The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-09

little stock of money over the floor, and
q moment after, when Mrs. Sharpe
came in, in response to frantic halloos
from Scotty, she found Marian in q
dead faint upon the floor, with Scotty
and Circus Jack, with hands clasped
behind them, knceling OH either side OF
her like uncouth angels, while scatter
ing coins and escaping masses Of gold
ell brown hair formed halo about her
head.
She was ashamed Of and provoked at
her weakness afterward; said she was
fatigued with her long and wcarisome
ride, and that she never tainted before
but if she had been an accomplished
diplomatist, she could have planned
nothing better for her popularity.
AS for the fadcd-out woman, her
opinion, which had been tottering uil-
der n severe rcproof from Cutey, now
underwent complete revolution.
"Them kind never faints." she said
to herself dogmatically, as she assisted
Marian to her room and begged her to
"take things easy like" She patiently
answered one hundred and seven in
quiries that evening, varying from,
CLOVIS the sick LADY," to "Jim Will
mer's gal perking up little arter her
faint" and for the rest of her stay in
Mariposa, she proved that kindliness of
heart had been one of the "fast colors."
A week after her arrival, Marian had
learned all' that anybody in Mariposa
knew regarding "Jim." She wore that
curious ring upon her finger now.
There were two letters upon the disk,
but no one ever had the hardihood to
ask what they were.
and whose curiosity was kecner, de.
clared that they were ii l,"with Il ''lit-
tie quirl-like" between.
Punks also knew--a fact which did
credit to his powers and habits ofobscr-
vation-that on the disk of the ring
which Jim wore on his little finger
were the letters ''F a."
Punks desired to know what "F-a-i-r'
spelled but "fail." lie further inquir.
ell "what they wanted to hcv such q
doggoned mis'ablc word as thet on n
ring furT
"'T'orter be loye' or sunthin'," he
added, critically.
1t was after much questioning in di-
vers places, and the exercise of q deal
of patience and some finessc, that Mari.
an learned the present whereabouts OF
the half crazed hermit call unblessed." !"
When last seen, something less than q
week before her arrival, he had been
wandering through the ncighborine
mountains, half-clothcd in wretchcd
rags, living on berries and roots, alter
nately muttering and shricking the va.
fro ,.inc of bic .,nl,poa1 ,n;n1
They were 10th to tell her, even
those who knew it. Their rude exter-
nails seemed to have made their hearts
softer. 1t hurt them to see the pink
color fade from her checks, and the
shadow of sharp pain creep over hcl
beautiful face; so she had to learn the
lesson ofsmiling when her heart achcd
worst. The two Mcxicans, cattle herd.
crs, who had seen him, were eagerly
questioned; but they could tell nothing
that she did not know, save that they
were quite sure that it was Jim, and
not some other unfortunate. whom they
had seen.
They gave stupid assent, when ask.
ed by Marian to secure him and bring
him into town the next time that the \
saw him, and "Si, Scnor," considcra
bly, less stupid in subsequent private
interview with Jack, who promised
them cheap money for their labor.
Marian had the books which jim had
left in the cabin; commonplace Greek
and Latin books, which might have be
longed to anybody, save that on one
ty-leaf was written, in a scrawlins
hand, -. &. Wilmer" and this yellow
page, and this faded ink. she covered
with her kisses and baptised with hel
tears. And another weary week crcp
by.
The Doctor noticed with disapproba
ton strongly expressed, how pale ant
worn looking the pretty woman grew
Not professionally; indeed, his title
was merely honorary, bestowed in rec
ogniiion of his services in prescribing
the "GOlden Anti-bilious Pills" for Bol
Jinks, which, or nature in spite o
them, had effected cure. and restored
TO bereft Mariposa society I'M efilcien
and valuable member.
The Doctors interest afforded consid
cradle amusement TO the habitues of the
"Grand' bar-room, and they fairly
roared with sympathy when he profanc
ly expressed his sorrow to see her vast
ing her beauty in tears over "anothcl
fcller."
One Saturday night, two weeks and
day since Marian's arrival, the Who'll,
population of the town were at tn,
Grand, either drinking, gambling, o.
purchasing provisions of Cutey's depu
ty, who presided over the tin-can lie
partment with activity and grace; ant
all, whatever their occupation, wer,
swearing vigorously and increasingly.
Marian sat up stairs in her tiny room
burning with feverish anxiety. lie
long years of waiting, the com
fortress journey, even the first week o
uncertainty, had been easier TO bear thai
this anxious waiting. The Mexican
had not hesitaied TO say that he must b,
dead by this time; but that she did no
believe; he might be starving. crazed
nearly dead, but surely she might sc,
him once more and hear him say that h,
torgavc her; perhaps even nurse hin
back to reason and health and hop,
again.
The brawling and laughter down
stairs made her shudder. 'If | wa
only mani" she whispered, fiercely
NitiiNihiiS iiti lliilt litiitiS. ''Auu ut
nothing but sit here and wait! Oh
God be merciful!" she cried.
Then suddenly thought flashed int,
her mind. She did not stop to think o
il; she acted upon it.
The Doctors partner, profoundly
studying his cards, was somewhat dis
concerted to see the table kicked over
and the Doctors "hand" on the floor
Without question he put his hand bacl
for his pistol, when the sudden stiffness
in the room caught his attention, and al
that followed caused him to forget tn,
afront.
In the center of the room, her disor
dered hair flying about her face, he
clear oyes flashing with excitement, he
cheeks flaming with color, more beauti
full than they had ever seen her look be
fore, Marian stood waiting for silence
Men crowded up to the doorways an,
filled the windows, certain from the sud
den quiet, that something was up"
"Won't you help meY" She cried out
I