Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-19

published By arrangement with them.l
It had been raining in the valley OF the
Sacramento. The North Fork had over
flowed its banks and Rattlesnake creek was
impossible. The few powders that had
marked the summer ford at Simpsons Cross
ing were obliterated by vast sheet Of water
stretching to the foothills. The up stage was
stopped at Changers; the last mail had been
abandoned in the tules, the rider swimming
for his life EAn area remarked The Sierra
Avalanche, with pensive local pride, -as
large as the state Of Massachusetts, IS now
under water
Nor was the weather any better in the foot
hills. The mud lay deep on the mountain
road; wagons that neither physical force nor
moral objurgation could move from the evil
ways into which they had fallen encountered
the track, and the way to Simpsons Bar was
indicated by broken down teams and hard
swearing. And farther on, cut of and mac
csssible, rained upon and bedraggled, sInitten
by, igh winds and threatened by high water,
Simpsons Bar, on the eve Of Christmas day,
1852, chung like swallows nest to the rocky
entablature and splintered capitals Of Table
mountain, and shook in the blast.
As night shut down on the settlement
few lights cleaned through the mist from the
windows Of cabins on either side Of the high
way now crossed and quilted by lawless
streams and swept by marauding winds.
Happily most Of the population were gath
sred e ThompSon's store, clustered around
red hot stove, at which they silently spat In
some accepted sense Of social communion
that, perhaps, rendered conversation unnec-
esSary Indeed, most methods of diversion
had long since been exhausted at Simpsons
Bar, high water had suspended the regular
occupations on gulch and on river. and con-
seouent lack Of money and whisky bad taken
the rest from Iaost illegitimate recreation
Even Mr. Hamlin was fain TO leave tie bar
with $50 in his pOCket-the only AInoGnt
actually realized OF the large sums Won %
him in the successful exercise Of DIS arhuons
profession. Ell was asked be remarked
somewhat later. "ef was asked TO pint out
a purity little village where u retired sport n
didn't care for money could exercise hlSSeh'
FREQUENT and lively. I'd say Simpsons Bar;
but for q young man with large family de-
pending on bis exertiOnS, it don't pay
As Mr BamliDs family consisted
mainly Of female adults. this remark
is quoted rather 10 show the breadth al
his humor than the exact extent Of his re-
sponsibibty.
Howbeit, the unconscious objects Of this
satire sat that evening in the listless apathy
begotten Of idleneSs and lack OF excitement.
Even the sudden SplaSbing Of boots beforethe
door did not arouse them. Dick Bullen alone
paused in the act Of scraplnG out his pipe,
and lifted his bead, but 10 ono Of the group
indicated any interest m, or recognition Of,
the man who entered.
It vas figure familiar enough to the rom.
pany, and known in Simpsons Bar as The
Old Man \ man OF perhaps so years;
grizzled and srant Of hair, but still fresh and
youthful Of complexion. A face fun OF ready.
but not very powerful sympathy, with
chameleon like aptitude for taking on the
shade and color Of contiguous moods and feel
ings. lie had evidently just left some hilari.
Gus companions. and dbl not at first notice
the gravity of the group, but slapped the
shoulder ot tina nearest man jocularly, and
threw himself into a vacant chair.
"Jesr heard tue best thing out, boys! Ye
know Smiley, over yar-Jim Smiley-fun-
niesS man IN the Bare Well, Jim was jest
telling the richest yarn about
~Smiley's a - fool, 4" interrupted a gloomy
voice.
"A particular - skunk added another
In sepulchral accents
AsilencS followed these positive statements.
The Old Man glanced quickly around the
group. Then his face slowly changed.
That's So" lie said reflectively. after pause,
@c-rttngly sort OF skunk and suthin Of a
fool In course" He was silent for n mo-
ment as in painful contemplation Of the I'M
savorlneeS and folly Of the unpopular Smiley
"Dismal weather, amt itl7 he added, now
fully embarked on the current of prevailing
sentiment. Mighty rough papers on the
boys, and no show for money this season.
And tO-mOrrow's Christmas
There was movement among the men at
this announcement, but whether Of Satisfac-
ton or disgust was not plain. Yes con-
tinued the Old Man in the lugubrious tone
he had, within the last few moments, I'M
consciously adopted-ayes, Christmas, and
to-nights Christmas eve. We see, boys,
kinder thought-that is, | sorter had an idee,
jest paSSin' like, you know-that may be ye'd
all like TO come over to my house tonight
and have a sort Of tear round. But | SUD-
pose, now, you wouldn'tl Don't feel like it,
maybei' he added with anxious sympathy,
peering into the faces OF his companions
~Well, / don't know responded Tom
Flynn with some cheerfulneSs. "Pr'aps we
may. But bow about your wife, Old Mani
What does she say to itf'
The Old Man hesitated. His ooniugal ex-
psrisnce had not been happy one, and the
fact was known to Simpsons Bar His first
wife, a delicate, pretty little woman, had
| suffered keenly and secretly from the Jealous
| suspicious Of her husband, until one day he
invited the whole Bar to his house to expose
her inhdelity. On arriving, the party found
the shy, petite creature quietly engaged in
her household duties, and retired abashed
and discounted But the sensitive wo-
man did not easily recover from the
extraordinary shock Of this outrage.
II was with difficulty she regained her
| equanirnity sufficiently to release her lover
from the closet in which he was concealed
and escape with him. She left boy Of s
years to comfort her bereaved husband. The
! Old Mans present wife had been his cook.
She was large, loyal and aggressive.
Before no could reply, Joe Dimmick sug-
gested with great directneSs that it was the
@old Mans house." and that, invoking the
divine power, il the case were his own, he
would invite whom he pleased, even il in so
doing he imperiled his salvation. The DOW
srs Of evil, he further remarked. should con-
tsnd against him vainly. All this delivered
With terseness and yigor lost in this neceS-