The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-06-28

am not mistaken in the person, | have
Communication to make that believe seri
susly affects you.''
"You man, tho | don't know you from
the DEVILS off OK, ef you is capper fu
emmy partickler game, yer had es we'll lie
go. fur am forkin' tailin's fur F. her
en- he keeps all Of my dust. Ef thet kom
munication es Of any help ter you take j
en- welcome" his .. l1-~
:" But, my dear sir, they is no money ii
the case-for me at least. Just step out o
this crowd moment will explain ALL"
San right" said the old man. +" but cum
and take drink frst.' Y.
"No, I'm obliged to You, Inever drink, ,
responded the young man, and turning to
wards the door, the twain moved out of th'
house into the street.
"What yer want, now?" said the old
old man again, casting defiant look a
the inquisitive stranger. "Yer'll drop int
en- old shaft eff you 90 wand'rin' roune
this gulch, tell you.'
"Thank you. This is quite far enough
Will you answer me few questions
Any how, will ask you them and you car
answer if you are SO disposed. Let mt
assure you, however, that what desire tt
learn of you will rebound greatly to youl
advantage if you turn out to be the persor
am in search Of"
eyer want to know who en- what is er
whar I'm from, do you ?" said Daddy.
Exactly" replied the young man.
"Well, who do yer think I am ?" said
the old man.
Placing his hand again on his shoulder,
turning him about SO that his face would be
in the moonlight, after long, searching
look the young man replied:
81 think you are Silas Blake. Twenty
eig ht years ago q man left Butler county,
in Missouri, to 60 to New Mexico. He
left his young wife and baby with the
promise that only two months should elapse
until he would be with them again. Two
months-ten-ffteen years passed away.
The wife, worn with ANXIOUS waiting, had
long since given up all hope Of seeing again
the husband who so cruelty abandoned her.
Her child was her only comfort and solace.
Denying herself everything she carefully
raised and educated HIM, and, to his credit
be it said, he never in his life gave her a
moments distress. One day draft for
$15. coo came from California to the widow
Fifteen years had passed in sorrow and
in poverty. Sunshine crept once again into
the stricken heart she now had the means
to find her husband-the lover of her youth,
the father of her child. But, though
thousands of dollars were spent, no trace of
him could be found. He had sent the
money, for his name was on the draft. He
had then, to all appearances, passed off the
face of the earth. .
" The widow being self-reliant and ener-
getic made such disposition of the remain
der of the money that it in time doubled
and trebled itself. Sending her son to
school again she devoted to him the wealth
of her great love. Boyhood and youth
passed away. Asa graduate of medicine the
young man left his alma mater for two
fold purpose first, to endeavor by hard,
study and research to attain the
first rank in his profession second, to re-
main and comfort his devoted mother until
she mad passed away into the shadows of
the great beyond. Welcoming him home
gain, he who had been kept in ignorance
Of his fathers fate, was then told the story
that had caused SO much sorrow and trou-
BILE. Angry and bitter feelings arose in
his breast during the recital of her wrongs;
and when she begged him to devote his
life to clearing up the mystery that sur
rounded his father, he declared that he was
,ot worthy of finding. Almost angrily
,he bade him stop, and turning to the open
1oor, pointing to the western hills that
'kirted the beautiful valley in which they
ived, she said:
"s Take all the money you want. Go
,ut into the great West and never leave it
Until you can bring to me tjdings Of your
'ather. If alive, can yet live again: if
lead, my evening of life shall be spent
rear the grave Of him whom have loved
% long and SO well.'
"Two years have passed away, and over
very Western State and Territory have I
the parched and arid des-
,rts of Arizona and New Mexico, through |
very placer camp IN Nevada, California
md Oregon. It was only while in Idaho
hat trace could be found. An old Cali
ornian knew him. Said he: 9 Silas Blake, |
t living. is in Montana, for in this basin
en- years ago, he made $50, 900, and
rnow that be. cent part of it home. He
eft here ON q stampede to Montana, and |
lave never seen him since.' i came here to |
l., and for the first time in my life that |
remember I have seen him who believe |
o be my father. You can, il you see fit, |
.nswer my question: Are you silas Blake |
rho left Butler county 28 years ago."
Raising his face, the tears trickling down
,ver the worn, weather. beaten cheeks, the
lid man shook with suppressed emotion.
Slowly and with some difficulty he recoy-
red himself. Grasping the hand of bis l
on between his own, he said at last:
]. q am Silas Blake. En- es you sed,
laint worth the findin'. I'm glad ter see
'ou. It makes me proud TO own sech
ON. But haint worthy Of one. | hev had
he wust luck these ten years thet enybody
yer had. / hev started home twice en- ey'ry
ime got swung off on stampede to new
Iiggin's allns q hopin ter get enuf ter make
10 fer what / he'd lost In the years thet he'd
,assed sence left home. got inter the
soise Basin, ct last and took out $40. 600 in
on weeks. j sent $15, 900 by the way OF
frisco to yer mother, en- with the balance
with the halance--wel | eased it OF
rim the bank. knowed it was wrong"
aid the old man apologetically, casting