Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-22


po'try. Thar's pile of books in my cabin
now that he used ter read considerable.
can't make head nor tail to 'em. Pr'aps
you might"
81 would like to see them," said Marian,
eagerly.
Jack nodded, and a pause epsued. AT
length Scotiy remarked that The "old man."
meaning Culey, was "fayther late in light
in up" at which Jack arose and bade the
stranger "good night"
Marian put out her hand, saying, 1--WE
will be good friends, hope"
Circus Jack took 1t by the finger tips
cautiously, careful not to hurt II with his
horny fingers.
"Tll do anything in the world fur yer,
madam" he replied, earnestly and ingen-
uously.
"There is one thing wished TO ask ;" she
said, though ii may be a foolish question.
"Did you ever notice -rlng-lhat lie
wore or-carried ?"
"They Wus ring, but I'm beat eff can
tell what kind. Once when Jim was tur-
riblc sick, an his han swelled up, want
Gu " lilt u Ollt Dul nb lOuSul ~ l. NOuiuu u
He said when he got well, that ii never he'd
ben oil, nor never shouldn't be while he
had life TO fight"
Cant you tell me what it was like ?"
she asked.
81 amt no hand" said Circns Jack, rub.
biug his head. I'D know it eff seed it,
but"
,tNua. I, ILL., ,hi. o., Ct,a l.o.,. . la;.,.
purse from her pocket, and took from its
safest corner plain, fiat baud OF gold, with
a small disk on it, shaped like the half of a
heart placed horizontally.
"Prezactly r. exclaimed Circus Jack,
with emphasis.
She opened her purse to put ii back, but
ii fell from her hand, scattering her little
stock Of money over the floor, aud r mo-
ment alter, when Mrs. Sharpe came in, in
response to frantic halloos from Scotty, she
found Marian in dead faint upon the floor,
with Scottv and Circus Jack, with hands
clasped behind them, kneeing on either
side OF her like uncouth angels, while scat
tered CONS and escaping masses Of golden
blown hair formed halo about her head.
QUO WINS isidlutu VI anu DlONOktu Ut ntT
weakness afterward said she was fstigued
with her long and wearisome ride, and that
she never faiuted before; but if she had
been an accomplished diDlomalisl, she
could have planned nothing better for her
popularity.
As for the faded-out woman, her opinion,
which had been totlering under severe
reproof from Cutey, now underwent a COM
plete revolution.
"Them kind never faints - sue said TO
herself dogmatically, as she assisted Marian
to her room and begged her TO take things
easy like" She patiently answered one
hundred and seven inquiries that evening,
var ying from, "HOw's the sick lady - 10
"Jim Winners gal perking up little arter
her faint ?" and for the rest of her stay in
Mariposa she proved that kindliness ofheart
had been one Of the "fast colors."
A week afer her arrival Marian had
learned all that anybody in Mariposa knew
regarding "Jim." She wore that curious
ring upon her finger now. There were two
letters upon the disk, but no one ever had
the hardihood 10 ask what they were.
NbONt N1ts W cit httI, uuu NuOSt
curiosity was keener, declared that they
were "i j." with a "little quirl-like' be-
tween.
Punks also knew-a fact which did cred
il TO his powers and habits Of observation
that on the disk of the ring which Jim
wore on his little finger were the letters "F
a."
D.,v L Dc 80. I,aI III
spelled bot fail" He further inquired
"what they wanted TO hev such a doggoned
mls'able word as thet en- ring lurH'
"Torter he love or suntbin'," he add
ed, critically.
1t was after much questioning in divers
places, and the exercise of deal of pa
tience and some finesse, that Marian learn
ed the present whereabouts of the half
crazed hermit "all unblessed." When last
seen, something less than a week before
her arrival, he had been wandering through
the neighboring mountains, half-clothed in
wretched rags, living on Lerries and roots,
alternately muttering and shrieking the
vagaries of his unhlnged mind.
They were 10th to tell her, even those
VINO knew utlI Iuut tAltIudlS stcIl-
ed 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
learn 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
a.. a L hat
quite sure that it was Jim, and not some
other unfortunate, whom they had seen.
They gave a stupid assent when asked
by Marian TO secure him aud bring him in-
TO town the next time that they saw him,
and "Si, Senor," considerably less stupid
in a subsequent private interview with
Jack, who promised them "heap money"
for their labor.
Marian had the books which Jim had
left in the cabin; com monplace Greek and
Latin books, which might have belonged
TO anybody, save that on one hy-leaf was
written, in a scrawling hand, ~. c. Will
mer," and this yellow page, and this faded
ink, she covered with her kisses aud bap-
tised with her tears. And another weary
week crept by.
The Doctor noticed with disapprobation
strongly expressed how pale and worn
looking the pretty woman grew. Not pro-
fessionaly; indeed, his title was merely
honorary, bestowed in recognition of his
services in prescribing the "Golden Anti
bilious Pills" for Bob Jinks, which, or ma
ture in spite of them, had effected cure,
and restored TO bereft Mariposa society an
efficient and valuable member.
The Doctors interest afforded considera-
BILE amusement 10 the habltues of the
"Grand" baI-roonl, and they fairly roared
with sympathy when he profanely express
ed his sorrow to see her wasting her beau