The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-12-25
Christmas at Mud Flat.
by LEANDER P. RICHARDSON.

She had been in camp four days
Where she came from, why she came,
or who she was, no one could tell. But
she was in camp, and had come to stay,
there was no doubt. She was quiet,
modest and simply clad-three quail
ties which commended her to the resi-
dents of Mud Fat as change from the
ordi 'ary run females who from time
to time invaded the precincts of that
classic settlement.
Nor were these the only points which
had been noted by the boys. As Andy
McCorkle had gallantly handed her
from the lower step of his mud. .bespat-
tered coach to the portico of the hotel
everybody saw that she cluhg almost
convulsively to the little child whose
arms were twined about her neck They
observed, also, that hir features were
pale and bloodless to an extent that was
almost pitifui. By that delicate intui-
tion which sometimes exists under the
toughest exJeriors, the sturdy miners of
Mud Flat understood that the strange
lady was suffering from mental as well
as physical illness. Their sympathy
was aroused in her behalf from that in
stant, and every man in place i'm
nediately constituted himself her
champion and friend. -
A day later, when she had rented
cabin near the outskirts of town, with
out disclosing to any one her intentions
for the future or the story of the past,
their interest was increased. and they
began to show their friendship in sub
stantial ways. A great heap of fire.
wood was mysteriously deposited within
easy reach the first night. Bags of
| -four, quantities of coffee and sugar,
| whole ham, and a quarter of fresh
vension likewise made their appearance
from some unexplained source the third
morning.
Little was seen of the recipient of
these treasures, however. She had only.
been on the street once, and then only
to purchase few necessary articles.
Upon that occasion she met the rever-
ential gaze of a score of loungers, and
turned her head away, pretending not
to see, when the jovial Bill Carter
smuggled huge package of candy into
the child's capacious pocket. But aside
from that she had remained hidden
from view, and the miners knew as lit
tie about her on the fourth day as they
had on the first.
The 23d of December was unusually
cold, even for that locality.
In the main apartment of the Mag
nolia saloon, party If the boys were
sitting around a table, upon which
steamed a large bowl, emitting a fra
grant and aromatic odor.
Whoever she mought be-" observed
tall and rather angular parsonage
known to his companions as Long Tom
Rollins whoever she mought be, she's
alone, barrin' thet kid, and unprotected
besides. She's sickly, too, and orter
hev doctor. This amt no sort OF a
place for IA inverlid," he concluded,
hesitatingly. removing his heavy boot
from the table, and helping himself to
liberal allowance of the punch. Then,
after pause, he continued, :" wonder
what ails the criter, anvhowY
ga mans at the bottom of it, gentle
men, you hear me-" observed Judge
Gashw,lder from the other side of the
table, nodding conviction at each of his
hearers in turn. "Take my word for it,
there's man in ii, as ther alters is in
any deviltry as robs some poor woman's
cheek of its bloom and her eye of its
light" -
The Judge was eloquent st all times.
But when his round pa'e glistened
from the effects of good punch and his
theme vas women, he was thought by
the men of Mud Flat to have few
equals. Therefore the little party seated
around the table were considerably
startled when, just as their favorite
orator had thrust his right hand into his
breast as a prep ratory gesture leading
to a more extended tribute to the sex,
Long Tom Rollins leaned forward and
exclaimed:
"See here, old man. How do you
know all this"
For moment everybody was aghast
Whether they were astonished at the
suddenness of the interruption, or at
the balf'savage tone of the speaker, OF
whether it occurred to them that the
Judge might possibly have SO far over,
stepped the bounds of prudence as to
have attempted pumping" the interest
ing stranger, may never be known. But
it is certain they were astounded into
silence. Even Judge Gashwilder was
observed to lose his usual presence Of
mind. For an instant his naturally
serene couDtenance wore an expression
which in another would have been mis-.
taken for guilt. If the confidence which
tha nthars had oIuouo ,looad -, L..