Morris tribune., 1881-03-03

the bar.
Twenty minutes thereafter over two
thousand dollars had been subscribed, and
all that remained to be done to insure the
success of the project was to get the con-
sent of the old man and his gmndchild to
remain. BY reclamation this task was left
to Sandy, and how well he succeeded may
be inferred from the fact that the next eve
ming, when the boys had again assembled at
the Pocket, he made the following an
nouncement: Boys, the gall stay, and the
| fust man that insults her hez ter answer
Sandy Foster fer the deed" This intelli-
gence was received by the boys with a yell
of delight and an invitation to 'liquor all
round" that came from at least fifty diff
| erent threats.
Two years had drifted by since the camp
at Sonora had adopted the old man and his
grandchild; two years had brought with
them but little in the way of change, save
increased prosperity and a large number of
new corners.
! The old man had from the first wandered
aimlessly around the camp, doing nothing
in particular, but keeping a jealous guard
over the girl whom he seemed to regard as
"the apple of his eve" His mind wandered
at times and though he but rarely visited
! the Pocket whenever he met Cummings,
he would look at him in a strange way, as
! though he was trying to make out where
and when they had met before, and this in
tent look seemed to annoy the proprietor
of the Pocket" for he would avert his face
from the old mans gaze and leave his COM
pany as soon as he found it possible to do
so. The strange action on the part of Cum
nlings. had often been commented on by
| the miners, but as nothing was known of
the past life of the camps children. it was
set down to the fact that "nuther one cared
much for the tother,' as one of the boys
expressed it. Saudy's opinion differed
however. from the rest, for when asked
what he thought regarding it, he shook his
head thoughtfully for moment, and then
answered: Them twos met afore. It's a
he'll place him by and by, an" he added.
in lowe, tones, when he do. boys, I'm
afraid thar'll be murder"
1t was one night in June when the star
light lay like a silver mantle on the Shout
ders Of the hills, and the shadows danced
phantom quadrilles beneath the overhang-
ing branches of the oaks, that the Lilly
for the boys knew her by no other name)
came slowly down the street that led by the
pocket, with her grandfather leaning on
her arm. She was tall beautiful girl now.
as slender and graceful as the flower whose
| name she bore, and there was a nameless
something about her that caused even the
outcasts of the camp, the social pirates who
prey upon the passions of mankind, to
| breathe her name in whisper, and to call
down blessings on her head as she passed
them by.
In front of the Pocket" group of men,
among whom were Sandy and Jack Cum
mings. stood conversing in the star light
in loud and angry tones that betokened the
breaking out of a quarrel. Drawing neal
them. the old man withdrew his arm from
that of the girl and again fixed his intent
gaze on the face of Cummings, whose clear
cut features, with the silver light falling up
on them, stood out in bold relief from the
dark back ground of the Pockets" wall
behind him. Cummings fdgeted about
uneasily for a moment, and then with a
sheer on his lips and CLEAN of the devil
in his eyes, he yelled, with an oath, What
the h-ll are We lookin' at me fer?"
The old mans bent frame seemed to shiv-
er for moment with the waves of a return
ing memory that swept over his brain and
brushed away the cobwebs that had SO long
obscured it. Then dashing away the mists
from before his eyes with the back of his
hand, he Strengthened up and, shaking his
clenched hand at the gambler, said in tones
of suppressed passion: "Ah, I've found
you at last; have I, Mart Mix"-the sentence
and the name both remained unfinished
The sharp crack of Cummings revolver rang
out twice on the night air, and down on the
narrow path almost at Sandy's feet sank the
old man and his grandchild, while Cum
mings, with a muttered curse, dashed away
up the starlit street followed by a bullet
from Sandy's pistol, which never missed its
mark. The flying gambler staggered for a
moment, and then throwing up both arms
he fell in heap on the roadway. The
double murder had been avenged
The old man Was dead when the miners
lifted him up, but 1.-The Lilly" still lived
although the wound that she had received
was mortal one. Tenderly they lifted hel
from the ground and bearing her in thei1
strong arms fashioned as cradle, they car
ried her down to the cabin they had bull
for her more than two years before, ant
there in the dainty room made beautiful b,
the hands of woman, they laid her on tn,
snowy bed to rest. The doctor came and afte
looking at the wound, he shook his heat
mournfully and said, There is no hope.
Outside in the starlight the miners stoot
and waited eagerly for news from 1.-The Lii
nounced tears rolled down the bronzet
cheeks of the rough men whose stron!
frames shook with the emotion that they dir
not care to conceal. The long night drew
on toward the morning. and still they waited
Inside the cabin the candles burned dim
and now and then the shadowy form of on
of the camps fallen angels fitted before tn
window casting fantastic shadow on tn
white curtain as she passed with noiseles
steps to minister to the sufferer. Then tn
morning dawned cold and gray, at first ik
the shadow of the death angels wing tina
waited at the doorway.
1t was then that the woman came to tn
door weeping bitterly and told the watcher
that ''the Lilly" was dying and wished t.
bid them all goodbye. One by one tn
miners entered the little room on tiptoe
and for each she had dainty smile and
whispered word of blessing The rougl
men sobbed like children as they left he
bedside, and from many a lip unused Il
praying there went forth whispered praye
to the Almighty to spare the life of tn
camps pet. At last she had hidden then
all goodbye but Sandy, and for him sh
asked in wistful tones and begged the
would hurry and bring him.
They found him laying on the grass be
hind the cottage, with his face buried il
his hands and sobbing as though his heal
3 would break. Telling him of the Lilly
+ wish, he entered the room and the door wa
: closed behind him. Staggering like drunk
>en man to the bedside, he knelt down an
2 buried his bronzed face in the pillows, Will
} the Lilly's hand strayed out from beneat
the coverlet and rested among the sol
3 brown curls that covered his head.
5 Sandy" she said in whisper, "Sandy
g don't grieve SO. 1t is all for the best.
wish again to thank you for your kindness
and"
Don't do it, sobbed the man, don't d
q it. / can't bear it now"
t "But must, persisted the girl softly
"for you have made me very happy since
e came here, and now" she continued, "
9 want you to promise me Sandy, that 20
e will try and be "a better man, better to you,
e self, Sandy, for you were always good
e others, and am dying-it is no harm
tell you now. I love you, Sandy, and 20
h must promise for my sake"
It "Oh, if had know'd that" whispere