The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-07-19

*Hm ~ 49, = - ~ =
n 9 - - ~ 49, = s ::isIIs
Dc fu1disd - $780, II6siries ia
evening, vazyi1G lkum How's d aick
loiy - = " In WflneFss n peeklnx y
. u1tIe DIR ~ 1ain1r, nd for 1A6 ~
a Mmia1ss stey Il NsElpoea slie proved
that kindliness 81 heaTs had been one ~
The = Inst coloEs.
Il was but natural that Cutey should fecl
: friendly interest, since be dealt ont q
least two hundred extra drinks, Il highly
remunerativc pfices, on her account that
evening; and, moreover, the doctor
(" tipped" him Handsomely for extra care
and attention. In week after her arrival.
Marian had learned AL that anybody in
MAriposa knew regarding = Jim. I" She
wore that curious ring upon her finger
now. There we're two letters upon tie
disk, but no one ever had the hardihood
to ask what they were.
Punks, whose eyes were keen, and whose
curiosity was keetler, declared that they
were :" L." with 8 little quirl like be-
tween.
Punks also kncW-a fact which did
credit to his powers and habits Of observa-
tion-that On the disk of the ring which
Jim wore on his little finger were the let
tiers F A."
Punks desired to know what q Fall,
spelled but "fail." He further inquired
what they wanted to hev sech dog
goned Unstable word Is tibet ON ring
furf''
"T'orter be love or sunthin',n he
added. critically.
1t was only after much questioning, in
divers places, and the exercise of deal
of patience and finesse, that Marian
learned the present Whereabouts of the
half -crazed hermit, "all unblessed -
When last seen, something less than
week before her arrival, he had been wan
dering through the neiehboring mount
aims, half clOthed in wretched rags, living
on berries or roots, alternately muttering
and shrieking the vagaries of his I'M
hinged mind.
They were 10th to tell her, even those
who knew it. Their rude externals seemed
to have made their hearts softer. Ithurt
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 iearn the lesson of smiling when her
heart ached worst. The two Mexicans,
cattle herders, 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 asked
by Marian to secure him and bring him
into town the next time that they saw him;
and g 81. senor," considerably less stu.
pid in a subsequent private interview with
Jack, who promised them neap 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, 81. c. Will
mer," and this yellow pege. and this faded
ink she covered with her kisses and bap-
tized 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
Jinks, 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 bar-room, and they fairly roared
with sympathy when he profanely ex
pressed his sorrow to see her wasting her
beauty in tears over " another feller.''
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 un-
ceasingly.
Marian sat upstairs in her tiny room
burning with fevelish 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
itated TO say that he must be dead by this
time; but that she did not helieve, 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 downstairs
made her shudder. of l was only
manr' she whispered fiercely clenching
her little hands. Can do nothing but
sit here and wait! Oh, God, be merci-
full' 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 dot
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
an stood waiting for silence. Men crowd
ed up to the door-ways and filled the win
dows, certain from the sudden quiet that
something was up"
Won't you help meT she cried out.
"What can do to find him? He may
be starving to death! He would not have
left you to starved You"-she gasped
and drew her breath hard-"yo whom
he was good to- you remembers hum
dred things. but you forget him! and let
him-rave his lie away-and starve to
death-alone" She chO ked. She could
not speak another word but she stood
with her lips parted, her eyes flashing,
looking eagerly, almost angrily, from one
face to another.
Circus Jack bounded on to table; it
was rickety, and reeled with his weight;
but Punks and Bob links steadied it; they
we're friends Of Jacks, beside they had
just won from him at poker, and felt very
friendly. "Fellersl'' said Jack, q to- NOR
rows Sunday. I'm going out ter hunt for
poor Jim, and amt comm back till
find hun. Them as wants ter Comply me
kin CAP at my cabin tonight"
~ will go with you Jack" said the
doctor impressively.
Ne too, you bel" cried Scotty.
Count me in" growled bass voice
from the window.
me tooIn squeaked Punks. "All ASH
go say 'Ayl'"
And an 'sAy!" came from those rough
voices with such . ringing burst OF good
will as must have startled the very birds
asleep in the distant trees.
Nayl Some faint echo Of it may have
been heard at the very gates of Heaven
itself. The tears rolled down Marian's
checks. She tried to say God bless
you'll" but the tears had the right of way,
and the words broke into something unih-
telligible.
A sudden shame came over them that
fieS of homes Of mOthers of wives came