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

credit TO his powers and habits Of obscr-
vation--thai on the disk Of the ring which
Jim wore on his little finger We're the let
tiers |" Fa.'
spelled but fall" He furthernquired
: what they wanted 10 hey sech dog
goned mis'ablc word As that on "A ring
fur?"
"'T'orter be love or sunthin',' he
aided. critically.
II was only after much questioning In
divers places. and the exercise Of deal OF
patience and some iinessc. that Marian
learned the present whereabouts If the
half-crazed hermit ..all unblessed. +"
When last seen, something less than 4
week before her arrival, he had been
wandering through the neighboring
mountains. half clothed in wretched
rags, living on berries and roots, alter
nately muttering and shrieking the VA
garies OF his unhinged mind.
They were 10th 10 tell her, even those
who knew il. Their rude externals
seemed to have made their hearts softer
IL hurt them to see the pink color fade
sharp pain creep over her beautiful face;
so she had 10 learn the lesson Of smiling
when her heart achcd worst. The two
Mexicans, ttle-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 il
was Jim. and not some other unfortu-
nate, whom they had seen.
They gave stupid assent when ask
ed by Marian to secure him and bring
him into town the next time that they
saw him; and a = ST, Senor,' consider
ably 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; commonplace Greek
and Latin books. which might have be-
longed To any body, save that on one fly
Leaf was written in scrawling hand,
-. q. Wilmer" and this yellow page.
and this faded ink, she covered with
her kisses and baptized with her tears.
And another weary week crcpt 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 10 be-
reft Mariposa society an efficient and
valuable member
The Doctors interests afforded con-
siderable amusement to the habitucs Of
the " Grand" bar-room, and they fairly
roared with sympathy when he profane-
ly expressed his sorrow to see her vast
ing her beauty in tears over another
feller.-
One Saturday night. two weeks and a
day since Marian's arrival, the whole
population Of the town were at the
'.Grand. either drinking. gambling, or
purchasing provisions of Cutey's depu-
IN, who presided over the tin-can de-
partment with activity and grace; and
| all, whatever their occupation, were
swearing vigorously and increasingly.
! Marian sat up in her tiny room burn
! ing with feverish anxiety. Her long
home waiting. the comfortless journey.
even the first week Of uncertainty. had
been easier 70 bear than this anxious
waiting. The Mexicans had not hcsi-
tated 10 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 once
more and hear him say that lie forgave
her; perhaps even nurse him back to
reason and health and hope again.
The brawling and laughter down
stairs made her shudder ..If | was
only manu- she whispered fiercely.
clcnching her little hands. ..!an do
, nothing but sit here and wait? Oh.
! God, be merciful,- she cried.
The Doctors partner, profoundly
i studying his cards. was somewhat dis
/ concerted 70 see the table kicked over.
= and the Doctors "hand" on the floor.
I Without question. he put his hand
/ back for his pistol. when the sudden
stiffness in the room caught his atten-
r ton, and all that followed caused him
TO forget the afiront.
/ In the center Of the room, her disor-
dcred hair fying about her face, her
\ clear eyes flashing with excitement, her
cheeks flaming with color, more bcauti-
/ full than they had ever seen her look be-
/ fore, Marian stood waiting for silence.
Men crowded up to the doorways and
filed the windows, certain from the sud-
4 den quiet that . something was up"
: won't you help mcP" she cried out
"What can do to find himP He may
4 be starving TO DEATH lie would not
/ have left you starve! You"--shc gasp.
! ed and drew her breath hard" you
' whom he was good to-you remember
: hundred things, but you forget him
/. and let him--rave his life away--and
I stvve To death--alone. She choked