Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-12-21
He had The wild land which the

xxob 0oSh ~ AOLAkS Co AS N~ ~
MAY; but it was the best he had, and
he would offer it to her. He was tired
of living a half-civilized life. He could
not wait any longer for the family life
which he knew how to appreciate, pc
culiarly because he e. had enjoyed
it--except with his eyes, in the posses
sion of other men.
And here he was in the same village
with May! He felt as if Weakened from
a long and uncomfortable dream. The
fire which drew out these recollections
also set the impatient blood to tingling
in his fingers. He must be looking for
her-have some supper and make haste
to find her out.
Ralph went to the desk and dipped a
pen to write his name. As the clerk,
who had been staring at him, followed
the characters, a light broke over that
well-kept young mans face.
"How do you do?" he exclaimed,
putting his hand across the desk. 81
thought I knew your face! You re-
member Joe Russell, don't your"
Ralph remembered Joe Russell JOY
fully. Many a time had he given Joe
Russell a bloody nose, and taken a
black eye from Joe Russell! They had
been attached playfellows. Ralph
could have Rugged him like a Rocky
Mountain bear. On Joe's part there
was a like willingness to express good
feeling. Although Christmas Eve filled
him with business, he found time to sit
down to supper with Ralph, and to
drive about the walters assiduously to
secure Raiph's comfort.
He had a thousand things to tell the
returned wanderer, and he told them
with the grace of gossip. All con
straint left them as they ate and talked.
Ralph's old familiars were marched
and counter-marched before him, and
married or buried, or set again in their
former places. As the Conversation
proceeded and he postponed inquiring
about May, a nervou dread grew upon
him. He did not shrink from declaring
to Joe, or to any man, that she was his
choice ana the sole object of his
devotion. His love had never been a
thing to conceal; but what if some
dread change had come to her? 1t
struck him then as never before, that
May coutd die or could marry another
man than himself.
81 suppose May Pardee is in the
placer" he at last ventured, huskily.
81 should think she isl" cried Joe.
Now, there's a change for you. You
remember how she was knocked about
when she was a little grip"
eyes, l do" said Ralph.
"Nobody had any idea that there was
a rich relative belonging to her in the
world. But some old uncle or other
died, and left her a pretty plum a little
more than a year ago. She was teach
ing school then; but now you'll find
her in Il pretty brown-stone house on
First Street, in good style. And 1 tell
you, Ralph, l never saw money bring
out any one as it has her. l used to
think she was a pinched little thing-a
fellow would feel sorry for her; bat
she's grown so pretty and $3.50 taking
charming, you know, that she's dan
gerous-especially to poor fellows on a
salary, like ne. Go up with me and
see her Tomorrow" urged Joe. "She
always keeps open house on Christmas
Day, and there isn't a house better kept
in The place-not excepting even the old
Judges"
81 don't know about that said
Ralph, in a changed voice. II think
I'll take the early morning train. Joe,"
he added, with bitter frankness, s'I've
always loved that girl, and L suppose
she's lost to me now. If you know how
a fellow feels when he's been baked at
nearly every thing he yer undertook,
you knowmy case now"
Joe puckered his eyebrows and bent
alphabetically toward this young from
tlersman.
"Pshaw!" exclaimed Joe, with sur
prise. "But then, Ralph, what's the
use of feeling u up? Maybe she'll
have you all the same, and that would
be a lucky stroke for you. But these
girls" said Joe, pulling his side-whisk-
ers with the air of q beau who knows
them well and to his own saddening,
s'you can't count on them! They'll be
on to .day and off Tomorrow; and I've
noticed that May Pardee is very hard
to please. Maybe she's been saving
herself up for you," hazarded Joe, like
one unaccustomed v%enturing to quote
poetry "And if that's the case your
futures made!"
81 don't want a rich wife," sneered
Ralph. "This is just my luck. never
thought of any woman but her; and
now every things gone and changed
and lost!"
"Oh come, now," Numbered Joe, at
tempting to lift his friends spirits, and
rolling his comfortable body out of his
chair in answer to a summons from the
office, ''don't be having black blues!
This is Christmas Eve, you know! III
be back in a minute"
"BIack Christmas" muttered Ralph,
sitting alone, with his head on his fists.
swell I'm glad enough for her luck
God bless her! It's better, far better
than any thing 1 could ever have given
her, but it leaves me out. l suppose
she has outgrown our old notions this
last year. l don't blame her for chang
ing; people can't help it."
He got up from the table and went to
the office for his overcoat. Joe nodded
pleasantly to him over the book, and
he nodded back to Joe, and saying, "I'u