Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-11-21
.From the Milwaukee Wisconsin.
At THE Sign OF THE BLACK EAGLE.
BY KENRIDGE.

the mountain side, ana SWarm1ng from
the valley below, and from far away be-
You'd the Pinnalee range, to enjoy a
glass of old Silas Baxter's ten-year-old
rye, and to empty many keg of Pilsen-
sea or mayhap from Chicago brewery,
is designated by Silas as ''furrin,' in or
der to distinguish it from the 'home
brew" as he calls the whisky of sole
Kaintuck."
The tavern, that is the Mecca to which
so many thirsty Threats are journeying
is situated on that broad, level belt of
country which separates the taIlest
peak of these silvery, fr-covered noun
tains from the smaller ones that slope
down its western side. Standing at the
door of the Black eagle you have, if
you face northward, an unobstructed
view of the road for many miles; to the
south you can only gaze as lar as the I'M
mense rock which marks the end of this
road and the winding path which leads
to the valley below.
A young girl is standing by the tavern
gate, watching anXiously the forms that
emerge from that turn beside the rock.
At last all the ranchmen, miners, and
stock hands for miles around have taken
their accustomed places at the rough
oak tables that are scattered throughout
the saloon, and with glasses of the
healthful pilsener or the death dealing
rye beside them, are closely watching a
faro layout" or betting loudly and
7recklessly at little game of "draw."
Outside, the darkness comes on apace,
and thesyoung girl, unable any longer to
see the rock, walks slowly In its direc-
ton.
Just before she reaches the turn a
tall, 1.-the figure comes bounding up the
narrow path, and seeing who is SO near
him clasps her in his arms.
30, Joe! My own dear Joe !" she
cries, and lays her head on his shout
der and sobs softly for awhile.
''Dear-dear Helen" he murmurs,
stroking her fair hair with a touch that
is almost loverlike in its tenderness,
and which arouses all kinds of unpleas-
ant speculations in the mind of a person
who is an unseen witness of the meet
ing; chow very long ago it seems since
we've seen each other. You were only
so high when-that happened"
"What happened? o Joe, I've lived
all these years without knowing the
reason of your leaving home"
The young fellow colors angrily.
'WeH, you see," he begins, 81 ran
away
Yes, know, he told me that
"Did he tell you why? ?" he asks al
most fiercely.
The girl shakes her head. They are
sitting together at the base of the rock,
anu she keeps an active watch upon the
tavern door.
81 ran away because [ couldn't stand
his-weI because I couldn't bear his
sneers and scorn for my one fault. You
wonder what that was? II can't tell.
1t was nothing dishonorable-to me. It
was discovery I made, that's ALL
He stops abruptly, the angry light
dies out of his eyes as they rest on the
form beside him. Now tell me about
yourself, Nell. What have you been
doing these last five years? Are you
happy?"
A sudden trembling of the hands that
are closely clasped in his furnishes the
answer for which he hopes.
eyes, I am happy" she answers.
"Dear Joe, YOU will come and live with
me when [ am married to Sam-the
Sam Willoughby you used to think so
much Of, you know; and he has a big
ranch Just beyond the last hill
"Sam.Willoughby? Of course think
lots of him." says Joe enthusiastically,
land / will come and live with you for
awhile, and We'll all be happy ever aft
4er, as the fairy stories say. I've some
matters to settle before [ come back for
good, but / couldn't resist the tempta-
ton of riding over to see you for mo-
ment, and that's the reason / sent old
Ned with that letter. You were sur
prised to hear from me, weren't your"
Il nearly tainted with JOY at the
thought of seeing you so soon, dear Joe.
I've been so lonely. And you're going
off again
I'll have debt to pay in Boxers
vile, and I'm going back 10 Rock Point
for some money that is due me. With
debt, the rest I'll divide with you.
Don't worry, Nell, I'll only be a day or
two"
"And-who-do you owe the debt to,
Joe ?'' she asks timidly.
ITO my father. He was SO angry
about that, you know, he tainted me
with being burden, said I'd cost him
50 much Very well, | answered, 'I'll
pay it back some day Then l ran
away That was five years ago. Now
here | am with gold to pay the debt.
Gold Do you hear, Nell? And plenty
of it, too -
He raises his voice joyfully, and pair
of sharp ears not SO very tar away catch
the name of that magic metal.
"I'm so glad you are rich, Joe," says
the girl YEARLY, "for [ am tired of
poverty, though we should not be poor.
Every man Tor miles around comes
regularly to the Black Eagle, and drink
ing costs something" she adds naively.
great sob rises in the young mans
throat at these pathetic words, but he
chokes it down, and comforts her in his
own gentle way.
A couple of miners came swearing out
of the tavern, and alter quarreling at
the gate finally 60 arm in arm in most
unsteady manner up the north road.
You'd better 60 now, Joe," she says,
afraid that the next departure will be
in their direction.
Joe is of this opinion also. With one
more pressure of his big, strong arms
about Der he goes swiftly down the
narrow path to the valley below, where