The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-08-02

1leN was ring, Dut | IN beat II xii
tell what kind. Once when jim was ter
rlble sick. an his hand swellcd up.
wanted to file it off, but he fought so
couldn't He said when he got we'll thai
it never had ben off, nor never shouldn't
be while he had life to fight"
'Can't you tell me what it was like q
she asked
Il 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.
"PIezactly " exclaimed Circus Jack
with emphasis
She opened her purse to put it back
but it fell from her hand, scattering her
llttle stock OF money over the floor, and a
moment after, when Mrs Sharpe came
IN, IN response to frantic haloes from
Scotty, she found Marian in Il dead faint
upon the floor, with Scotty and Circus
Jack, with hands clasped behind them,
kneellng an either side of her like un-
couth angels, while scattered coins and
escaping masses of golden-br hair
formed halo about her head.
She was ashamed of and provoked at
her weakness afterward said She was
tatlgued with her long and wearsome
ride, and that she never tainted before ::
but If she had been an accomplished di-
plomatlst, she could have planned moth
ing better for her popularity.
AS for the faded-out woman, her opin-
ion, which had been tottcring under a Sc
we're reproof from Cutey, now underwent
Il complete revolution
Them kind never taint~ !" she said to
herself dogmatlcally, as she assisted Mar
ian to her room and begged her to take
things easy like She pat emily answer
ell one hundred and seven inquiries that
evening, varying from CLOVIS the sick
lady 7" to, "Jim Winners cal perking up
Il little arter her faint ?" and for the rest
OF Marian's stay in Mariposa she proved
that kindliness of heart had been one of
the 'tast 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 ac-
count that evening; and moreover, the
Doctor "tipped' him handsomely for cN-
ira care and attention. In 4 week after
her arrival, Marian had learned all that
anybody in Mariposa knew regarding
jim" She Wore that curious ring upon
her finger now. There We're two letters
upon the disk, but no one ever had the
hardihood to ask what they We're
n1,1- ,,rI,,
whose curiosity was keener, declared that
they We're II l." with ''littlc quirl-lile"
between.
Punks also knew a fact which did
credit to his powers and habits OF obser-
vation that on the disk Of the ring
which jim Wore on his little finger were
the letters ga"
Punks desired to know what "Fa-il"
spelled but fail" He further inquired
"What they wanted to hev secll Il dog
goned mis- bic word as thet on ring for :"
'''Tortef be love or sllnthin'' he add
ed critically.
1t was only after much questioning in
divers places, and the exercise of Il deal
OF patience and some iinesse that Mari
an learned the present whereabouts of
the halt-craZed hermit ''all unbleSsed." :"
When last seen, something less than
week before her arrival. he had been Wan-
dcring through the neighboring noun
tains, hali-clothed in wrctchcd rags, liv-
ing on berries and roots, alternately NUT
tering and shrieking the vagaries of his
mind.
They We're 10th to tell her, even those
who knew it. Their rude eXternals seem
cd to have made their hearts softer. 1t
hurt them to see the pink color fade from
her checks, and the shadow of sharp
pain creep over her beautiful face; 50
that she had to learn the lesson of smil-
ing when her heart ached worst. The
two MeNicans, cattle herders, who had
seen him, We're 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 unfortu-
nate, whom they had seen.
They gave Il stupid assent when asked
by Marian TO secure him and bring him
into town the next time that they saw
him: and IL Isl. Senor," considerably
less stupid in q subsequent private inter
view with Jack, who promised them
cheap 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 anybody, save that on one fly
leaf was written in Il scrawing hand, u.
G. Wilmcr," and this yellow page, and
this faded ink she covered With her kisses
and baptized with her tears. And an
other weary week crept hy
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 recognition
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 berett Mariposa So
ciety an efficient and valuab member
The Doctors interest afforded conSid-
cradle amusement to the habitues of the
''Grmd' barroom, and they fairly roared
with sympathy when he protanely eX-
pressed his sorrow to see her wasting her
beauty in tears over '.another feller."
One Saturday night, two weeks and u
day since Marian's arrival the whole popu-
lation of the town We're at the Grand,
either drinking, gambling, or purchasing
provisions of Cuteys deputy, who pre-
sided over the tin can department with
activity and grace; and all, whatever
their occupation, were swearing vigorous
~ and INCREASINGLY.
Marian sat up stairs in her tiny room
burning with feversh anxiety Her long
years Of home waiting, the comtortless
journey, even the first week of uncertain
ty, had been easier to bear than this
anxious waiting. The MeXicans had not
hcsltated to say that he must be dead 10y
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 he torgave her;
perhaps even nurse him back to reason
and health and hope again.
The brawling and laughter down stairs
made her shudder. I" If | was only Il
man y she whispered tiercely, clenching
her little hands "Can do nOthing but
sit here and wait? Oh, God, be mcrci-
full !" she cried.
Then suddenly u thought flashed into
her mind She did not stop to think of