The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-07-12

~ amt no hand,'' said Circus Jack,
rubbing his head. "I'd know it IF seed
it, but -"
"Was it like this? ~ she drew dainty
purse from her pocket, and took from its
safest corner a plain, flat band of gold,
with small disk on it, shaped like the
half of heart, placed horizontally.
Prezactlyi" exclaimed Circus Jack,
| with emphasis.
She opened her purse to put it back,
but 1t fell from her hand, scattering her
little stock of money over the floor, and a
moment after, when Mrs. Sharpe came
in, in response to frantic hallocs 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
escaping masses of golden brown hair
formed a halo about her head.
She was ashamed of and provoked at
her weakness afterward said she was
fatigued with her long and wearisome
ride, and that she never tainted before !;
but if she had been an accomplished diplo-
matist, she could have planned nothing
better for her popularity.
AS for the faded-out woman, her Opin.
ion, which had been tottering under Sc
we're reproof from Cutey, now underwent
a complete revO utiun.
"Thcm kind never faints," she said to
herself, dOgmatically, as she assisted Ma
rian to her room and begged her to "take
things easy like" She patiently answered
one hundred and seventeen inquiries that
evening, varying from HOw's the sick
lady!" to Jim Winners gal perking up
little after her faint ~ and for the rest
of Marian's stay in Mariposa she proved
that kindliness of heart had been one of
the "fast colors."
1t was but natural that Cutey should feel
a friendly interest, since he dealt out at
least two hundred extra drinks, at highly
remunerative prices, on her account that
evening; and, moreover, the doctor
slipped" him handsomely for extra care
and attention. In week after her arrival,
Marian had learned all that anybody in
Mariposa knew regarding q" She
wore that curious ring upor her finger
now. There were two let-yrs upon the
disk, but no one ever had the hardihoOd
to ask what they were.
Punks, whose eyes were keen, and whose
curiosity was keener, declared that they
were % l." with " little quirl like be-
tween.
Punks also kncw-a fact which did
credit to his powers and habits of Observa-
tiOn-that Oh the disk of the ring which
Jim wore ON his little finger were the let
tiers Of A.
Punks desired to know what Fail"
spelled but "fail." He further inquired
"what they wanted to hev sech dog
goned Unstable word as tibet on a ring
fur:''
"T'orter be love- or sunthin','' he
added, critically.
1t was only after much questioning, in
divers places, and tie exercise of a deal
of patience and finesse, that Marian
learned the present Whereabouts of the
half-crazed hermit, call unbles. ed."
When last seen, something less than Il
week before her arrival, he had been wan
dering through the neighbOring mount.
aims, half-clothed in wretched rags, living
on berries or roots, alternately muttering
and shrieking the vagaries of his un-
hinged mind.
They were 10th to tell her, even those
who knew it. Their rude externals seemed
to have made their hearts softer. 1t hurt
them to see the pink color fade from her
cheeks, and the shadow of sharp pain
creep over her beautiful face; so She had
to learA the lesson Of smiling when her
heart ached worst. The two Mexicans,
cattle. herdcrs, who had seen him, were
eagerly questioned; but they could tell
nothing that she did not know, save that
they We're quite sure that it was jim, and
not some other unfortunate, whom they
had seen.
They gave STUPID assent when asked
by Marian to secure him and bring him
into town the next time that they saw him;
and l" 81, senor," considerably less stu
Did in subsequent private interview with
Jack, who promised them heap money!
for their labor.
Marian had the books which Jim had
left in the cabin-commonplac Greek and
Latin books, which might nave belonged
to anybody, save that on the fly.leaf was
written, in scrawling hand, ~. G. Will.
mer," and this yellow page. and this faded
ink she covered with her kisses and bap-
TIED with her tears. And another weary
week passed by.
The doctor noticed, with disapproba-
ton strongly expressed, how pale and
worn looking the pretty woman grew
Not professionally; indeed, his title was
merely honorary, bestowed in recogni-
ton of his services in prescribing the
Golden Anti Bilious Pills" for Bob
links, which, or nature, in spite of them,
had effected a cure and restored to bereft
Mariposa society an efficient and valuable
member.
The doctors interest afforded consider.
able amusement to the habitues of the
Grand room, and they fairly roared
with Svnnofbv Uhnn hn
pressed his sorrow to see her wasting her
beauty in tears over :" another Teller"
One Saturday night, two weeks and a day
since Marian's arrival, the whole pOpula-
ton OF the town were at the Grand, either
drinking, gambling or purchasing pro-
visions of Cutey's deputy, who presided
over the tin-can department with activity
and grace; and all, whatever their Occu.
patton, were swearing vigorously and UNI
ceasingly.
Marian sat upstairs in her tinv room
burning with fever ish anxiety Her long
years OF home waiting, the comfortless
journey, even the first week of uncertain.
ty, had been easier TO bear than this anx-
ious waiting. The Mexicans had not hes
iiatcd to say that he must be dead by this
time; but that she did not believe; he
might be starving, crazed, nearly dead,
but surely she might see him one more
and hear him say that he forgave her;
perhaps even nurse him back to reason
and health and hope again.
The brawling and laughter downs stairs
made her shudder. "It l was only a
mani" she whispered fiercely clenching
her little hands. "Can do nothing but
sit here and wait! Oh, God, be merci-
ful!' she cried.
Then suddenly thought flashed into
her mind. She did not stop to think of
it; she acted upon it.
The doctors partner, profoundly study
ing his cards, was somewhat disconnected
to see the table kicked over, and the doc-
tors "hand" on the floor. Without a
question, he put his hand back for his
pistol, when the sudden stiffness in the
room caught his attention and all that
followed caused him to forget the affront.
In the center of the room, her disord-
cred hair flying about her face, her clear
eyes flashing with excitement, her cheeks
flaming with color, more beautiful than
they had ever seen her look before, Mari
on o(rOA sts n f,r o. No.