of acquaintance was limited,
the Christmas offerings to the Clyne fam
lily had been somewhat meager.
"She shall have ten yards of the best
linsey in the store for each Of them gals, i"
said Bill. "And just as nice dress pat
tern for herself as can be found. Now
you go with me and pick 'em out. Fix
up some yarn about their being left for
the Tree, and forgot till jst now, can't
you ?'
OF course I could. We hunted up the
storekeeper, made the required purchas-
es and were back in no time, rs we
thought. But the widow had gathered
up her brood and was gone.
Just my luck" said Bill, when this
fact was made known TO him. might
knowed il. But I'm sot on her having
them things tonight, if / have to break
one Of her winders."
He took pencil and wrote on the
thick, brown paper, From a Friend" "
Then armed with tho bundle we took our
way TO the widows domicile. But that
excellent lady having the cares and du-
ties Of the morrow before her mind had
retired to rest and all was silent as O
Quaker meeting, before the Esprit" be-
gins 10 move.
My old luck, again." growled Bill
as he took in the situation. "Never
mind there's more ways to kill a cat
than choking with butter. If can find
her clothes-line, I'll send this package
down the chimbly."
"Be careful, old fellow Some of these
California widows keep a revolver close
by, and they shoot mighty wild. Them
things will keep till Tomorrow"
Mr. Shively was too mad TO listen to
reason, and was lucky enough to find the
desired clothes-ine. Having securely
fastened one end to the bundle, he began
TO cautiously make his way up the slop-
ing wood shed towards the chimney. For
once Fortune seemed to favor him the
bundle was placed within the chimney
and was being gently lowered - when
there was a crash of falling timbers, two
or three huge oaths, ard Bill came limp
ing out of the ruins just as series of fem
mime shrieks broke on the silence of mid
night.
"I've nearly broke my Internal leg,"
said he, rubbing the injured member
" just my sweet-scented luck again. For
D Al a