The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-04

..Not a bit of it, Mayon.- TO nome
q your wife and babies. l have engaged (,
Proctor did not add that the watch
:, an he had engaged was no other than
himself but when the rest had gone
hnn,e he remained there alone. sep
= r.,ed az it was from the rest OF the
town. by night the place was dreary
so,;tnde' Once the call of knocking
bird thrilled in the distance. A merry
ove miles away over the level PLAIN
Jeyeloned into the headlight OF the 10
couotiye of the evening train, whicn
Numbered past on its way to the depot
ha,ow The moon came up and threw
into weird relief the blackened ruins.
Jobn Proctor, who had boon slowly
rac;n0 to and fro, sat down upon
lunch of shingles and buried his race
in his hands. He knew. what not even
Maxon had guessed, that this disaster
had wrought his irreparable ruin. IL
would require every cent OF the insur-
.nco money to settle his outstanding |
Tah;l;ties. for he had done business on
the rushing Western plan, and had car
r;ad a stock out of all proportion 70 MS
csn;tal. If he could only have saved
that five thousand, or If he had not been
W .mh;t;ous. Annie had been ready
moor little girl! She had even proposed
hin g;no her piano to this raw Southern
town, and ekipg out their income with
tbo result of her own labors. On ono
,,n;rt he was resolved. Whenever he
rot square with the world again no
Would nut his pride in his pocket, ana
hnmhlv nresent himself before the little
,vor,.n ask her to share his fortunes,
Co.. better or worse. o, God. how long
! would il be? A stifled groan escaped
/ his lips. .a l..,.
u;s ouick ear had caught the sound OF
: some heavy body slowly moving over
: the ground. -,
v ..Who is there?''
!. A wavering voice replied: a.,
!, ..(,plv me. Is that you. boss!
John Proctor bent forward and per-
. ceived a man slowly crawling along IN
i the shadow of pile of joist. AS she
t;gure emerged into the moonlight ne
:. ssw that the fellow dragged one leg
II I" after him. His suspicious
- meited away beneath his natural
warmth of heart.
"a "Are you hurt?" ..,
ne ..Ouly a falling timber, boss. but the
q ,;re cot into nv eyes and can't SCI
10 very WE'LL" :.
az lie had drawn himself to Proctor
no ~, feet and stopped, turning. little upoi
' Io his side, his head propped up with nj
al hand. a.
=. door something fell against me, an
~, Nv not seeing you, and not being able :
II. ret about very well, there were
u" many of them cusscd Mexican thieve
:. about. I was afraid they might max
pS of with this''-holding out ia
" leather book which John Proctor seize
e.o with a glad exclamation. The ma
So vent on talking in an absent way.
VII. ~ wouldn't have liked to have yc
. think i'll of me. You're the first ma
"s, who give me chance since
gus oot down. want always loafe
.no Sir. You spoke of my knowing som
thing about the business, and to DC 81
~ l ought, if fifteen years as 'sorter
=, the Wisconsin lumber region can tea
AZ a man ANYTHING of lumber. But wh
. .: NV wife died l struck OF out west !
nlu been hard luck eecr since-and my
me tle 0;rl-back there with her gran
New His voice seemed to fail from wes
min MS 'oi'o
ax- ness.
.aS asked the other sharply.
I I ..The man answered reluctantly q
almost in tone OF apology.
' '.: "You see, sir-down there among
Atou ,rmber piles-how could p
and Jonn IIvo~ ...m sneecb. He
NO" dressed the man now in clear, deci
tones.
Iheir my hack while / carried you dowr
light my S~.
glare "Why. sir! it wouldn't be fit"
u nr -. "Shut up! Put your arms around
o'e i neck.
!. ana The Office and bar room OF the h.
I'd to nretentious structure of East
architecture, held its usual quota o
or sat snectable loafers, when John Pro
Is own entered with the uncouth figure ol
Q had hack. A gurgle of laughter ran thrc
myers. the crowd. The majority fancied
ht had ~onnc lnmberman's brain had
J with turned by his recent losses, and th'
rein dementia had taken the form OF .
4 men lent development of the weakness
turmoil which he had hitherto been accred
stout The;r lauohter suddenly ceased ,
ing in the Young man went straight to
r bot clerk, saying. in clear, ringing ton
watch ..Give me the best room you
rience, This man. who saved my life last =
leir in "a h.dIv hurt. Some of you," tut
sion OF to the idlers, ego at once for the
ceou of the AtchisOn road.
9 log A dozen men sprang forward !
shout lieye him of his burden, to neip
AXE up. carry the poor fellow to ccm 4
ire and room, where he was gently laid
reached the bed. The sufferer received
as safe attentions in silence. His dim
stared incredulously about the
o John and into the kindly faces bending
ad sus- him. That anything like tnis !!
strolled happen to him! How long would
He had Would they let him have one
ing to nights rest before turning MI
hom he again? When once more on the
nh