The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-07-20

anu ne nau Heu without WOfu disappear
ed, and left TO her own wretched heart the
task of telling her the reason why.
Circus Jack did not tell Marian these
stories, though he had heard them all in
deed, they had all been retold and discussed
in the bar.room, not half an hour since.
An average woman would have repeated
them to her, and thus tempted her to reveal
the truth but chivalrous heart beat un-
der Jacks flannel shirt, and he could no
more bear to hurt her than he could have
crushed a little bird to death with his hand.
If any of the stories were true, and she
yet loved poor jim, he told her enough to
wiring her heart and haunt her dreams for
ever.
The winter that he spent in the hollow of
great pine tree, on the rim of Yosemite
Valley, was perhaps his happiest and most
peaceful. Every Yosemite tourist stops to
peep inside this tree, and to wonder if a man
had really lived there. at was comfortable
enough" says the hale old pioneer of the
valley below. "He had plenty of room.
We both slept in it one night"
At wich the tourist peeps In again, and
wonders if the long limbed Texan was not a
bit cramped by the foot board.
When Circus Jack told Marian the story
it was fresher and less wonderful than
now.
"Was the snow very deep?" she said.
"Was there no danger of his fr eezing to
death ?"
81 never heard much about it, anyhow
said Circus Jack, "cept thet he lived thar
alone cuttin' shingles. / 'cept the snow
was bout four or five feet deep up thar whar
he lived. He's close mouthed one, tell
yer. Never git nothin' outer him, an when
he's drunk he don't tell nothing what-somd.
ever ~
This, with glance half pitying, hall
reassuring, as though he would promise he
that the secret whatever it might be- wa!
safe.
One comforting doubt beat at the won
ans heart all the while that Jack was talk
ing. perhaps this man was not the one!"
She mentioned this at length and asket
Jack what his quondam partner" was like
"He was a slight built feller, rather ligh
completed, " was the reply "An'handsome
| called him handsome, didn't you, Scotty?
Scotty, thus appealed to, gave profan
assent. He had scarcely moved muscl
since he sat down, with his eyes fixed o
Marian's fair, ever changing face. Mr.
Shape, after vain attempt to edge in tn
conversation, had quietly withdrawn, ha,
ing no relish for being one of a quartet whel
two did all the talking.
"Was he-an-educated man ?" inquire
Marian hesitatingly, feeling in vague wa
that the question might offend Jack.
Eyes, he war;" replied that worthy in
e contemplative tone.
"When he war drunk hev often hea
him talkin' lot of stuff like po'try. THAI
. a pile of books in my cabin now that he us
5 to read considably. l cent make head n
a tail of them. P'r'aps you might"
: 81 would like to see them" said Mari
: eagerly.
Y Jack nodded and pause ensued
: length Scotty remarked that the "old man
r meaning Cutey, was "reyther late in light
up" at which Jack arose and bade the stra
ger good night"
Marian put out her hand, saying, "y
will be good friends hope.'
Circus Jack took it by the finger tips ca
|. tiously, careful not to hurt it with his hor
= fingers.
y "l'll do ary in the world for yer, madam
o he replied earnestly and ingenuously.
h "There was one thing wish to ask, S
q said, thought it may be foolish questic
a Did you ever notice any ring-that he We
a or-carried?"
There a0as ring, but Pm beat if l
q tell what kind. Once when Jim was tur
f BILE sick, and his hand swelled up, want
to file it off, but he fought so | couldn't.
o said when he got well that il had never be
to fight
Cant you tell me what it was like ?" s
), asked.
81 amt no hand" said Circus Jack RI
10 pihB Ills Htuu' KNOW IL el setu
but"
"Was it like this" She drew dair
y purse from her pocket, and took from its $
h est corner plain, fiat band of gold, with
small disk on it, shaped like the half o
heart placed horizontally.
"Prezactlyw exclaimed Circus Jack W
emphasis.
,e She opened her purse to put it back, bu
= fell from her hand, scattering her lit
N stock Of money over the floor, and nom,
II after, when Mrs. Sharpe came in, in respol
to frantic halloes from Scottys she fou
!. Marian in dead faint upon the floor, W
- Scotty and Circus Jack, with hands clasI
- behind them, kneeling on either side
like uncOuth angels, while scattered co
and escaping masses of golden brown h
- formed halo about her head
v She was ashamed of and provoked at
If weakness afterward; said she was fatigl
with her long and wearisome ride, and t
she never tainted before but if she had b.
~ an accomplished diplomatist she could h
~ planned nothing better for her popularit
- As for the faded-out woman, her opni
- which had been tottering under a severe
~ ~ proof from Cutey, now underwent cC
~ plete revolution.
"Them kind never faintsn she sale
r. herself dogmatically, as she had assis
of Marian to her room and begged her to 1T
Is, things easy like" She patiently answe
re one hundred and seven inquiries that c
ri ming, varying from "How's the sick lad.
to to "Jim Winners gal perking up little
ter her faint 2' and for the rest of Maris
ed stay in Mariposa she proved that kindliI
r. Of heart had been one of the "fast colors.
n. 1t was but natural that Cutey should
friendly interest, since he dealt out at /
49, two hundred extra drinks at highly remul
20 ative prices on her account that event
~ and moreover the doctor "tipped" him ha
y, sOmely for extra care and attention.