The Osceola times., 1884-09-20
A FRONTIER MAGDALEN.

N 6UVVIu6U MHOOHI6Vs
..rhs sia Fsrsksa By Christ in Heaven BY
maa 10 Cured Away"
The coach came sliding and grating
down the long hill; it swung foutingly
through the miserable novels Of the
Mexican quarter, ratified past the brilliant
temptation of the Continual" saloon
and the less imposing facade of Trell-
cots opposition establishment. "Big
Jim," The driver, found an unthonged
spot on the sides OF his horses, and SO
persuaded them to final spurt, which
should emphasize the suddenness Of
the pull-up on the post-ofice corner
All the men lounging there under the
cottonwoods swayed and surged for a
vantage-ground whence 70 peer into the
stage.
mot damned passenger" cried All
Dixon. "Boys, this camps peterin' out
Just about - fast as the law allows an a
little more 20. This is the fourth night
the coach's come in empty. What the
help
DRY up, Alfl" II was Bruce Stewart
the blonde young deputy sheriff, who
rode guard over the treasure-box, now
nimbly springing down from the top,
Winchester in hand. "Give us a rest
or your French talk. The's an old lady
in there's sanity old tender-foot-God
help her herew
He opened the coach door and made
. baluster Of his strong young arm.
"Now, ms'am, here you are at the Of
Ace, If you'd like to inquire. Maybe
some Of these old citizens might tell you
about your daughter-sorry I'm a stran-
ger here. you might say" with an ad-
monish;ng frown at the crowd. He
guided the old lady into the house and
pulled forward big chair, then faced
the gathering group, flushed and breath
ing hard. "Well! this stumps me-" He
pushed his way to the door, then raising
his voice again, cried, loudly, in slangy
spanish: "PIay numsku!l, every man.
Jack of youl That poor old soul has
come out here to find her daughter, that
she thinks is teaching school ol-she told
me all about it, coming mp on the stage.
1t won't do to let her find out about it
tonight, anyway-its Carrie"
Then Mr.. Stewart retreated with pre-
cipitaiion. He had killed his man at
Georgetown, an adjacent camp, and, as
to physical daring, perhaps no man in
the country, had greater hardihood.
But his moral courage was not equal to
this situation, and 20 Bruce Stewart fed
the field.
Every man in the post-office drug
store had understood the young deputy's
admonition, and all eyes turned on the
tiny old figure sitting in their midst, all
quaint and travel-worn, but still quite
self possessed. A very little old lady
she was, with delicate features and wax
like coloring. A bunch of feathery
white curls escaped from her bonnet at
either temple, in fashion of years long
gone. Her raiment was not antiquated
either a. 10 fabric or fashioning and
yet, TO . fanciful mind, it would suggest
u lingering fragrance of lavender and
faded rose-leaves, or kindred essences
whose very memories now are relegated
amid the things of shadowy past.
After the secession of Bruce Stewart,
the old lady sat few moments glancine
about with quiet composure. If the
novelty ofthe scene surprised her. she
made no signs. Neither did she sue
cimb to fatigue. She held her ligh,
shape erect as a girls when she ap
preached the postmaster.
"Are you the gentleman in charger
she said, with precise courtesy; and hel
thin, soft tone was vocal rendering o
old-fashioned, slanting, Italian chiro
graphy. "Ah-the postmaster yes
Then, no doubt, you will be able I,
direct me to my daughter-Miss Piatt
She-she is engaged in the profession o
teaching
Doctor Lucas adjusted his glasses OF
his thin, sharp nose, anI looked at he
Grossly. He was probably the onl,
man in the room who had not felt
thrill Of chivalric syml athy at sight o
her. He Was lean. dark, sallow, snap
pish little man, in C. ronic ill-humor
thanks to the rapid decline of business
in the Town. and the brow. beating of hi
virago wifi. 70 night he was in ever
worse than u,ual temper, on account O.
the cvac,'s late arrival, and the crowd
In the drug store keeping him on duty
there, while an overworkcd deputy, Wis
ible through the glass front of the post.
Office enclosure. he obeyed, struggled
alone through distribution of the mail
tle would have hke1 10 drive the whole
1o Nithomt and closs NJ doom
plllng 10y y IN -
[178G2 :Ss So .,,4s. q II M