American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-05-01


among the letters was one. in a wom-
ans hand, for John Harmer, Mineral
City, San Juan County. Col. There
was not such a parsonage in the county,
SO far as the boys knew, but Georgia
suddenly suggested that it might be for
the Hermit. This seemed most proba-
bic and he was deputed to carry it up
and deliver it, if correct.
As before, all the knocking failed to
obtain an answer. and Georgia, after a
moments hesitation, put his shoulder
to the door and with as little noise as
possible burst the wooden button of
that served as a lock. The next in
slant and Georgia was in the room. The
Hermit lay extended upon the floor, his
face 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 pardP" said
Georgia, as he raised the old mans
head.
The fevered eyes slowly turned to-
ward his face, the emaciated fingers
opened and the poor, lonely old fellow
said huskily:
| Don't tell herr'
Who--tell who?''
"Ahce, poor little thing, she don't
know"
Thinking of his folks in the States,n
muttered Georgia, and then tenderly
and carefully he lifted the sick man in
his arms and strobe away to his own
cabin.
The news of the Hermit's sickness
spread through the camp and blankets
and food came from all quarters for his
use. The store was ransacked for the
L. L. "a IL
slaughtering of mountain grouse took
place that rich broths might be made
for the invalid. One man Travelled six
teen miles to Silverton to secure a 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. admitting only
one or two to aid him in the care of the
old man.. But despite all this attention
the old fellow sank 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 raw
ings the old man had often mentioned
the name Hammer, 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 man any friends or rela-
tives 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 fastened to the bedside.
Why, pardner, durn it-yer-yer
getting better, amt youP"
The old man smiled, YEARLY.
Tell me all about it." he said.
Georgia briefly recounted the story
Of his illness, touching but lightly on
what he had done and laying great
stress on the interest of tho men.
:" But, now, old man, you'll soon be
up and among en-" he concluded, with
a cheerful laugh.
s'No,'' said the old fellow, with the
same weary smile, 'sbut-but l thank
you"
.Oh, nonsense--that's all right
you're only leetle shook up, you
know its material after being as fur
down as you've been. You'll soon be |
all right-cheer up, and don't let yer
sand run out; besides, I've got letter
fo- you"
.Letter-for mep'' and the old mans
face lighted up with an eagerness that
sent tremor through Georgia's honest
heart. lest the missive, after all, should
not be for him. He got it. however,
and gave it into the trembling hands.
ssYaa I'll bo old faloxxy -
her writing, know-like her mothers
oh, how long it has been coming
but now" and his poor weak, shak-
ing hands vainly stroye to open it.
LET me-" said Georgia. kindly.
The old man let him take the letter,
and then said suddenly, but in low,
even tone: Hold on, Georgia"
Georgia paused.
Georgia" said the old fellow, lsok-
ing him steadily in the eye. you've
been kind to me-very kind-and I've
got nothing to show for it--nothing but
I'm going to tell you some
hing, Georgia, and then-then you can
read that letter and you'll understand
all the good news it contains
He paused a moment and closed his
eyes. Then he continued:
Georgia. was likely sort of n
7oung chap years ago not such a good
galoot as am now, and
GeOrgia-married the best girl
n old Pennsylvania l was mighty
,appy-too happy, partner-that' what
made it go SO hard when she died. We !
lad one child-a girl-and we called
Ter Alice-my wife's name. She was ,
wee little thing when her mother died i
md 50 very. very pretty. 1t was hard :
ines on me, Georgia, and somehow l |
rot to drinking. L know it did me no /
,ood, and l know it wasn't right, but a {
nan don't reason much when he's des- {
'erate like. and so drank and drank |
sold out everything and put my girl {
ny little Alice-with my wife's brother. ]
lie had family of his own, and what {
ould a lonely. broken-hearted man like i
ne do for dear little girlP Georgia, if {
hey come to me and talked good and 7
emile they could have made a man of t
ne, but they didn't. They wouldn't let t
ne come into their house. and they said 3
hat I'd killed my wife by drinking. c
it was q liza damnable lie. q
never drank drop till she died, and 7
wouldn't have done it then if I'd had
nyone to sympathize with me. But 1 +
nth my great grief, and" and the n
Id mans voice broke, and his poor, h
hin hands went nervously over the G
lanket, while two tears stole from his n
ot eyes, and trickling down the pale, a
inched cheeks lost themselves in the 4
ray hairs of his beard. '
"Well, Georgia." he said, presently, 4
they got an order from the court Civ c