Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-31
A CALIFORNIA STORY.
BY FRANK Dawes.

SOmeCnlnp Ill his lace, KIM OF magnet
ism in his glance that caused every body
to address him respectfully.
He wandered about the mountains anC
valleys day after day, with an old Ken
lucky rifle on his shoulder, seemingly
without any purpose whatever. Men be.
gan to notice HIM and look after him
He lived in Il little shanty just out OF
Spur City, as the little mining town am
bitiously termed itself, without friend
or confdant of any kind. He lived most
ly on game, and seemed to care but little
for the busy world aud its crooked ways.
We began to think at last that his
mind was affected. Men said he was
'''cranky," which in Western phraseology
means defective intellect. Some argued
that he was broken hearted: some said he
was natural-born poet; and yet others
shook their heads wisely and said he was
"no good,' by which they thought to con-
vey the idea that he was suspicious
character. Others there were who frank
ly acknowledged that they did not un-
derstand him, and that, as this is a free
country, his ways were his own business,
and did not concern them in the least.
The popular mind, however, settled it.
self on the conclusion that he was
.''cranky," and after that very little atten-
ton was paid to him.
Poor joe For year he wandered ST.
lently over the majestic hills, and his
naturally lean face and form became
thinner--so much so, in fact, that he
seemed hut ghost of his former self
I could not shake off the idea that
there was something remarkable in the
private history Of this man, some skele-
ton in his closet which was slowly wear
ing his life away.
One evening met HIM on the foot
hills, coming slowly along the old stage
road about mile and half from camp.
accosted him in a friendly manner, and
was addressed respectfully in return.
''Slt down, Joe,' said l, as 1 motioned
him to seat on log upsn which had
already seated myself.
He sat down quietly without word,
and observed that he wore troubled
look as he glanced uneasily over the
cherries landscape.
"IIunting, as usual?" SAID by of con-
versation.
eyes, replied he, sadly.
"Do you find plenty Of game??'
eyes; no.
eyes, no; I do not understand you,'
said l.
"Perhaps you may some time; perhaps
you may not" was his unsatisfactory re-
ply.
"Joe, you are in trouble. Your in.
stinct should tell you that am friend
q frin of ho ysclo
you well; now, you have no conGdants.
have the kindness to make an exception
in my case, and pour out your troubles
to me. You have no idea how it will re-
lieve your mind.'
| said this as kindly as could; but he
only shook his head and gazed vacantly
at the western sky, now glorious with the
hues of sunset.
81 have no friends" said he, 'my
troubles are buried in here and he laid
his hand sadly on his breast
"Joe, cont do something for you9 ;
feel deeply interested in you" said 1.
You can do nothing; but thank you
for your kindness. You have spoken the
only word of friendship that have heard
for years"
We now arose and walked slowly down
the stage road toward Spur City.
We were both silent most of the way,
and when we reached the Ell Dorado Hotel,
Joe left me without word. and went
quietly to his lonely little cabin.
After that, when met him, he ALWAYS
had sad smile and low, pleasant word
for me, but nothing more; he still wan
ders over hills, rifle in hand, but not bv
single word did he betray the secret Of
his strange conduct. His conversations
were always brief, and when I ventured
to address him on personal masters, he
would silence me by look so full of
heart to continue.
One day l met him in the foothills,
and ventured a remark on the geographic
cal formation Of the country around Spur
City. He begged leave to differ with me,
and then went on to give me such a
learned discourse on geology as I had
not heard since l left Yale College, years
and years before. I then ventured to
draw him out On the other. sciences, then
on history, literature, art, and in them
all found him to be we'll grounded. |
was amazed, and yet had suspected that
he was something more than he repre-
sented himself to be.
A few days after this I was wandering
in the mountains, and as I wearily
climbed to the summit of one of the high.
est crags threw myself down, and could
not repress an exclamation of delight al
the beautiful prospect spread out before
me.
eyes, it is very beautiful. have been
admiring it for hours" said low, sac
voice.
was startled, and glancing hastily
around, l beheld the mysterious Joe
looking quietly away over the landscape
1T reminds me-" continued he, un
needing my surprise, cit reminds me O.
ascene in Northern Italy Yes, yes, it i:
very beautiful"
| had travelled extensively myself, anc
began to talk to him Of foreign lands, an6
found that he was familiar with men
places and things in almost every quar-
ter of the globe. I longed to ask hin
who and what he was, but knew tina
the question was useless.
Suddenly he ceased talking. and look
ing mcditatively away across the beauti
full prospect before US, he drew from hi:
breast pocket a small, well-worn PACKAGE
He unwound two or three wraps from #
and then handed me card. 1t was thu
photograph Oft lady; and although il
the course of my wanderlngs have seer
nearly all the famous beauties of the civ