Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-26

work by stroa- arms aud rough kindli-
ness. And so, ere long, another rude
dwelling went up on the mesa, the smoke
from IS freside curling slowly toward
the pine-plumed mountain tops.
The building fund, scapty enough at
best, was unexpectedly swelled by a sud
den ard obstinate attack of forgetfulness
which seized good Mrs. Brandt.
No, Brice, you haven't made me a
spark O. trouble, not spark. I'm sure
you have paid your way twice over bring
in in wood, and grinding coffee, and the
like. Many man'd ask wages for the
half you've done, so I'm getting off easy
to call it square," And the good lady
stood her ground unfinchingly.
you've been powerful. good to me,
ma am. Well be watchin' our chance to
make it up to you-Loisy an me. III be
sendin' fur Loisy direckly now"
eyes, yes, man, and there'll be the bits
O. furniture and things to get. Spread
your money thin, and Mrs. Fox and NELL
come in and put you to rights when
you're looking for her"
He brought the money to Joe at last, a
molly collection OF silver pieces.
'Ef yell be so kind as to send it to 'er,
neighbor-MIs. Loisy Brice, Plattsville,
Indiana-I've writ the letter telling her
how to come. There's enough for her
ticket and trife to spare The boys a
master hand at scutfin' out shoes and
things. You'll not make any mistake
sendin' it, will you?''
mo, no, Brics, it'll 60 straight as
rocket. Let me see now. This letterll.
be week, then lowin' 'em week to
| started
:'Never you mind, man. Lowin' 'em a
week to get off, that's two weeks; then
them emigrant trains is slow, say thirtee1.
| days on the road that's about another
tortnight-four weeks; this is the fifth,
amt it? Twenty-eight and fve's thirty
three; that'll be bout the third of next
month, say. Now MIND what [ tell you,
Brice don't look for 'em minute before
the third-not one minute"
"'Pears like a long spell to wait, neigh
| bor.'
81 know it, man; but it'll seem sight
longer after you begin to look for 'em.'
II reckon you're right. Say four
weeks from to-day, then. Like enough
yeu'll be goin' i'm
"Yes, we'll hitch up and meet 'em at
the train--you and me. The woman ill
have things kind o snug gin we get
| home Your week'll soon slide along,
man.
The southern winter blossomed royalty.
Bees held high carnival in the nodding
spikes of the white sage, and now and
then breath OF perfume from the Or
ange groves in the velley came up to
mingle with the mountain odors Brice
worked every moment with feverish ear
nestness, and the pile Of gnarled roots in
the clearing grew steadily larger. With
all her loneliness nature failed to WOO
him. What was the exquisite languor of
those days 70 him but so many hours of
patient waiting? The dull hungry eyes
saw nothing Of the,lavish beauty around
them. looking through it all with restless
with its dust and dirt noisome breath
crawled oyer miles of alkali, or hung
from dizzy heights.
To-morrow's the third, neighbor. I
reckon she'll be 'long now direckly."
''That's fact; what RATHER time is
The days had not been long to Joel.
well go in tomorrow; and if they
don't come you can stay and watch the
trains awhile. She won't know you,
Brice; you've picked up amazingly
II think likely Loisy'll know me if
she comes.''
But she did not come. Joel returned
the following night alone, having left
Brice at cheap lodgings near the station.
Numberless passers-by must have no
ticed the patient watcher at the incom-
ing trains, the homely pathos Of his face
deepening day by day. The dull eyes
grew shade duiler, and the awkward
form trife more stopped with each
succeeding Disappointment. It was two
weeks before he reappeared on the mesa,
walking wearily like man under a
load.
~ reckon there's something wrong,
ma'am. I come out to see eff yer man nd
write me letter. l hadn't been long in
Platsville, but I worked spell for man
named Yarnell; like enough he'd look it
up little. I amt much at writin', an
I'd want it all writ out careful like, you
know" The mans voice had the old, un-
complaining monotony.
Joel wrote the letter at once, making
the most minute inquiries regarding Mrs
Brice, and giving every possible direction
concerning her residence. Then Brice
fell back into the old groove, working
feverishly in spite of Mrs. Brandt's kind
ly warnings.
II can't stop ma'am; the sittin' round
'ud kill me-
The answer came at last, a business
like epistle, addressed to Joel. Mrs.
Brice had left Plattsvil-e about the time
designated. Several of her neighbors re-
membered that a stranger, well-dressed
man, had been at the house for nearly a
week before her departure, and the two
had gone away together, taking the wes-
tern train. The writer regretted his in
ability to give further information. and
closed with kindly inquiries concerning
his former employees health, and earnest
commentator of him to Mr.. Brandt.
Joel read the letter aloud, something
some sturdy uprightness of his own, no
doubt binding him to its significance.
"Wlll you read it again, neighpor, for
I'm not over quick"
The mans voice was revelation flu. of
an unutterable hurt like the cry of some
dumb wounded thing.
And loci road If aoain chnL;nr with