Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-16

the cords, that at night lie could not sled
from their pain. That was to begin with
Time seasons everything, and usage made
his muscles almost like iron, and the task
grew easy.
"That boy is fairly coming gold" said
Monte Mack to his pard Double-Deck Dick
''let's lay for him."
One night Jack came in shivering from
the river bank He had been out all day,
and, despite olskin and India rubber, was
drenched To the skin. ." Give him q hot
toddy; here's the liquor" said Tip 10 his
wife. Make 1t sweet and strong, and he
will be all right in the morning. She
nodded, but she gave him hot coffee, foot
bath and a dose of quniue instead.
"Niyer drop ov that sort shall cross
yer lips if | can help 1t, Jack, DEAR said
she, and the next day she pointed To poor
" Tanglefoot- Ned" tumbling up the gulch
TO his cabin, with no more humanity in his
appearance than in beast.
"Once-and not SO long ago, naythur-
he was young and hopeful ike you, Jack, -
she said: ''look what liquor brings on a
man, and fly from the sight ov it,"
Lets have little game right here, Tip, -
US out your best and plenty of it. If there 5
a white man in these mines, it's Tip Finni-
gan, and he knows how to sell fust class
liquor, too; that's what allus say. Dick,
YOU deal for four-handed game; Tip and
the young 'un II jine in, jist for u spree.
Won't yc, honey!
"No, he won't thin" cried the watchful
Mrs. Finnigan, bursting in upon them, and
for once daring 10 assert herself in her hus-
bands domain; "ye've been afther this lad
wild yer dirty cards ever since he come 10
Dry-up; and ifye iver AK him to take a
hand In thin chatting games yer up to agin
sure I'll tache yez new thrick with the
ind of my broom, so | will"
The gamblers shrank abashcd before the
woman's tlashing eye; but Tip was much
scandalized. He was disciplinarian and
believed in the inferiority of the weaker
sex; he had always eXacted from his wise
and usually qulescent wife the strictest
obedience, and her late assumption Of will
fitness woke his dispeaSure.
That night her eyes were very red when
Jack came TO sit little while with her as
he always did before retiring to his bunk
in the back end OF the store.
"You niyer write letters nor rccaive any
as see Jack, she remarked abruptly.
The youths eyes filed with sudden tears (;
he shook his head and bit his lips nervous
ly, but did not reply.
His quest!oncr was persistent one. She
kept her gaze steadily on him, and he could
not affect tunconsciOuSness as he tried hard
TO DO at first. Ii cost great eiiort, but at
last he gave in, and broke down with some
thing Ike sob. Mrs. Finnigan, nobody
knows where am. ran away"
He hung his head ia shame at this con-
feSsion, aud his face blazed into perfect
scarlet when his friend, raising her hands
in shocked surprise, repeated Run away !!
Lord pity your poor distracted mother, you
wrong-headed boy
They must all have complained and
talked against me TOTO Mr. Franklyn and
to Nellie" he burst out in great heat and
agitation. lie said such dreadful things
about my sehshly imposing on them-and
and Just vowed I'd never write or 20
back till could pay up all owed them. "
Wei, Heaven be praised, ye can kape
yer word and start home tomorrow. I've
news for ye, Jack; ye can sell ont yer right
and title TO the ferry at small fortin', and
you shall do il, and go home TO see your
mother, If my names Betty Finnigan :"
Then In quieter but still more resOlute
terms Mrs. Finnigan explained to the lad
that her guardianship over him must end,
since it had already produced ill-feeling
between herself and husband.
"Aud though mkt to my own boy that
the blissed saints has in their holy kapiug
this day, have a warm heart for you,
jack" she confessed; my duty Is TO sarve
Tip. aud plase him in Everything, and |
can't manage both you and him, find.
This is no place for lad ov your breedn'
and belongings. | may kape ye out OF the
gamblers hands and away from the whis-
key cup; but there's more and worse timp-
tation that ! cant rache. So We must jist
lave them all behind ye."
She backed her argument with an Offer
from tall lIoosier known as Lanky, who
was ready to pay down in good hard
dust an hundred ounces (sl600) for Jacks
right and title TO the - Ferry and then
added in a whisper that Jack could pay a
1rstclass passage and carry $1,000 with
him. \ few moments passed, during which
the varying emotions of the boys mind
we're easily read by her keen eye on his
transparent face. Suddenly over the chang
ng lights and shade of doubt, ambition,
pride and calculation, broke ont 4 sweet,
soft, beaming tenderness, and yielding TO
is influence, Jack leaned his curly head
upon her shoulder and murmured "Ill go
md see my mother.
. "And Gods blissin' 90 with you eX-
claimed Mrs. Fiunigan, solemnly. Her
prayers have been about We like guardian
lngel this far, and may the same blissia
20 wild We till life's ind"
"Ill write to you, Mrs. Finnigan, you
lear, good friend" cried Jack, giving his
andlady a secret and sincere embrace be-
lind the kitchen door, as Hank pushed his
modest trunk in which the precious dust
vas stored, into a safe place on top of the
stockton coach.
"Not a word, dear" said the hostess Of
Dry-up, controlling her emotion bya strong
.nOrt; "not a word, darlint; for could
lot read if We did. I'll jist trust We to the
iaints, as had to do wild my own boy, and
nay be Wen see aich other some day be-
Iant this"
''Is that ere party a coming:" hallooed
Iank from the coach-box.
"Here he is !" shouted Tip; "and more
DOL he to lave a place that would be the
maxim ov him. I'm starting a big bar, and
"a have paid him small fortin' to wait on
{; but the chaps heads turned wild the
,rice he got for his ferry" The porch
vas full of "boys" come to see that rare
,ight in those days-a departure. Jack
waved his hat as he climbed up the stage
tut pulled it over his eyes as he dropped
nto place beside Hank; he had caught a
glimpse of his friend weeping at the kitch-
N pane.
Some time after this the express held
package directed to Mrs. Finnigan, and
.reat was that woman's surprise when ap-
,rised of the fact.
On being opened, it proved to be an ex-
richly mounted picture OF
handsome young man whom no one rec.
,gnzed until its recipient cried out in rap
ure:
"Arrah, sure. it's Jack. Jack, in his
IL o,,I sfet ho