American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-12-20

his right hand into his breast as n pre-
paratory gesture leading to a more ex-
tended tribute to the sex, Long Tom
Rollins leaned forward and exclaimed:
"See here, old man. How 10 ret
know all this?'
For moment every body was aghast.
Whether they were astonished ut the
suddenness of the interruption, or at the
half-savage tone of the speaker, OF
whether it occurred to them that the
Judge might possibly have SO far out
stepped the bounds of prudence as to
have attempted "pumping the inter-
esting stranger, may never be known
But it is certain that they We're esecnt
ished into silence. Ever Judge Cash
wilder was observed to lose his usual
presence of mind. For an instant his
naturally serene countepance wore an
expression which in another would have
been mistaken for guilt. If the conf
dence which the others had always
placed in him was trifie shaken at that
instant, it was quickly restored when,
after moments hesitation, the old
gentleman explained his peculiar posi-
ton.
You see, gentlemen, he said, grad
ually resuming the attitude from which
he had been surprised by the abrupt
speech above quoted, 81 was prowlin'
round her cabling last night, when all of
sudding l heered voices inside. The
door was open leetle bit, and by stand
in where l was l couldn't miss a syller-
bull. l will here explain" he contin-
ued, thrusting his red bandanna hand
kerchief into his breast, as was his wont
when speaking publicly, "that 1 was
there for the purpose of findin' out, If
possible, whether the gal was in need of
any thing that could help her to-
Which accounts" deserved a by
stander, " for lat choking witch was
hung r.p alongside the door when came
, oy this mornin'."
"I heerd her talkin' with the kid"
continued Judge Gashwilder, not MOTTO
ing the interruption, "and Couldn't
help lissennen. AZ near as 1 could
make out, the talk was like this:
"sWhen shall we see papa?'
"'Heaven knows, my baby. We
have sought him long, and when God Is
ready He will restore him to u.s.
"'Is Crismas comm soon, mammal
"'Yes, baby darling. But there won't
be no presents fer Ray little one this
time. We are away from home, and
poor. But when we find papa we will
go where there are lots of pretty things,
and then baby shall have plenty"
Here the Judge leaned forward and
whispered in a mysterious voice, telling
his companions that he had heard the
of how her father had gone West four
years ago to seek his fortune, how for
two years his letters, containing money
for her support, had come like rays of
sunshine through the clouds; how they
had suddenly stopped, and no answers
wers received to her agonised appeals
how for two more years she had sup
posed him dead how, at last, the Post
master in the little village where she
lived had, upon his dying bed, confessed
to having stolen the letters from her
husband so as TO get the money they
contained, and suppressed her missives
to him, for fear of discovery; and how
she had started out with her little one
to find the lost husband, who had been
last heard from in Mud Flat,
All this the Judge told to the few
friends he could trust, speaking in
whisper, lest the precious secret should
be passed to others in the room.
"And now," he added, resuming his
rhetorical attitude and voice, 81 axes
you, as gentlemen and representatives
of Mud Flat chivalry, shall this gal and
her kid, being too poor to have Girls
mas of their own-shall they go without
it, or notP Remember, gentlemen, that
kid is the fust one as ever came into this
place, and p'raps she's our luck. Let us
nurtur her, my friends, and let us show
her mother tibet we amt so lost to vir-
too an principle as not to appreciate it
when we hev good woman and in
nercent kid amongst us. Let us give 'em
Crismas. 1 will now perceed to head
the subscription"
So saying, the gallant old man moved
the punch-bowl to one side, and emp
tied the contents of his breeches-pocket
upon the table. Others followed suit,
and when the last man had placed his
contribution there the pile contained a
goodly sum.
Snow, gentleman, some one of us
has got to take that money, ride to Den
yer, and spend it for 'em. Who shall it
be?"
Let me be your AGENT responded
deep bass voice.
Turning, they saw a tall stranger
standing near by, who had just entered
in time to hear the Judges call for con-
tributions. One or two in the room
recognized him as a miner who had
come in from the diggings that after
noon, having found it too cold to work
longer in the mountains.
They were inclined to resent the in
reference of an outsider, and probably
would not have needed his request had
he not spoken a second time. Drawing
near the table, he said:
Gentlemen, 1 was once a married
man myself, but my wife, God bless
her, is dead. For the love l bear her
memory, for the affection have toward
the remembrance of my little one, buried
with her, 1 ask you to let me aid in this