The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-12-21
Select Story.
BRICE.

From Argonsut.
He came up the mountain road at
nightfall, urging bis lean mustang for
ward wearily, and coughing now and
then heavy, hollow cough that told
Its own story.
There were only two houses on the
mesa, stretching shaggy and somber
with grease wood from the base of the
mountains to the valley below. Two
unpainted redwood dwellings, with
clumps OF trailing pepper trees and
tattered bananas, mere specks of civil
ization against stsrn background of
mountain side. Tho traveller halted
before one of them, bowing awkward
ly as the master of the house come out.
Mr.. Brandt, l reckon"
Joel Brandt looked keenly into the
strangers face. Not bad face Ger
tainly; sallow and drawn with suffer
ing, one of those hopelessly pathetic
faces, barely saved from the grote sque
by pair of dull wlstful eyes.
Not that Joel Brandt saw anything
grotesque or pathetic about the man.
Another sickly loo king stranger
outside, Barbara, wants to try the air
up here. Can you keep himi Or
may be the Fox's IL give him berth" "
Mrs. Brandt shook her head in
housewifely meditation.
mo, Mrs Fox can't, that's certain.
She has an asthma and two bronehi
tises there now. What's the matter
with him, Joell"
The strangers harsh, resonant cough
answered.
"Keep himi to be sure. You might
know I'd keep him, Joel, the night
airs no place for man with cough
like that. Bring him into the kitchen
right awaym
| The newcomer spread MS bony
hands over Mrs. Brandt's CHEEKY fire,
and the soft, dull eyes followed her
movements wistfully.
''The fire feels kind e'homey !, ma am,
Californy amt much of place fol
fires it pears"
"Been long on the coast, strangerF
Joel squared himself interrogatively
'"Bout a week. I'm from Indianny
Brice IS my name--Posey Brice the
boys in the glass mill called me. Twas
biowed up 10 u glass mill oncet." The
speaker turned to show an ugly seal
ON his neck. ''Didn't know where
waz for six weeks-thought hadn'i
lit. When came to there wuz Loisy
potterin' over me; but I amt beer
rugged sence."
sMarriedf"
The mans answer broke through the
patient homeliness of his face at once.
Ifumbled He in his pocket silently, lik'
one who has no common disclosure Il
make.
"what dye think o. them, ,strangeri
Joel took the little black case in hi
hands revereptly. A woman's face
not grand nor fair even-some bits o
tawdry finery-makiog its plaiuDes
plainer-and beside it round-eyet
boyplumped into a high chair, Will
two little feet sticking sturdily out IL
Joel face.
Mrs. Brandt looked over her hus
bands shoulder with kindly curiosity
The boy fayors you amsziDgl.
about the mouth; but he's got hi
mothers eyes, and they're sharp
KNOWN eyes, too. He's bright one
I'll be bound"
"Yours, I reckon"
"Yes, that's Loisy an the boy
1 lighting the conscious pride in hi
voice like one who tries to wear hi
honors meekly.
He took the well-worn case again
gazing into the two faces an instan
with helpless yearning, and returne'
ii to its place. The very way b
II handled it was a caress, fastening tn
little brass hook with serupulous care
II sf1ll be sendin' fur 'em when l &c
Il rid o. this pesterin cough"
! A very quiet, unobtrusive guest Mn
Brandt found the man Brice, talkin
! llittle save in a sudden gush OF conf
dence, and always of his wife an
ehild; chosing a quiet corner OF tn
ttkitchen in the chill California nights
: iwhere he watched his hostess's del
4 movements with with wistful admire
!, ftion. ...
TRY huntin,' Brice; the doctor
4 mostly say its healthy
And Brice tried hunting as Joel &c