The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-05-17

what he intended to do. With that he
broke down utterly, or pretended to dc
so; cried like a child, declaring that
now he knew my pluck, and / was the
first man ever to get the better of him
he loved me like brother. All the
same, love or no love, he had to sit where
he was, and | in front of him with nv
rifle on my knees. There was a long
night before us; he could have no liber-
ty In 1T, and the restraint was horrible
to him. One moment he laughed un-
easily, the next cursed, the next cried.
1t was strange experience, was it not
To pass away the time asked him to re-
late the history of his life. He said he
would, but would first of all Just shake
hands for the respect he bore me. Touch
ing my rife significantly, | pointed to
the stick lying across the hearth-place
between us. That's your boundary
line, my man. said ! !; don't 90 stretch
ing your hand over that This sent
him into fit of sullenness."
What came Of it?'
owe must have remained in this posi-
ton until midnight. Several times
heard slight sounds outside the fort.
but, though he too listened, he dared
not respond to them; he could
do nothing. After while these
sounds ceased; his associates, right
~ judging that something or other
had gone wrong and spoilt the scheme,
had made of, tired of waiting. The
fellows head was bent, his chin resting
on his breast, his shaggy beard spreading
over il like mantle. He suffered mar
tyrdom. By-and-by we got to talking,
but | did not relax my vigilance for an
instant. Once started Oh his own his
tory, the subject seemed to have fascin-
alton for him. He had been honestly
raised he said, by good and loving
parents in the State of Missouri; had
passionately loved a young girl in the
town where he lived, and his description
of her was so pretty and SO vivid that l
declare it brought into my mind that
other girl who was waiting for me down
in the Wallamet valley. To get the
means to marry her he resolved to go to
California. He went was successful,
and, full of joyful anticipation, returned
to find that she had married another.
The man, the husband, had played them
false, told the girl that her lover was
dead, and married her himself. When
he came out of the brain fever which
this news gave him, he was invited to an
evening party in the town. To this
party came his love and her husband ;
and when he put out his eyes to welcome
her their eyes met, and both knew then
how they had been betrayed. From that
hour the man took to evil ways, and the
first victim was the false husband. He
became desperate outlaw. Once again
he saw his love; he met her in the streets
of Sacramento; she was married again
and she turned from him with cry of
aversion. Yes, he might be desperate
man now, he added, but he had had his
trials. / suppose [ should have done
society benefit had / shot him as he
sat there, but / did not. Perhaps you
won't believe that felt sort of pity
for the fellow, but / did. Well, morn
ing came at last. / sent Edwards to get
the door open, and escorted my visitor
out, telling him that there was not room
for him in that part of the country, and
that he had better quit it for another.
"And did he?"
| suppose SO, for he never attempted
to modest me again. Not long after /
heard of mis- death. He met his fate
east of the mountains"
"And what of that pretty amazon,
Joseph? | am sure she was almost as
good to you as guardian angel, coming
on horseback to give you warning"
"Was she not? And | mad returned
it by behaving 50 unhandsomely to her!
But now, just ask you, would it have
been proper to let her come in on that
weeks visit, and l a young nan with a
reputation?
At any rate, you did not. But have
you ever seen her since?"
"Once; it was in Frisco. She was
married and staying at the same hotel
with me. Her husband was tall, dash
ing man, what with you would be called
a gentleman, and very wealthy. She had
been lucky, you see. l knew her as
soon as she came into the dining-room,
and in few minutes | saw that she
recognized me; but she did not take any
notice and neither did |. She told me
with her eyes that she remembered, but
there was an appealing glance in them
which interpreted rightly. After din
ner we got into conversation, the
three of us, just as strangers will do in a
hotel, and found the husband very
intelligent, well-informed man. In part
ing [ got just word aside with her. 4
am glad to meet you again, and thus
said. 'Hush!' she answered, Il thank
you for your reticence. In the past of
life that has been composed of ups and
downs there is generally something OF
other lying on the memory that we
don't care to recall or proclaim to the
world"
"And about the young girl in the
Wallamet valley?"
81 never found her." replied Joseph,
plaintively. "Truth to say, 1 never
started fairly to look for her. Perhaps
it is as WELL"
w