The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-04-29

ans hand, for John Harmer, Mineral
City, San Juan County, Col. 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 proba-
BILE 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.
whats the matter, old pard?" 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?"
"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
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 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 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 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 you?'
The old man smiled, YEARLY.
"Ten 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 'em," he concluded, with
a cheerful laugh.
"No," said the old fellow, with the
same weary smile, "but-but thank
you"
ooh, nonsense--that's all right
you're only a 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 a letter
for YOU"
"Letter-for me?'' and the old mans
face lighted up with an eagerness that
sent tremOr through Georgia. honest
heart, lest the missive, after all, should
not be for him. He got it. however,
and gave it into the trembling hands.
Eyes, yes," said the old fellow, "it's
her writing, l know-ike 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 low,
even tone: Hold on, Georgia
Georgia paused.
Georgia" said the old fellow, look
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
confidence. I'm going to tell you some
thing, 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. I was likely sort of a
young chap years agO-not such good
for-nothing galoot as am now, and l
married, Georgia married the best girl
in old Pennsylvania. 1 was mighty
happy-too happy, partner-that's what
made it 60 so hard when she died. We
had one child-a girl-and we called
her Alchemy wife, name. She was
wee little thing when her mother died
and SO very. very pretty. 1t was hard
lines on me. Georgia, and somehow 1
got to drinking. l know it did me no
good, and know it wasn't right, but
man don't reason much when he's des-
Perate like, and so l drank and drank.
l sold out everything and put my girl
my little Alice--with my wife's brother.
He had a family of his own, and what
could q lonely. broken-hearted man like
me do for dear little girl? Georgia. if
they'd come to me and talked good and
gentle they could have made q man of
me, but they didn't. They wouldn't let
me come into their house, and they said
that I'd killed my wife by drinking.
Georgia, it was q LEA damnable lie.
l never drank q drop till she died, and
I wouldn't have done it then if I'd had
anyone to sympathize with me. But
hadn't; 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 two 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 Civ
ing the guardianship Of my child-my
Alice-tO her uncle, because they said
I was unfit to take care of her. Georgia,
If but one kind word had been said
only one-I wouldn't have been thu