The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1883-11-08

quartz mine lying to the north 81 the
s%atar Of the Vest They lived To-
gether in one cabin, they shared what
they made, and they had been '1.ards'
tor very long time; in fact, long be-
fore they had arrived in Shantyvilie. 1t
had become bye-wordl in the camp.
''as fast friends as Tom and Rhody.,''
Of the two, Rhody was elder, being
about forty, while Tom could
not claim more than twenty-five: but in
spite Of the difference in are they
were thoroughly suited to each other.
~ the Two, Tom was perhaps the more
enthusiastic, the more prone to take up
athirg strongly, while Hhody was apt
to talk somewhatcynieally about TOMS
newschemes. When it came to doing,
however, there was not much to choose
between them. OF course, Tom had
been foremost. in the school-house
scheme, and equally as a matter Of
course, Rhody had laughed at it at first,
but supported it strongly afterward.
When NJ IS Mary arrived She. had met
the two men, and well. it will elearup
matters good deal, and enable me to
tell this story better, if say they both
fell in love with her straightway AS
might have been expected they mani
tested their passion in very different
ways. Tom called constantly upon
her, went ont walking or riding with
her, and hung upon her words as
though, like those of the girl in the old
fairy tale, they were pearls. Rhody,
when with the girl, became rather more
cynical than ever, and delighted in
a
ings and doings 1t was this perhaps
which hid his passion from Tom, for the
latter never imagined for a moment that
his pard cared anything about the girl.
In fact Rhody's age, suddenly recol-
lected by tie younger man, made Tom
think him wholly out Of the race. 1t
must not be supposed that Tom mag
ined his love Us patent to every one in
the camp as Ihaye good naturedly made
it to you. Nor was it. Despite the fact
that lovers, being something like os-
triches, think no one can see them if
their heads be covered, Toms admira-
ton, although very open, had not pro-
'ceededsto such lengths as to attract gen
eral notice. This was owing as much
to Miss Mary's prudence, care, modesty
call it what YOU villas to anything
else, for she shrank instinctively from
publicity in the matter. That she per-
sonally knew that Tom worshipped the
ground she trod on myself thoroughly
believe. Surely, she would have been
no woman else!
One evening Tom and Rhody were
supper There had been silence in the
room for some time, when Tom, stirring
uneasily, broke ii. si 3a,s..
"Rhody, 81 manm he said.
"What air up, TomP" was the reply,
.'Thars somethin' I--that is, 1
thought you mout like to know--I
mean ef you're.interested, that is.p
In course, Tom, I'm interested.
What's uppn
~ kinder ,sposed you knew ss
"Knewwhat? Anything the matter
with the assays, lad2a
"Blame the assays! MOI
Wa'al, lad, don't take my head off.
What's up? Grease the slides an let il
fiickerFa fi and Rh0ay looked at Tom
with smile, MI
-er-the fact air that ar I'm
in loyevl
4. Ia loye, ladp who with the wild
der? She'llmake u good wife, Tom. ''
'tThe widder2 No. Aint ther' no
other sides the widder liyn' at tn foot
o. tn hilI?''
Rhody started, and his face grew
dark,
q (" You dom mean the school-marm.
adoyePN he'asked, ina strangely altered
'Eoiee. a i"I&
a"I means just her ] love her,
Rhody, better'n nlylife. Why, what $
/ The mattefM he continued, glancing up
at his partners face.
Rhody got up from his seat and
walked out of the cabin without speak
ing. As he passed swiftly down the
path, taking by habit the turn toward
the,widow's house, his breast was full
Of conflicting feelings. A man of strong
passions, and one who was not apt to
let others take from him that which lie
claimed, his first feeling was oaeof bit
ter anger The information he had Just
received was a shock to him; he had
never thought of anything of the kind.
1t was little wonder that he should at
first determine that this thing. should
not be. The thought flashed across his
Liltlh ilt ittAlNG 1iSAA4 etiS
camp the next day if he discharged him,
BECAUSE, as superintendent, he had SUI
preme power. And with this idea came
another THAT if Mary was separated
from Tom she might forget him. /
think myself he. Was Wrong in this; still
he believed it.. He. exclaimed against
Che ihinstice fthis thing He thought
\ Of. his-lppeiness, of Toms popularity
Rwitlf AL men, ands his own lack Of il.
He felt as though his partner was TAX
inc from him the only thing he cared
for, and he fought against it4-fought
silercely.a sas iiafs at
BY and by sOftersfeelings began to
find place. He recollectbd how close
Tom had been to him; how he had
nnrsed Tomthrongh the feyeri and how
dear the lad had gp0wngaduring those
long hours. iHa thought of his ,nobiiee-
ness and his courage, his TRUTH apd
4 1. /. Il lr~ l0-