Ellsworth American., 1877-06-07

Yes, he war; replied that worthy in a
comtemplative tone. When he war drunk
hey hearn him talking a lot OF stuff like
poetry. Thar's pile OF books IN my cab
in now that he use ter read consid'able.
can't make head nor tail to EN-. P'r'aps
you might
i would Ike to see them, said Marian
eagerly.
Jack nodded, and pause ensucd At
lergth Scotty remarked that the old man
meaning CURLY, was reyther late IA light
ing up at which Jack arose and badc the
stranger good night
Marian put out her hand saying We
will be good friends, | hope
Circus Jack took IL by the. finger tipss
cautiously, careful not to hurt il with hi
horny fingers.
I'm DO AIRY thing in the world fur yer.
madam he replied earnestly ana ingen-
/ uog>ly.
There was one thing wished to ask,
she said. though it may be foolish qaes-
I tion. Did YOU ever notice auy-ring-
that he wore or-carried?
They wus ring, but I'm beat cf | kin
tell what kind. Once when Jim was tur-
rible sick, and his hand swclled up.
wanted 10 file II of. but he fought So |
couldn't. He said when he got well thct
II never had been ofl. nor never shouldn't
be while he had life to fight.
Can't you tell me what it was like: She
asked.
I amt no hand said Circus Jack. rub
bling his head. ia Know It ct seed II.
/ but
Was Il like this+ She drew a dainty
purse from her pocket. ana took from H.,
safest corner plain, flat baud Of gold.
| with small disk on it, ahapcJ Ike the
Z half q a heart ulappI hpriy y,rfaIy
'Prczactly" exclaimed Circus Jack with
emphasis
She opened her purse To put it back but
II tell from her hand, scattering her lntIc
stock OF money over the tl0or, aud a mo
ment AFTER. when Mrs. Sharpe came m, in
reponSe 70 frantic hallocs from ~cutty. >hc
found Marian in dead faint upon the
floor, with Scotty and Circu, Jack, with
hand claspcd behind them. kuccliug on
either side Of her like uncouth angels.
while scattered coins ana escaping ma,,c.
Of golden-brown hair formed i halo about
her head.
She was ashamed of aul provoked ID,
her weakness afterward: said she was IA.
ugued with her long and wcari,pm" ride.
and that she never tainted before; but II
she had been an accomplished diplomat
~, she could have planned nothing better
for her popularity.
A. tor the faded out woman, her opiu-
ion which had been tottcrluE under -.-
we're reprooi from Cutey, now underwent
, a complete revolution.
Them Kind never faint" She stjl ID h-r-
self dogmatcally. as she assisted Mar
ian - her room and begged her to take
thins' easy ike She patlcutiy answered
one hundred and seven inquiries ihl' even.
iny, varying from 'llow'- tile Sick lAIt II
tn Itf, I'm. - Al sf..
after her fAint:' and for the rest Of Mar
fans stay 10 Mlrippn >hr proved th4t
SindliucsS OF heart had been ore ul the
fast culor-.
II va, bu, natural that Cu-ry ,houad
feel friendly Interest. >ture hn d.t., out
AZ least Two hundred extra lru>-. ut
highly remuueratlyc prices. ou b-r .c-
count that evening; tnd moreover tAe
Doctor tipped him handsomely ioy extra
care ana attention. In week after her
arrival, Marian had learned ALI that ANY,
body IN MaripOsa knew regarding jim
She wore that curious ring upon her iiu-
gcr now. There were two letters upon
the disk, but no one ever hui the hlr!i-
hood to ask what they were.
Punks, whose eyes were Keen aui
whose cuiiou>ity was ke.uer declared
that they were i H. With little quirl Ike
between
Punks also knew fac, which d!i cred
II 10 his powers and habits Of observation
that on the disk Of the ring which Jim
wore on his little ii ger were the letters
'Fa'
Punks desired 10 know what Fam
spelled but fall He further inquired
what they wanted ID hcg sech a dog
goned mis'ble word a thrt on r.nS ftr:'
'Torter be love Or suuthin.' he added
critically.
1t was only after much questioning in
divers places, and the exercise Of deal
OF patience and some fne->c. that Marian
learned the present wncrcabOut, of the
hali-craZrd hermit 'all uublr.-,d.' When
last seen, somethiu. less than week De-
fore her arrival. he had been wondering
through the neighboriug mountains. halt
clothed in wretched rags, living on berries
and roots, alternately muttrring aud
shrieking the yAgarics Of hi uuhiug. q
mind.
They were 10th 10 tell her even tlo~e
who knew it. Their rude eXternalS seem
ed to have made their hearts softer II
hurt them to see the pink color fade from
her cheeks, and the shadow Of sharp pain
creep over her beautiful face SIP that she
had 10 learn the lesson OF smiling when
her heart aches worst. Tie two MeXi-
cans, cattle herder>, 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 vas jim.
and not some other unfortunate, whom
they had seen.
They gave STUPID assent when asked
by Marian to secure him and bring him in
TO town the next time that they saw him;
and Isl, Senor,' considerably less stupid
in subsequent private interview with
Jack. who promised them heap money
for their labor.
Marian had the books which Jim had
lett in the cabin; commonplace Greek ana
! Latin books. which might have belonged
to anybody, save that on one fly Leaf was
| written In scrIH..-.1 hand. u. c. Will
mer, aud this yellow page, and this faded
ink, she covered with her kisses and bap.
tlzed 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
professionally; indeed. his title was mere
ly honorary, bestowed in recognition OF
his services in prescribing the Golden
! Anti-bilious Pills for Bob Jlnks, which. or
nature in spite of them, had effected
cure, and 10 bereft Mariposa society an
efficient and valuable member.
The Doctors interest afforded consider
able amusement to the habitues of the
! Grand barroom, and they fairly roared
with sympathy when he profanely express
edhis sorrow TO see her wasting her beauty
| in tears over another feller.'
One Saturday night. two weeks and
day since Marian's arrival, the whole pop
ulation of the two were at the Grand
either drinking. gambling, or purchasing
provisions of Cutey's deputy, who presid-
| ed over the tin can deDartment with activ-
| ity and grace; and all. whatever their oc-
cupation, were swearing vigorously and
increasingly.
Marian sat up stairs in her tiny room
burning with feverish anxiety. Her long
years of home-waiting, the comfortless
| journey, even the first week of uncertainty
| had been easier to bear than this anxious
waiting. The Mexicans had not hesitated
to say that he must be dead by this time;
but that she did not believe; he might be
starving. crazed. nearly dead. but surely