Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-19


this kind is the recognized expression OF
a genuine good will, accompanied his eX-
cuses with need of gratitude, Then the
talk became somewhat general, ana the
hardy fellows spoke of lost trails. and
snow slides and fights with Indians-all
the necessary and accepted concomitants
of their hard and stirring lives-as the
average dwellers in town talk of the little
variations in their hum-drum existence.
Say, joe" at last said the new conner,
perhaps you can help me. Pm pretty
busy down at Denver, but I've peen put
ting in all the time | could spare on still
hunt after an old fellow that think must
have come out here from the States some
time ago. He'd got at loggerheads with
things about him, and one day he pulled
up stakes and went away-no fellow knew
where. For some particular reason,' he
smiled in a conscious way, I've been anX-
ious to find him. | have hunted high and
low, but up to this month couldn't get
on his trail. About two weeks ago, how
ever, struck drummer in Denver who
saw an old chap up here that seemed like
him. You see, he's sure to have changed
his name aud not to call himself by his
real one, which is Ephraim Wilson, and
"Ephraim," interrupted Joe, who had
listened with much interest, why, the
short for Ephraim is Eph, an, jest ez
sure ez yer be a-settin' thar, ! believe
you've struck the old cuss, livin' jest like
a fust-class old hermit, up in Hungry
Gulch. Thar amt one of the boys ez ever
knowed his real name, but what every
blamed one of 'em calls him is Uncle
Eph.' They've been helpn' him when
they got a chance-which amt often, yer
know cause he's eZ proud ez Caesar an
don't let on when he's pretty nigh busted.
He jes keeps to himself up in his little
one boss Goblin, an goes totterin' about
t,,,i IN, 1Irt ~
jest as if he hedn't no heart in the thing"
Come along with me, if you've nothing
better to do" said the new conner; and
they babe the group good night.
ITS curious, joe" continued Williams,
as they walked toward the little inn,
that you should have remembered the
youngster that was with me on the Hill
lerton trail that day for a good deal has
come out of that meeting with him, The
fact is, he is the son of old Ephraim Viii
son, and he has siSter-well, | can talk
to Il friend like you about her. She's as
pretty little blue-eyed creature rs you'd
meet in summers day; and when | first
saw her II was all up with me, as sure's
I'm living man. You see, Mr. Wilson
lived in New Hampshire and was pretty
well fixed, having Il kind of bank and
doing good business He was Il real
proud, high-spirited chap, but Il good, low
ing father to his motherless children. one
day his partner Disappeared taking pile
of money with him, and it broke the old
man all up He managed to pay every
thing the bank owed, and no right-minded
person really thought he was the least to
blame. Some mean CuSS, however, START
ed story about him, and he heard it, and
it was what you might call the last straw !;
for it worked on his mind until he was
half crazy; and one day he broke out and
said he would not live any longer in the
town. He put his children under the care
of his sister and went away, saying he
would come back when he could set him
self right. His friends did their best to
stop him, but ne told them he would die
or 20 mad if he stayed. He'd not been
gone very long time, before "A letter came
to the children from the partner who had
run away. 1t seems he had been specu-
lating and got in IA bad way and thought
there was nothing for him but to run.
He was taken ill in San Francisco and
had a close call for his life; and he had
time to think over his ways and what he'd
done. Well, to make Il long story short,
he'd struck ii rich off there, and he sent
them all he'd carried off, and "A document
clearing the old mans name beyond
whisper. OF course the boy and his sister
were wild to find their father, and moth
ing would satisfy the girl, but to start out
and look for him. They managed to get
some trace of his going West, and they
wherever they went, and they've been
taken mighty good care of, but they only
think of one thing night and day, and
that's to find the old gentleman. The boy
had got what he thought a clue, which
took him to Hillerton that time met
him, but it didn't come to anything.
went to Denver with him, and he intro
duced me to his sister and then''-a blush
came to his brown cheek-'ever since that
time I've been Just as anxious as they to
find their father. To tell you the truth,
I've just little hope that if should come
across him alive and well, Susie-that's
her name, bless her little heart-would
getting ahead, and I'd be the happiest
man in the world if | could win such a
prize rs that. DO you know, she and her
brother are not far off. They're down in
ranch in the valley, and I'd like to have
you see them in the morning. I'll tell you
what, you drive down with me after
breakfast, and they'll be delighted to
meet you"
"Wa'all, pard," replied Joe, 81 amt
much of "A lady's man, but will go with
yer ez sure ez you're alive. I'd like to
see the little gal, an eff she'll give me
some p'ints about her dad kin tell her in
two shakes ef he is Uncle Eph, or eff he
amt
That's capital idea" said William.
somehow feel 1t in my bones that It's
he, and tibet we're going to be successful,
and tibet I'll be the happlest man this side
of the range"
"Im with yer, pard, thar" said Joe,
IAN what's more, allow tibet eff yer strike
a streak of good luck, it would sort o. lap
over on the camp, an you bet we need it
bad enough. Yer see, lucks the queerest
thing in the world. When yer think it's
come to stay, it'll desart yer quicker'n a
wink; an when ye're pretty nigh played
out, some little thing'll bring it right
back. When yer come in that saloon to-
night with yer jolly face, among all them
fellers that's been a-waitin' an a-hopin'
till they hedn't no heart left, it come to
me straight tibet suthin' good WIZ a-goin'
to happen--an' now yer've told me tibet
thar's IA pretty little gal a-comn' in among
the busted crowd in this yere camp-why,
pard, Pm sartain of it,"
The rays of the next mornings sun,
cleaning over the smooth eastern hills,
had torn the vail Of shadow from the low
est of the western peaks, when an old
man pushed open the clumsy creaking
door of log cabin and, with hating steps,
crossed the threshold. 1t should here be
said that no one has known the full Joy of
living until he has done just this simple
tlinQ-ODpnpl the door of 81 Colorn6o