Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-05-01

As before, al the knocking failed {,
obtain an answer. and. GeofgiA, after /,
moment hesitation, put his shoulde
to the door and with % little noise q
possible bust the wooden button Of
that served as . lock. The next in
slant and Georgia was in the room Th'
Hermit lay extended upon the floor. hi
face flushed and hot with fever and hi
long. thin fingers nervously graspin,
and relaxing again the torn blanket OF
which he tossed. sss ~ 81
whats the matter. old pard?' sait
Georgia, As he raised the old man
head. &C.,. .,---.,--.--s. .r,E
The fevered eyes slowly turned to
ward his face, the emaciated finger
opened and the poor, lonely old fellow
said huskily: .
"Don't tell herr = =
"Who%tell who?" -
"Alice, poor little thing. she dom
know" ~
thinking of his folks in the States
muttered Georgia. and then tenderly
and carefully he lifted the sick man il
his arms and strobe away to his OWL
cabin. u g. ls.sffe =. Is. q
s The news of the Hermit's sickness
spread through the camp and blankets
and food came from all quarters for hi.
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 q car
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. ........---.-
I" Georgia" he said.
In an instant Georgia sprang to his
feet and fastened to the bedside.
why, pardner, durn n-yer-yer
getting better, amt your
The old man smiled, YEARLY.
"Tell me all about it." he said.
Georgia briefly recourted 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
. cheerful laugh. -. H.
mo" said the old fellow, with the
same weary smile, "but-but l thank
you" r-..i az
"Oh, nonsense-that's all right
you're only a leetle shook up, you
know'-it's material after being as fur
down as you've been. You'll soon be
Ill right--cheer up, and don't let yer
sand run out; besides, I've got letter
Tor you" -. ---s..-ss r.--
"Letter-for me?" and the old mans
lace lighted up with an eagerness tina:
sent a 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.
"Yes, yes," said the old fellow, Tits
her writing, I know-like her mothers
-ob, 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,
sven tone: Hold on. Georgia
Georgia paused.
Georgia" said the old fellow, look
ng him steadily in the eye, you've
been kind to me-very kind-ands I've
got nothing to show for it--nothing but
hing GEORGIA and tSen-tben Won can
cad that letter and You'll understand
al the good news Il Contains"
/. he paused a moment and closed, his
ives. Then he continued: casz -
" Georgia, / was. a likely sort. of a
.o,,np chan wears 400 mot sInh good
lssloot as am now and sII
married.. Georgia--married the best GIRL
d old Pennsylvania. / was mighty
hannv. nartner-tbaf's What
usde it go SO hard when she died. We
adj one chiId-a girl-and. we called
lef Alice-my wife name. She was a
Yea little thing when her mother died
nd 30 yerv, yery pretty. II was hard
ines ON me, Georgia, and somehow /
,ot To drinking. know IL did me no
;ood, and / know IL wasn't risht, but a
nan don't reason much when. he's des-,i
crate like. and SOL drank and drank. !
sold out everything and nut nv girl
~ little Alice.wit6 my %ife's brother.