The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-09
THE YOSEMITE HERMIT.
A FRONTIER TALE.

for wear, drew up with grand Hour
ish in front of the Grand Hotel, Mari
posa.
II was long, low building, with {
broad piazza in front and along one side
the facade was painted dingy yellow
to match the stage apparently, but tho
rest of the edifice had been neglected
and the superabundant rain and the SUI
perabundant sunshine of Mariposa haC
left marks of their handiwork on tho
bare boards.
The loungers rushed out of the bar
room as soon as the wheels were heard
and stood grouped about the broad pi
azza exchanging jokes with the driver
who was known as Scotty, and asking
the news from 1Iornitos and other way
places.
Meantime the "Doctor,' q stout, rud
dy-compleXioned man, whose appear
ance spoke well for his profession, de
scended from his seat on the box, and
opening the stage door with an air o
pride and satisfaction, he assisted tho
one lady passenger to alight with ;
grace which would have done credit tC
Chesterfield. The loungers on the piaz
"a started and drew back. All ceasc(
their jibs with Scotty, and two or three
removed their hats. She was not only
a woman, but very pretty woman, she
was even beautiful.
She thanked the Doctor with pretty
grace, and turned her clear hazel eyes
upon the admiring group, searching
each face eagerly and wistfully. The
Doctor said, "Allow me-" and wa.
about TO escort her into the small del
at one side known as the ''Ladies' par
lor," but she swept past him and walk
ed straight into the bar-room, the Doc
tor, the loafers and Scotty crowding il
after her and regarding her movements
with an undisguised admiration, and a
much revercntial curiosity as though
she had been visitant from another
sphere.
The proprietor of the "Grand' was ;
podgy man, with an aggressively bale
head and scaley eyes like an alligator,
though for that matter | might be Ii
belling the alligator. Ills name wa
Sharpe, commonly corrupted into "Cu
tey" by some mysterious process.
lie was pouring whisky from bottl,
into glass preparatory 10 serving him
self. when the new conner walkcd-sh,
walked like an angel-straight up Il
him and said, "Is this the landlordT
"Ma-a-m'm! - he stammcred, clutch
ING at his bald head to see if there wa!
q hat there.
The woman repeated her question
the crowd by the doorway, headed b.
the Doctor, strained their ears TO listen
She had low voice, tolerably sweet
Such music had never before been heart
within those low walls, perhaps. They
wished she would say more. Ole
''Punks" muttcred that she minded hin
of his Lyddy-'jest scech voice!'
which remark brought down upon hin
much contumely afterward, and thrca
from the doctor to 'put daylight through
him." After n helpless look arount
him, Cutcy admitted he was the land
lord. with the air of cornercd scoun
drcl confessing crime.
"Then perhaps you can tell me wha
/ wish to know" said the woman, fix
ing her clear, sweet eyes upon him. g
want to find man named Wilmer
James Courtney Wilmer
"Thar be so many names" said he
''skurce any man goes by his name. B,
lN llNlu Ill
81 don't know" was the reply, will
a suggestion of tears in the voice, n
which every heart in the crowd by In,
door was touched and unhappy.
Punks nudged Scotty with his elbow
"Whats that fellows name that wa
partners with Circus Jack in the Band
crita!' he whispered.
Scotty raped his forehead with hi
horny hand, and ran his fingers into hi
bushv. tOw-colored hair, with a clutcl
of desperation.
"Punks," he whispered, 81 aller
counted you fool, but you amt; yol
are shinin' light! His name was jim
Wilmer
Then, coloring up to the roots of hi
hair, he advanced and said:
"If you please, ma'am."
The woman turned at this, meeting
whole battery of eyes without any seem
ing consciousness of ii.
"There wus feller named Jim vii
mer here-was partner in the Banderila
with a feller named Circ-leastways,
don't know his name, but we called hin
Circus Jack, ma'am."
The woman's face-her beautiful fac
turned as white as the collar at he
throat; she leaned against the bar an,
tried to speak, but the words died ol
her lips.
Finally, with an effort, she hal
whispered:
'Do YOU know where he is now?"
Then, as the men looked at each othc
she cried i'm a clearer tone, SIS he dead?
"No, no, ma'am. He was here, tain
n month";" said Scotty. 81 think he
off huniin' in the hills. I'll find Circu
Jack and bring him up here. He'll b
likely to-him and jim wus real goo,
friends"
''Thank you," said the stranger. soft
ly, in voice which smote Scotty's hear
exceedingly.
The Doctor, meanwhile, had gone fo
Mrs. Sharpe, who presently entered
and invited the stranger TO "hcv a it'll
tea"
She was n small, fair woman, with
washed-out look, and mouth not limo
cent of dipping, but she looked AN
spoke kindly, and the stranger was gla
enough to answer, eyes," and folio,
her into the dining-room. The crow
fell back as she approached, but onl
enough to give her room to pass. Som
stealthily touched her dress as she swcT
by them, and when she had disappearc
and the door had closed, forty tongue
were loosened at once, and a scene c
excitement ensued only equalled by tn
one which followed on the shooting c
''the Judge" by "Littlc jack" over
game of poker, in that very bar-room {
the Grand Hotel.
"Mought AK your name, ma'am
inquired Mrs. Sharpe.
"Marian Kingsley" was the faint +,
ply.
sMiss OF Mrs, ma'am p pursued Mr.
Sharpe, glancing at the shapely, white
ringless hands.
The stranger gave slight impatiel
twitch. at doesn't natter" she sal,
"Call me Marian. That will do as we
as anything"
Mrs. Sharpe was washcd-out W,
man. Many of the natural and laud,
BILE instincts remained, perhaps bein
fast colors; but horror of the class I
which she how supposed Marian too b'