Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-07-09
Stltttea Storp.
JOEL BRANDT'S LODGBR.
A TALE OF OLD CALIFORNIA.

De came up the mountain road at nj hl
tall. urging his lean mustang FORWARD
YEARLY, and coughing now and then
heavy. hollow cough that told its OWL
story.
There were only two houses on III
mesa. stretching shaggy snd sombre viii
grease-wood from the base OF the noun
tain to the valley below. Two unPainte'
redwood dwellings. with Ibeir clumps o
trailing pepper trees and la,,ered banan
as. mere specks OF civilization against
stern back ground OF mountain-side. Tn,
traveller halted before one OF them. bow
ing awkwardly az the master OF n,
house came out.
"Mr. Brandt. reckon
joel Brandt looked keenly into th'
straDger's isce. Not bad lace, certslnly
sallow snd drawn with suffering. one o
those hopelessly pathetic faces barely
saved from the grotesque by q pair o
dull. wis,iul eyes.
Not tha, Joel Brand, saw anything
grolesque or pathetic about the man.
Another sickly looking stranger out
side. Barbara. wants to try the air al
here. Can you keep him' Or mayb'
The Foxes u give him berth. -
Mrs. Brandt shooN her head il house
wifely meditation.
NO. Mrs. Fox can't; that's certain
She has so asthma and two bronchilise
there now. What is the matter with him
Joel?"
The strangers harsh. resonant cougl
answered.
Keep him To De sure You nigh
know Id keep him, joel The nigh
airs no plsce for man with cough lit
that. Bring him into The kitchen righ
away"
The new conner spread his bOny hand
over Mrs. Brandts CHEEKY FIRE, and th
soft, dull eyes followed her movement
wlstfully.
The IRE ieels kind O. honey, ms'am
CaHiorny amt much of place for fires
i. pears
"Beeu long on the coast, stranger :
Joel squared himself interrogatively.
bout week. I'm from Indianny
Brice is my uame-Posey Brice, the boy
in the glass mill call me. l was blowe
up in 8 glass mill oncei.' The speake
turned to show An ugly scar on his neck
Il didn', know where | wuz for 81
weeks-thought l hadn't liz. When
come to. there wss LoisY pottering owe
me; bu, ain't been rugged seuce.'
Married."
The mans answer broke through ID
patient homeiness oil his lace at once
He fumbled 10 his pocket silently like on
who had no common disclosure 30 make
"What dye think OF them, stranger
Joel took the little black case in n
hands reyereutly. A woman > tace-nC
grand nor iair even-some bits OF tswdr
6nery making its plsinness painer-an
beside i, a round-eyed boy plnmped int
q high chair and two little ieet stiekin
s,urdilY out in Joe's face.
Mrs. Brandt looked over her husband
shoulder with kindly curiosity
The boy iavors you amazingly aboI
the mouth; out he's got his mother
eyes, and they are sharp, knowing eye
too. He's bright one, I'll be bound
Yours. / reckon
"Yes, that's Loisey an the hoy" hgh
ing the conscious pride in his voice Lib
one who tried to wear his honors meekl,
He took the, well worn case agaiI
gazing into the two faces Tn instant vii
helpless Yearning, and returned 1t to
place. The very way he handled 1t WI
A caress. fastening the little brass hoe
with scrupulous care.
"Pll be seudin' fur 'em when get r
OF this pesterin' cough
A very quiet, unobtrusive guest Mr.
Brandt found the man Briee. talking say
in a sudden gush OF eonfdencs-and
ways OF bis wife and child; choosing
quiet corner of the kitchen 10 the chi
California nights. where he watched n
hostess def movements with wistful a
miratiou.
Try hunting, Brice; the doctors most
say lis healthy
Aud Briee tried hunting, as Joel a.
yised. Taking the gun from Its crot'
over the door. after breakfast. aud wa
dering for hours in the yellow wine-lii
sir of the mesa, be came in at mon 81