The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-07-09
the. poor, lonely old fellow said, hllslzils
Don't tell her =
ssNYho-tcll who:''
sAIice-poot little tlling-slle don

VI, spread through the camp, and blank
en- and food came from all quarters for
ily use. The store was ransacked for t
nd best that it could afford A territ
ch slaughtering Of mountain grouse to,
70 place, that rich broths might be made
y-a the invalid. One man travelled sixtet
ed miles to Silverton to secure a can of peac
ld es, and the men almost fought in the
u anxiety to act as nurses and watcher
nc Georgia thanked the boys, but kept the
s. away, admitting only one or two to al
him in the care Of the old man. But de
OF pite al this attention the old fellow san
e and sank, and it soon became evident thu
70 the mountain fever had one more victim
$ One night Georgia sat smoking his pip
is and musing. The owner Of the letter ha
= man often mentioned the name Harme1
e but the boys feared lest he should die be
II fore reading it, and this perplexed Geol 81
+ sadly. What was he to do with it, ant
S Had the old man any friends or relatiye
c living, and where were they to be found
All these things and many more came
r fitting through his brain, and he did no
i hear his patient slowly raise himself in The
bed and stare about him. The old mar
: looked the room over, and then his eyes
, rested Oh 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 get
ting better. amt you?"
4 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 mall, you'll soon be up
and among EN- he concluded, with Il
cheerful laugh.
"No," said the old fellow, with the
same weary smile, ''but-but | thank
you
80, nonScnse-tllat's all right-you re
only a lectle shook up, you know-it's
natural, after being as fur down ,as you've
BEEN You'll soon be all right--cleer up,
and don't let your sand run out: besides,
I've got;a letter for you.
'Letter-for mc:' and the old mans
face lighted up with an cagerness that
sent Il tremor through Georgia's honest
hear lest the missive, after all, should
not be for him. lie got it, however, and
gave it into the trembling hands.
Z Eyes, yes.n said the old fellow; sits |
her writing, know-like her mother
O, how long it has been coming-but now
-''and his poor, weak, shaking hands |
vainly strovc to open it.
.sLet me, 3" said Georgia, kindly. !.
The old man let him take the letter, and |,
then said, suddenly, in Il low, even tone,
"Hold on, Georgia t
Georgia. said the old fellow, looking
him steadily i'll the eye, ''you've been
kind to me-yery kind-;lnd I've got
nothing to show for it-nothing but con
tidence. Pm going to tell you some. hing,
Georgia, and then-then YOU can read
that letter, and you'll understand AL the
good news it contains
He paused a moment and closed his eyes.
Then he continued.
Georgia" was a likely sort Of young
chap wears ago--not such good. .for-noth-
ing galoot as am now, and | married,
the best girl in old
! was mighty happy
90 happy, partner-that's what made it
70 so hard when she died. We had one
,hld-a little girl, and we called her Alice
my wife's name. She was q wee little !,
hing when her mother died. and so very, !,
7ery pretty. 1t was hard lines on me, :
Georgia, and somehow | got to drinking. :
know it did me no good, and know it
wasn't right, but Il man doesn't reason :.
much when he's desperate like, and SO
frank and drank. | sold ont every thing,
md put my girl-my little Alice-with =
nv wifcs brother. He had family of :
lis own, and what could lonely, broken
hearted man like me do for Il dear little -
cirl? Georgia if they'd come to me aud :
alked good and gentle they could have =
made aman of me, but they didn't. They
wouldn't let me come into their house,
nd they said that I'd killed my wife by
|rinking. Georgia, it was Il lie-a damna-
lie lie. never drank a drop till she died,
nd | wouldn't have done it then if I'd.55 I
lad any one to sympathize with me- But v
iladnt; ] was alone in the word-alone n
With my great grief, and and the old \
nan's voice broke. and his poor, thin +,
lands went neryously over the blankets, Il
While two tears stole from his hot yes and s.
rickling down the pale. pinched cheeks, h
ost themselves in the gray hairs of his &
card.
'Nvell, Georgia. he said, presently, :
they got an order from the court giving !.
he guardianship of my child--nly Alice =
0 my uncle, because they said WAS tul-. y
It to take care Of her. Georgia, if but !
ne kind word had been saisl-onIy one; +
wouldn't have been the fool | was. a
Veil, left and came West. | stopped il
iinking. I have never touched i drop fl
ince Alice :tsstakeii from me. You be- i
evc me, Georgia.
! 4 Yes, said Georgia. .
L sAfter:twhile wrcte TO her nntle, and y
told him Of my new life, and asked him '
couldn't ut least Write to my little girl. Q
hat was in 81, and she was ten years old. II
Ie took nc notice ofnly letter \
'.He's a broke in Georgia, but sud- ii
en]y checked himself before concluding. Ii
tsrhen / thought perhaps he hadn't got 4
t, 50 ! got my money together and Went 4
Cast. But lie had, Georgia; he had It i
gas 10 use, though. lie wouldn't BE- !
ieye in me, and wouldn't TT me see my !
title girl. He said she should never,
nov but that he sv;ss her father, 1T least !,
ntil she was Of age. tried thc courts, u
ut spent all my money without chang- i
ng tile decree. Then gave it up, and 4
anne back West again | gained one
hing, though. The Judge said that when 4,
Nice was twenty-one she should be offer I
d tile choice OF coming to me, her father, !.
i remaining with her guardian. | had to
est satisfied, and 4 worked and worked to !,
,et money for my little girl. ! scrinped
ONE, Georgia, but there's nearly ", 600
Il bank for her now and the old mans
-oice and manner were frllof pride
ssShe was twenty-onelast June, and I've i
cen waiting for her letter. knew il i
Would come. @, Georgia, II she only i
new how | have worked for her; how i /
lavc waited, alone. but still working and I
Waiting but she has written now, and to- I