The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-06-06

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 weekIl soon slide a,ono.
man." "
The southern winter blossomed ~rovally.
Bees held high carnival in the nodding
spikes OF the white sage, and now and
then a breath OF perfume from the or
ange groves in the valley came up to
mingie with the mountain doors. Lrice
worked every moment with feverish ear
n%estness, and the pile of gnarled roots in
the clearing grew steadily larger. With
all her loneliness nature failed to Voc
him. What was the exquisite languor of
those days to 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
yearning to where an immigrant train,
with its dust and Dirt, noisome breath
crawled oyer miles Of alkali, or hung
from dizzy heights.
"To-morrow's the third, neighbor. l
reckon she'll be long now direckly."
That's a tact; what a 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 Loisy1l know me if
she comes
But she did not m 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 a shade duller, and the awkward
form a trifle more stopped with each
succeeding Disappointment. 1t was two
weeks before he reappeared on the mesa,
walking YEARLY like a nan under a
load.
II reckon there's something wrong,
ma'am. l come out to see eff yer man nd
write me d letter. / hadn't been long in
Platsville, but l worked "a spell for a man
namedYarnell like enough he'd look it
up a little. l amt much at writin', an
I'd want it all writ out careful like. YOU
know" The mans voice had: the old, I'M
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. Drandt's kind
~ warnings.
81 can't stop ma'am: the sittin' round
I'D kill me-"
The answer can't at last, 4 business
lylo n DlIo- l. I'll H..
Brice had left Plattsvile about the time
designated. Several Of her neighbors re-
membered that a stranger, a 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 'urdy uprightness Of his own, 40
dOubt-blinding him to its significance.
"Wlll you read it again, neighDor, for
I'm not over quick"
Ihe man 5 voice was a revelation full of
al unutterable hurt like the cry of some
dumb wounded thing.
And joel read it again, choking with
Indignation at every word.
THANK We, neighbor. III trouble you
to write a line thankin' him that's all"
He got up heav.ly , staggering a lite
as he crossed the floor, and went ont into
the yellow sunlight. There was the long,
sun-kissed slope, the huge pile of twisted
roots, the rude shanty with It's Chamber
ing vines. The humming of bees in the
sage went on drowsily. Life. infinitely
shrunken, was life still. A more cultur-
ed grief might have swoOned or cried out.
This mar knew no such refuge; even the
relief of indignation was denied him.
None Of the thousand wild impulses that
come to men smitten like him fitted
across his clouded brain. He only knew
to take up his burden dumbly and 20 on.
Day by day the hollow cough grew
more frequet and the awkward step
slower. Nobody asked him TO quit his
work now. Even Mrs. Brandt shrank
from the patient misery of his face when
idle. He came into the kitchen one even
ing, choosing the old quiet corner. and
following her with his eyes silently.
ais there anything lackin', Bricew
The woman came and stood beside him,
the great wave of pity in her hear. we'll
ing up to her voice and eyes.
"Nothin, ma'am, thank &c. I've been
thinkin,," he went or speaking more
rapidly than was his wont, ',an' | dunno.
You've heard of people gcttin' wrong in
their minds, l s'pose. They wuz mostly
smart known chaps, wuzn't they the
low m%onotonous voice growing almost
sharp with eagerness. Il reckon YOU
never knowed o. lnv one not over bright
gittin out of his head. ma'ams-
Il wouldn't think o. them things, Brice.
Just go on and do your best, and if there's
any good. or any right. OF Sny justice.
you'll come out ahead; that's about all we
know, but its enough if we stick to it."
Il reckon you're right. ma'am. Pears
sometimes tho as if anything nd be bet
ter than the thinkin'."
Happily. it all came TO an end one af-
ternoon. Br;ce was at work on the ditch
again. preferring the cheerful companion
ship of Joel and Bert Fox to his own
thoughts. and Mrs. Brandt was alone in
her kitchen. Two shadows fell across the
worn threshold. and q weak, questioning
voice brought the good woman to her door
sp~>~nxi~