Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-07-16

~ "SuVAn6 Voy ""o A0"A "AOA nO
had stumbled upon some miserable Sc
cret. which was dead and buried, but
could not rest in its grave; that there
was no room left for doubt, which is
sometimes blessed and he had fed with
out word disappeared, and left to her
own wretched heart the task of telling
her the reason why.
If any of the stories were true and
larian still loved poor Jim, he told her
enough to wiring her heart and haunt
her forever.
The winter that he spent in the hol-
low of great pine tree. on the rim of
Yosemite Valley, was perhaps his hap
pest and most peaceful. Every Yose-
mite tourist stops to peep inside this
tree and wonder if a man really lived
there. at was comfortable enough"
says the hale old pioneer of the valley
bebw. "He had plenty of room. We
both slept in it one night"
When Circus Jack told Marian the
story it was fresher and less wonderful
than now.
WAS the snow very deep ?" she said.
"Wss there no danger of his freezing to
death ?"
81 never hearn much about it any
how" said Circus Jack, "'cept that he
lived thar alone cuttin' shingles. 1 'spect
the snow was bout four or FIVE feet deep
up thar. He's close-mouthed one, I
tell yer. Never git nothin' outer him,
and when he's drunk he don't tell moth
in whatsomdever P'
This, with glance Multiplying, half
reassuring, as though he would promise
her that the secret, whatever it might
be, was safe.
One comforting doubt beat at the wo-
mans heart all the while Jack was talk
ing. perhaps this man was not the
one."
She mentioned this at length, and
asked Jack what his quandom partner"
was like.
"He was slight-built feller, rayther
light-complected," was the reply. can
hans some 1 called him han some, didn't
you, Scotty 2"
Scotty, thus appealed to, gave pro-
fame assent. He had scarcely moved >
muscle since he sat down, and with his
eyes fixed on Marian's fair, ever-chang-
ing face. Mrs. Sharpe, after vain at
to,ont ~ - - -.--srsetion,
ND quietly withdrawn, having no rensn
fo1 being one of quartette where two
did all of the talking.
"Was she-an-educated man ?" in
quired Marian hesitatingly, feeling in a
vague way that the question might of
fend Jack.
"Yes, he war;" replied that worthy,
in contemplative tone. "When he war
drunk hev hearn him talkin' a lot of
stuff like po'try. Thar's pile of books
in my cabin now that he used ter read
consid'a able. l can't make head nor tail
to 'em. P'r'aps you might"
Il would like to see them" said Ma
rian eagerly.
Jack nodded, and pause ensued. At
length Scotty remarked that the sold
man." meaning Cutey, was "reyther late
in lightin' up" at which Jack arose and
bade the stranger ''goOd night"
Marian put out her hand, saying,
"We will be good friends, I hope"
Circus Jack took it by the finger tips,
cautiously, careful not to hurt it with
his horny fingers.
"Tll do anything In the world fur
yer, madam" he replied, earnestly and
ingenuously.
"There was one thing wished to
ask" she said, "though it may be a
foolish question"
"Did you ever notice any-ring-
that he wore or-carried ?"
THAR wus q ring. but I'm beat eff l
kin tell what kind. Once when Jim wus
turrible sick, an his hand swelled up, |
wanted to file it off, but he fought so I
couldn't. He said when he got we'll thet
it never had been off, nor never shouldn't
be while he had life to fight"
Cant you tell me what it was like ?"
she asked.
al amt no hand" said Circus Jack,
rubbing his head. I'D know it ef l seed
it, but"
"Was it like this ?" She drew dain-
ty purse from her pocket, and took from
its safest corner plain, fiat band of
gold, with small disk on it, shaped
like the half of heart placed horizon.
tally.
"Prezactly '' exclaimed Circus Jack,
with emphasis.
She opened her purse to put it back,
but it fell from her hand, scattering her
little stock of money over the floor, and
q moment after, when Mrs. Sharpe came
in. in response to frantic hslloos from
Scotty. she found Marian in dead faint
upon the floor, with Scotty and Circus
Jack, with hands clasped behind them
kneeling on either side Of her like un
couth angels, while scattered coins and