The Indianapolis leader., 1880-05-15

4 toiilduCc.
j The next day passed and the next al
thehermit gave no signs Of existence. Tn
evening the mail came in, and among Il
letters was one, in a woman.s hand, f
John Harman, Mineral City, San Jus
County. Col. There was not such persol
age in the County, 30 far as the boys kne,
but Georgia suddenly suggested that it migl
be for the hermit. This seemed most prob,
BILE, and he was deputed to carry it up an
deliver it, if correct.
As before all the knocking failed to obtai
an answer and Georgia, after moment
hesitation, put his shoulder to the door an
with as little noise as possible burst the wood
en- button off that served as lock. The mex
instant and Georgia was in the room. Th
hermit lay extended on the floor, his fac
flushed and hot with fever. and his long
thin fingers nervously grasping and relaxing
again the torn blanket on which he tossed.
"What's the matter, old pard2" said Geor
gia, as he raised the old mans head.
The fevered eyes turned toward his face
the emaciated fingers opened and the poo
lonely old fellow said huskily:
"Don't tell herl"
''Who-tell who?"
''Alice-poor little thing-she dom
know"
Thinking OF his folks in the States" NUT
tered Georgia, and then tenderly and care
fully he lifted the sick man in his arms and
then strobe away to his own cabin.
The news of the hermit's sickness spread
shrough the camp, and blankets and food
came from all quarters for his use. The store
was ransacked for the best it could afford. A
terrible slaughtering of mountain grouse
took place, that rich broths might be made
g. L. n IL
miles to Silverton to secure can of peaches,
and the men almost fought in their anxiety
to act as nurses and watchers. Georgia
thanked the boys, but kept them away, ad-
nlitting only one or two to aid him in the care
of the old man. But despite all his attention
the old fellow saIk and sank, and it soon
became evident that the mountain fever had
one more victim.
One night Georgia sat smoking his pipe
and musing. The owner of the letter had
been found, for in his rawlings the old man
had often mentioned the name of Harmar,
but the boys feared lest he should die before
reading it, and this perplexed Georgia sadly.
What was he to do with it, and might it not
contain matters of Importance? Had the old
map any friends or relatives living, and
where were they to be found? All these
things and many more came fitting through
his brain, and he did not hear his patient
slowly raise himself in bed and stare about
him. The old man looked the room over,
and then his eyes rested on the burly form
by the fire.
Georgia" he said.
In an instant Georgia sprang to his feet
and hastened to the bedside.
"Why, pardner, durn it yer-yer getting
better, amt your"
The old man smiled wearily.
Z Tell me all about it."
Georgia briefly recounted the story of his
illness, touching but slightly on what he had
done and laying great stress on the interest
of the men.
"But now, old man, you'll soon be up and
among 'em," he concluded with a cheerful
laugh.
NO" said the old fellow with the same
weary smile, but-but thank you."
"Oh, nonsense-that's all right-you're
only little shook up. you know-it's material
after being so fur down as you've been.
You'll soon be all right-cheer up, and don't
let your sand run out; besides I've got a
letter for you
"Letter-for me2" and the old mans face
lighted up with an eagerness that sent tre
NOR through Georgia's honest heart lest the
missive, after all, should not be for him. He
got it, however. and gave it into the trem-
bling hands.
Eyes, SIR" said the fellow, "it's her writing,
know-like her mothers. Oh, how long
t has been coming-but now" said the poor,
weak, shaking hands vainly strove to open it.
"Let me, said Georgia, kindly.
The old man let him take the letter, and
hen said suddenly, in a low, even tone:
Hold on, Georgia"
Georgia paused.
Georgia" said the old fellow, looking him
steadily in the eye, you've been kind to me
very kind-and Pve got nothing to show
for it-nothing but confidence. I'm going
10 tell you something, Georgia, and then
then you can read that letter and you'll un-
derstand all the good news it contains"
He paused moment and closed his ewes.
Then he continued:
Georgia, was likely sort of a young
chap years ago-not such good-for-nothing
galOot as l am now, and 1 am married,
the best girl in old Penn
,ylvania | was mighty happy-too happy,
what made it go so hard
when she died. We had one child, girl, and
we called her Alice-my wife's name. She
was wee little thing when her mother died,
and so very, very pretty. 1t was hard lines
on me, Georgia, and somehow / got to drink
ing. know it done me no good, and know
it wasn't right, but a man doesn't reason
much when he's desperate like; and so drank
and drank. sold everything and put my
girl, my little Alice, with my wife's brother.
He had family of his own, and what could
a lonely, heart-broken man like me do for a
dear little girl? George, if they'd come to
me and talked good and gentle they could
have made man of me, but they didn't.
They wouldn't let me come into their house,
and they said I'd killed my wife by drinking.
George, it was a lie-a damnable lie.
never drank a drop till she died, and /
wouldn't have done it then if I'd had some
one to sympathize with me. But / hadn't; l
was alone in the world; alone with my great
grief, and" and the old mans voice broke,
and his poor, thin hands went nervously
over the blanket, while the tears stole from
his hot eyes, and trickling down the pale,
pinched cheeks lost themselves in the gray
hairs of his beard.
"Well, Georgia" he said presently, "they
got an order from the Court giving the guar
dianship of my child-my Alice-to her un-
Gle, because, they said, ] was unfit to take
care CT her. Georgia, if but one kind word
had been said-only one-I wouldn't have
been the fool that was. Well, left and
came West. Stopped drinking. ! have never
touched drop since Alice was taken from
me. You believe me, Georgia"
eyes" said Georgia.
"After while wrote to her uncle and
told him of my new life, and asked him if l
couldn't at least write to my little girl. That
was in '67, and she was ten years old. He
took no notice of my letter.
"He's a. broke in Georgia, but sud-
denly checked himself before concluding.