The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-17

result of witnessing the bitter, inconsolable
burst of tears with which she shut herself in
4 was spentl
By the Captains advice, and under charge O
respectable people. Lucy betook herself to
hotel pending the arrival of tidings from he
husband 1t was evident that the letter an
nouncing her coming, date rendered previ
ously uncertain by the settlement of her small
business affairs in England, had misearried
Her good friend, the Captain, found for her
| special opportunity to send letter on to Ton
without delay, and Lucy's courage rising will
renewed hope, she determined, after day o
rest, to take stage for the station nearest TIL,
| mining camp, and there await his coming
The Captain, who saw to all her arrange
ments, and put her in the stage, watched he
departure with gliStening eyes. Lucy leaned
| out to wave her hand to HIM with smile like
an angels" the old man afterward declared
| During the first part of thai long journey b,
stage, Lucy knew not fatigue, SO astonisheC
| and excited was she by the New World olor
les. The early spring had broken up the
| gentle udulaJions of field and plain tn count
| less towering plants, whose fragrant breath
| perfumed the air Far as the eve could reach
in this wonderfully clarified atmosphere were
vineyardrclad slopes, prosperous ranches
meadows dotted with patriarchal 6ocks and
herds, and watered by crystal rivers. Above
hung cliffs crowned with a dark continuous
zone ofpines cutting off the fiower-enameled
paradise below from the snow-shrouded crests
OF the Sierras-" Toms mountains the fool
ish child called those grand untrodden sum
mlts. Lucys insular reserve, her fears, her
scruples, melted into the gladness of child
butterfly hunting under a summer sun; her
heart clothed itself with love.n
something OF her early eXhilaraton, but
none OF her patient courage had worn away
when the unwonted fatigue of two days and
night OF stage riding took possession of
Lucy exhausted frame. A rough woman, her
comrade during the greater part of the Jour
ney, had, to Lucy's unqualified despair, been left
at the station before the terminus. She was
alone now with half-dozeu men, who sur.
veyed her with curious but not irreyerent
eyes. =
jerry the soft-voiced stage-driver, refined in
his six magnificent horses with the same pro-
fesslonal calm exhibited frequently during the
Journeyin driving them at full gallop along
the edge of precipice.
The stage halted before the rude yerauda of
desolate two-story building, with a little
coiony Oh out-houses to correspond, over
winch was proudly inscribed the word ''Hotel."
Lucy, almost unable to walk, was half carried
across the threshold Th- -.h- $3.50,
travel-soiled as They were, rushed by her like
so many cannon-balls into the open doorway
ola supper-room, before which stold China
man promenaded back and forth ringing a
resonant bell.
Making his obeisance to Lucy in the smoky,
oil-reeking atmosphere of this sit ng-room,
bar and office combined, stood he propric or,
hopelessly seedy Don Quixote, with a smack
OF former gentility in his drawing tones.
II am the wife of Mr.. Boynton, of the Hum
bold Nine" Lucy managed to say, with quiet
dignity. 81 have every reason hone that
my husband Will meet me here very shortly,
and must beg you to give me room at once
where may rest until he comesn ...,."
Although profuse in civilities upon the dis
coyery that she was the Sol nels lady.n As
he chose, to Lucy's amusement to styIe her
Don Quixote looked a trifie Blank at the men
ton OF room. Going off fora NJ ment into
the supper room. he quickly reappeared with
tne beaming announcement, made in the style
OF provincial theatre manager that Sin
order to accommodate Mrs. Colonel Boyn on.
ledge Iompkins had kindly consented to
double up with General Snyder for the night.
~ Lucy's strength only sufficed her to ascend
to the rude room prepared for that dist n
gu'shed citizen, ledge Tompkins, and there to
request cup of tea. This awful beverage
was served to her presently by the stold
Chinaman, who took that opportunity to re
move box OF paper collars and package of
toothpicks belonging to the Judge. sIbsti
tutinS for them Mrs. Boynton's rugs and
dressing case. Lucy waited to see him depart,
boltee the door, spread one rug over the straw
ped, and drew another upon herself as she
literally dropped into the deep sleep of utter
physical fatigue.
Toward morning Lucy was aroused by
confused sound from the room below, She
sprang up in bed, trying to realize her posi-
tlon. Through the thin boards dividing them
she distinctly heard the rattle of dice boxes
voices IN dispute, oaths, scufflc, pistol shot,
then another-a riot making hldeous the night.
Overcom with terror she totterei to her feet.
Inc candle she had left burning fickered in
S socket and went out, leaving her in dark
ness. Lucy CROPPED her way to The window,
with an absurd impulse to cry aloud for help.
A the very moment, when fancying that she
could detect the noise of a horses hoofs a
wild prayer for Tom to come to her rose o her
lips, more shots were heard below, and some.
thing whizzed up past her ear, leaving trail
ike fire upon her cheek.
~ Tom Boynton, riding hard through the night
over rough mount ain-roads to seek his wife
reached the tavern Just in time to fnd its In.
mates launched into a fierce but no unusual
aliray at cards. The landlorl, apt at this sta e
Oh she game TO be overcome by strong libations,
anu on the present occasion somewhat un.
neryed by what he called ''the bows be NJ raw
Their unexpectedly lively" directed him To
Lucy's room. Toms knock and call receiving
no resp nse, he burst open the door, % find
hls wife lying senseless on the floor. -
- Ou OF her trance OF terror Lucy slowly came
ohe TEL the warm clasp of loving arms, a
strong heart beating close to hers. A mans
tears were rafned upon her face, and the SLIGHT
wound upon her cheek was staunched with
tenderest kisses. 'H4OHII ~ 80
II.
:" we may look in upon Lucy's new home,
after the lapse of peaceful year or wo. II
was Teritabe mountain cyrie, somewhat
apart trom the mining settlement, u roughly
1unt put comfortable cottage, clingihg for
dear II e to the ige of battlement Of cliffs,
nesting under the locked arms of giant pine
trees. where they lay down to rest at night
iulled bJ the music OF falling waters, in early
spring swelling to the roar OF mighty cata
ract, as the swollen torren plunged downward
through the canon at their feet. As for the
interior, every stick of furniture mad been
brought up on pack-mules from the alton
below, and 1t was not elab rate; but a few
months of Lucys reign sutiiced to make OF IL
very bower of bliss, Tom thought. There
were warm red curtains to hang before their
easements, old Aunt Boyntons blue tea-eups
and brass candlesticks for the dresser shelves.
fair English linen and bricrht Euolisi, ail,,a.