The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-06-03

Durned queer, 7, said; Georgia.
s Kinder sick looking. Ell ?''
L Georgia nodded his head thought
fully. 81 8iI5 q,
Let's see the boys about il, !" said
Roney. and then they both retraced their
steps to- the saloon. '535s
The boys listened with interest to the
report, and pulled their boards and
scratched their heads In attempts to OBJ
tain solution as to what allied the Her
init Many and various were the expla-
nations gwen, and then they decided
that Georgia and Roney had better go
back and knock At the door and inquire.
ct any rate, # any thing was wrong SO,
thereEpon the two once more started 10
the trail. They knocked first softly
and then louder but elected no re-
Spouse OF caused any show Of life within,
save the exiting uiishment ediately Of
the light 5s''
.s. No use, whispered Rooney, and,
without further word, they left the little
cabin and its solitary and eccentric occu-
pant, and joined their comrades.
The next day passed, and the next,
and the Hermit gave no signs of exist
ence. That evening the mail came in q
and among the letters was one. in ina
woman's hand, for John Harmer. Min
eral City, San Juan county, Colorado.
There was not such parsonage in the
county, so far as the boys knew, but
Georgia suddenly suggested that it
might be for the Hermit. This seemed
most probable, 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 pos
sible burst the wooden button off that
served as lock. The next instant 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 re-
Taxing again the torn blanket on which
he tossed.
What's the matter, old pard % said
Georgia, as he raised the old mans
head.
The fevered eyes 81 owly turned to-
ward his face, the emaciated fingers
opened, and the poor, lonely old fellow
said huskily:
Don't tell her r
50 Who tell who?
4" Alice poor little thing she don't
know . &
Thinking Of his folks in the States.''
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
best that it could afford. A terrible
lslaughtering Of mountain grouse took
lplace that rich broths might be made for
the invalid One man travelled sixteen
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, 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 be-
came 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 Harmer, 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 relatives living, and
where were they to be found? All
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. s
rein an instant Georgia sprung to his
feet and fastened to the bedside.
I. Why, pardner, dern ityer yer
getting better, amt you?"
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 the men.
But, now, old man, you'll soon be
| up and among EN-" he concluded, with
a cheerful laugh.
| No, said the old fellow, with the
same weary smile, "but but I thanh
you. :
50 Oh, nonsense that's all right
you're only q leetle shook up, you know
Its material after being as fur down
as you've been. You'll soon be all
right-chee up, and don't let your sand
run out !; besides, I've got letter for
you.
Letter-for me ?" and the old mans
face lighted up with aneagerness that
sent tremor through Georgia's honest
heart, lest the missive, after all, should
not be for him. H. got it, however,
and gave it into the trembling hands.
Yes, yes, said the old fellow, tits
her writing, I know like her mothers
oh, how long it has been coming
but now and his poor weak, shak-
ing hands vainly strove to open it.
Let me, said Georgia, kindly.
| The old man let him take the letter,
and then said suddenly, but in a low,
even tone: 6 Hole on, Georgia.
| Georgia paused