The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-10-23
A CALIFORNIA STORY,
HYrRANK DAWES.

a CAI1fUhNlA SlUhYs !
HYFRANK DAWES.
He could not be called . handsome
man, and would have been decidedly
ugly had it not been for . certain un-
definable something in his face, kind
Of magnetism in his glance that caused
every body to address him respectful
~.
He wandered about the mountains
and valleys day after day, with an
old Kentucky rifle on his shoulder.
seemingly without any purpose what
ever. Men began to notice him and
look after him. He lived in . little
shanty just ont of Spur City, as the
little mining town ambitiously called
itself, without friend or confidant of
any kind. He lived mostly on game.
and seemed to care but little for the
hasys world and its crooked ways.
-. We began to think at last that his
mind was affected. Men said he was
cranky which in Western phraseol-
ogy means defective intellect. Some
argued that he was broken hearted ;
some said he was . natural born poet ;
and yet others shook their hexds WISE
y and said he was NO good by which
! they thought to convey the idea that
he was suspicious character. Others
there were who frankly acknowledged
that they did not unders tand him, and
that, - this IL . free country, his ways
lUoss his own lbusiness, and did not
concern them in the least.
The popular mind, however, settled
tself on the conclusion that he was
scsanky,' and after thaf very little at
tsution was paid to him. sideg
Poor Joel For year he wandered
slilently over tho majestic hills, and his
naturally lean face and form became
thinner-so much 20, in fact, that he
tseemeG but . ghost Of his former self.
Icould not shake of the idea that
there was something remarkable in
HE private history Of this man, some
skeleton In his closet which was slow
ly wearing his life away. ~ ito
Ono evening met him on the foot.
hills, coming slowly along the old
stageroad about . mile and a-half from
> camp 1 accosted him In . friendly
manner, and was addressed respect
fully IN retisn.
sit down, Joe.' said I. ~ motion
ed him to . seat on . log upon which
HAD already seated myself.
He at down quietly without a
word, and I observed that he wore q
troubled look as he glanced uneasily
eoerSthe cheerless lendscaps.6
Hunting, as usual ? said by way
of conversation. ao'
Yea he replied sadly. sf $40 '"
DO You find plenty Of gamer
5f' Yes; no. Er gWF.l
Yes, no; do not understand You,
said ]. -
Perhaps you may sometime; per-
haps you may not,' was his unsatis-
factory reply.
sJoe, you are in trouble. Your In
stincts should tell you that am your
friend; if not . friend, at least one
who wishes you well; now, you have
no con1idants, have the kindness to
make an exception in my case, and
pour out your troubles to me. You
haye no idea haw'it will relieve your
mind. fs5
-. I said this as kindly as I could but
he only shook his head and gazed va
cantly ct the western sky, now glori.
ous with the hues Of sunset. II
81 have no friends,' said he, smy
troubles are buried here and he laid
his hand sadly on his breast. ~
sJoe, can't do something for you
1 feel deeply interested in you,' said 1.
ss 'Ycu can do nothing; but I thank
you for your kindness. You have
spoken the only words of friendship
that have heard for years.
We now arose and walked slowly
down the stage road toward Spur
City. r. g4.
We were both silent most Of the
way, and when we reached the FL Do.
RADIO Hotel, Joe left me without 9
werd, and went quietly to his lonely
little cabin.
After that when / met him, he al.
ways had sad amile and low, pleas
ant word for me, but nothing more
he still wandered oyer the hills, rifle
: n hard, bnt not by . angle word did
; - betrsy the sscret- Of his strange
conduct. His conversations were al.
ways brief, and when I ventured to
address him on personal matters, he
would silence me by look 90 full of
silent agony that could not have the
heart to continue. t
One day met him in the foot hills,
and Iventured; . remark on the geo.
graphical formation of the country
around Spur City. He begged leave
, 10 differ with me, and then went on to
give me such . learned discourse ON
geology - HAD not heard since left
Yale College years before. I then
Yentured to draw him ont on the 9TH
. eFsaiences, then on history, literature,
art, and in them all l found him to be
well grounded. I was amazed, and
yet / had suspected that he was some
thing moro than he represented him.
self to be.
A few days after this I was wander
ing In the mountains, and as I Waarily