Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-26

might interest YOU to hear of it." His voice
and manner were quite different from what
they were during the previous narration. He
spoke slowly, and in low tones; and he never
once turned his eyes from the line Of coast to
"a number of years ago." he said, 81 was
going from Leavenworth across the plains.
had with me party OF twelve men, well armed
without encountering any special danger or
dimculty, and worked our way into the w ct
troubesome in that re xhg~ and we were con.
tinually on our guard. One morning, when
was little in advance of the rest, saw q man
As we approached each other, l saw he was
about go years of age, with gray hair and beard;
and he was lame and walked with much dini-
Guilty. He held out his hand as we met, and he
addressed me eagerly.
..Pard.' said he, I'm mighty glad to see
doctor? Nor Well, perhaps yer know some
thin about wounds and sickness an yer've
got some medicine in yer outfit He went
on to explain that party of five OF them had
been followed and harried by the Indians and
had no rest, and were fighting all the time.
much blood that he was faint and weary.
But don't mind me, he went on. Jest come
an look at one @ my pards him that we
through. the thigh three days ago, and he's
mighty bad, poor fellow. Come along this
way We soon reached a rude eDcampment
and were greeted with joy by two or three
thin, worn men. On pile of blankets, under
rough shelter Of boughs, lay the youngest
and looked at him, and knew enough about
surgery to tell that he wasn't long for this
world; he had been very badly wounded, fever
He was fine, handsome fellow, and we all felt
mighty sorry for him. The old man who had
gone to meet me wept like child when told
him there was no hope. Night was coming on,
and told my men to see to the camp get sup
per and stand guard, so that tine poor fellows
some rest, which they needed sOrely. / staid
by the sick man. He lay quiet for some time.
1 have seen plenty Of men die, and knew his
call had come. Later in the evening he was
restless and gave him little water to moisten
The moon came out before midnight and it was
very bright in the valley. do not know at
what hour saw the poor fellow move. Then
he began picking with his thin fingers at the
miners blanket which covered him, and this is
sure sign that death is not far away. Then
he began to speak in q low, faint voice, yet
quite distinctly enough for me to understand.
1t was the most remarkable communication
ever heard in my life 1t was sort Of soliloquy
speaker supposed himselftO be passing. 1t was
terribly pathetic seeing him lying there, SO near
his end, and hearing him talk as he did. He
was on a ship and it was nearing land. The
shore came in sight, distant and faint. Oh!
how happy he was to see it. He would soon
reach 1t, then would come journey, long but
then"
All of q sudden it flashed across my mind
that Mrs. WIS presentiment was to be fulfilled.
glanced nervOusly at her. She was listening
Intently; her hands were folded and she was
looking into vacancy. There was a rapt ex-
preston on her face. saw she was in an ex-
allied state of mind. What she would say do
could not tell. but fancied that, after long
years of weary waiting, hoping and despairing,
any positive news OF her sons tate could not
but be grateful to her. The sun had sunk low
and its rays made q golden sheen on the water.
The narrator went on.
"And soon he would be at home-at home
once more. Just think OF it! His voice had
grown fainter and his fingers hardly moved.
And then-and then he whispered, IL
shall see His eyes opened for one instant,
aas gu M
the two or three who had formed his party
came to make inquiries. The elder man, Joe
side, and now and then passed his sleeve over
his eyes. We watched a long time. thought
knew when he would go. have seen many
hour between 2 and in the morning, when
our vial powers are at their feeblest; ard waS
right. 1t was just quarter TO when he gave
little sort of sigh and his heart stopped beat
ing; and then old Joe rose and said to me,
.Pard, you may bet your life that the good Lord
never took a whittier man.
"Weli, next day we dug grave for him, some
distance across the valley, in q canyon in the
sangre de Cristo mountains. l had an old
some OF the boys In my party could sing, and
/ told them we ought to have a hymn. One
of the dead mans party spoke up and said:
"'Joe knows the one he used to like so well,
and wuz a-singin' so often.' Say, Joe, yer sing
it yerself.'
tears, and in a voice that might have been very
good once, began TO sing.
Bolt?' can tell you, I've had plenty of
strange experiences; but that one did beat ALL
Why, there wasn't dry eye in the party; and
all of them seasoned frOntiersmen too And
never in my life heard Ben Bolt sung at a
funeral before or since"
J., He stopped for moment; All this time
her and saw her pale as a ghost, and as il she
were going TO faint. In second would have
made motion motto TO- help her buta look in her
had not stirred nor breathed a syllable. Just
then the last rays of the sun had reached Mag
nolia, and every windOw-pane was a blaze Of
light. The narrator spoke again:
81 never knew who the poor fellow was.
wish did; The only possible clue to his iden-
ring on his finger with an inscription inside, sR
W., from his mother"
God, !" said she, "for what you have told me. and
] thank you tor caring tor my poor bow and Civ.
ing him Christian burial am an old woman
and not as strong as was. cannot say more
now, but you must let INT see you again. Come,
Alice, give me your arm. You will excuse nse
gentlemen, for leaving YOU" =,
We made way for her; we could do nothing
else. Miss. H. had gained control OF herself
but was white as a sheet. She supported the
poor lady, and they moved slowly away
had ac9uaintances in the neighborhood of
the scene OF Roberts ending, and could be of
some service. The lovely valley where the In
dams harried him to his death is now as
peaceful as New England, and a busy mining
town has sprung up not far from the grave.
This grave my correspondent, a worthy noun
tainefr, succeeded In finding: ! have letter
| his grammar. ''Its all right" he saws: "tLe
headstone come o. X, and some of the boys
| went out with me and set it up. They didn't
tumble to the flower racket at first go OFF, but
they did mighty quick when 1 told them the
| story" should mention that the expression
| FLOWER racket" relates to a request-cOnveyed
| to me in a sad, little confidential note from
| Miss R-that. if possible, the grave should be
decorated at stated intervals with flowers, at
her expense.
when We was on our way back" the letter
went on, ':5am Ryder come up to me- You re-
member Sam that stood in with US when the
crowd from Fairplay tried to jump the Little
! Florence claim. He let on to me that he
allowed that If there'd been a woman in the
| world that cared for him like that, it would
| have made good man of him. And says he,
| Jest you write to the Colonel (meaning myself
| and tell him IU take that contract, and them
| flowers will be thar, every time !"
Cold Enough for YOue
| AWFUL FATE OF THE NAN WHO ASKED THIS
| QUESTION.
| From the Cincinnati Star.