The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-06-08

Of good will rs must have startled IN
very birds asleep in the distant trees.
Nay! some faint echo Of II may have
been heard At the very gates Of heaven
itself.
The tears rolled down Marian's
checks. She tried 20 say, "God bless
you'll" but the tears had the right OF way.
and the words broke into something IN,
Ineligible.
A sudden shame came over them that
they had not thought Of this before.
Memories Of homes. of mothers. oi wives
came knocking NJ their hearts, and
would not be denied The sleeves II
rough and clean flannel shirts were
drawn across eyes that had scorned
tears. through sickness, discomfort, and
disappointment.
Cutey came 10 the rescue.
Gentlemcnl" he said, waving his
hand over the bar, ''help yourselves.
NV i'inis are stiff. and can't 20: but
In treat the crowd. Free drinks, gen
tlemen."
And leaving his bar 10 the tender mer-
cies of his thirsty friends, Cuicy offered
his arm to Marian, and escorted her To
her own door, where he took leave Of
her with a low bow.
Then he went down stairs four steps
at time, lest his choice liquors should
be annihilatcd in his absence
II was Monday noon when they re-
turned. Marian sat at the window in
the easiest chair the house afforded.
sickcning with fever. She watched
them coming into town with restless,
helpless anxiety. She watched them
scatter to their cabins, and saw Circus
Jack coming on toward the hotel alone.
She buried her face in her hands. lie
had said that he would never come back
until he found him. Had they become
discouraged, or --
She could not believe that they had
found him. Her heart seemed To cry
out. No, no." Jack came up, with
little Mrs. Sharpe nj his heels.
g BE keerful," said the frded woman
"She mighty poorly
Jack came In as lightly AS his heavy
boots would allow.
:. The boys said fur me ter tell yer they
wus all dretful sorry fur yer. We buried
dead nigh on to couple Of weeks, |
reckon. Don't yer look 50, lady. Poor
jim, he warn't never happy, even when
he was drunk. He's better off up thar.
We flung few stones together to mark
the place, and Ill guide you and Mrs.
Sharpe thar any time"
Then. lowering his voice TO a whisper,
he added tenderly, " And TUX the ring
often his finger He couldn't fight furit
now; an thought a. mebby you'd like
it,
He took II from the corner Of his
handkerchief; she held up her finger
for il, and he slipped il on. Then he
saw that the letters spelled Faith
t" Thet punks," he thought 70 himself
contemptuously.
She looked up into his face with a
stony smile--no tears now.
..Thank you,'' she said.
Fonrweeks afterward the Doctor lifted
Marian into the stage. She was strong
enough for her Journey now, she said
Two DAYS before she had visited the
lonely cairn. II was a tiresomc horse
back ride, too. She seemed to bc get
ting wei very fast. The Doctor told her
SO.
"People never die when they wish
to- she answered sadly.
Circus Jack came to the stage-door 70
bid her !. Good-by."
.What can do for you 10 thank
youl- she asked earnestly.
Jack hesitaied.
"Ef You wouldn't mind, ma'am. "he
said. I'D likc--to--kiss your hand.
I've got dear old mother honc--ef
You wouldn't mindi'
N Without blush or change Of coun-
tcnance she put her arm around his
neck and kissed his lips.
Good by, dear old fellow, ~ she said.
Then Scotty cracked his whip, the
crowd on the piazza raised their hats
even the poor, chagrined Doctor--a sub
dued cheer was given, and the lumber
ing stage disappeared in cloud Of dust,
the nodding mariposas on the hillside
looking cuiiously al Il as Il went by
Galdry for June.