The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-04-17
RMONT JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, APRIL H. 1889


from as far out as the Yellowhammer
and Spade ranches were in attendance.
Jack Bates, with bouquet clutched
in his hand, occupied prominent po-
sition and applauded every part of the
performance with impartial Vigor.
The opera had been going on for
some time VIXEN the yellow-h haired tenor
appeared. He came upon the stage
with unsteady, stumbling steps. His
yellow hair was tossed about and his
face was drawn and palid. When he
began to sing the audience regarded
him with marked disfavor. He was in
toXcated, they thought His tones
were inharmonlous and often almost
harsh and broken by choking catches,
now and then, as if the singer had
smothered a sob in his throat. Then,
as his voice scared up, up, in a tri-
umphant burst of music, it broke in a
discordant, croak-like sound, that COM
pletely destroyed the melody.
The cowboys began to hiss, and Jack
Bates expressed his disfavor in an au-
dible growl. The singer did not heed
them, but continued his discordant and
often half-inaudibe song, as if it had
been the most delightful melody in the
world. The cowboys yelled their dis
approval at the top of their voices, and
one or two fired off their pistols by
way of protest.
The tenor ceased, and one of the
ladies began a song that was like the
sweet music of lark's liquid notes. A
wild shout of applause arose from the
Il
cast his bouquet upon the stage.
The yellow-haired man leaned YEARLY
against one of the supports of the i'm
promptu scenery. Then, as his turn
came again, he broke into the lady's
happy song with his doleful, tuneless
croak. The cowboys gave howl of
disgust and wrath, and half dozen of
them started toward the stage, as if to
wreak summary vengeance upon the
miserable singer.
He ceased just as they reached the
stage. Bending forward, he seized the
bouquet that Jack Bates had thrown to
the lady, and, without word, the yell
low-hared man disappeared from the
view of the audience. They heard the
door of the back entrance slam behind
him. Jack Bates, with a shout of wrath,
dashed down the aisle and out into the
darkness, followed by the half-dozen
irate cowboys and few others.
A light was shining from the vine
clad window in the " L of the hotel
when the angry little crowd reached it.
The cowboys were for rushing into the
hotel and severely drubbing the Offend
ing singer, but Jack Bates restrained
them.
Hold on" he said. Let's see what
the towards a-doin' first"
Likes not he's a-hidin' under the
bed" growled one.
Jack Bates gazed through the inter-
laced vines and then stepped back.
What's he up TOP" asked one.
Look fer yerselfl Jack whispered.
One by one they peered in through
the morning glory vines, and each drew
back without word. Within the room
the yellow haired man was kneeling
beside the bed, with his face buried in
his hands. His slight frame was shak-
ing with sobs.
The little, pinched face of the baby
was white now, and the painful gasp
ing for breath had ceased. The baby
had died alone, while the father was
away. The little hands were folded
across the small bosom, and upon them
lay Jack Bates bouquet.
No sound came from the little mob
outside except once, when the iingles
on a cowboys spur clanked against a
fellow, and there was a sound from
Jack Bates like an Unsurpassed sob.
a dark figure came among them and
whispered to the crowd to follow him.
1t was the man who had called the
yellow-haired tenor to the performance.
Boys he said, simply, :" his wife
died last month, leaving him alone in
the world, except for the baby. Last
week the child was stricken with fever
and has grown worse ever since.
baby been out of his arms, for the last
few days and nights, and all that time
he has barely closed his eyes for an in
slant in sleep. He has missed his
meals to-day for fear his absence would
disturb the baby. The baby's dead
now. That's all, boys
a few moments later an awkward
squad, consisting of Jack Bates and
the cowboys, entered the room where
the yellow-haired man knelt by the
dead baby. Their hats were off and
their barred heads were bowed. The
man who had spoken outside was with
them.
Paul" he said, "here are some
friends who wish to speak to you"
The yellow-haired man rose to his
feet and confronted them without a
word. Jack Bates cleared his throat
and began awkwardly:
Pardner," said he, "yere's a leetle
bundle we found in the road, Just now.
Hit belongs to you an the dead baby
They turned and filed out into the
darkness.
The tenor's comrade opened the little
package that Jack Bates had placed on
the bed. When the old, soiled hand
kerchief was united there was revealed
a little heap of money-gold, silver and
notes to goodly amount-the gift of
Jack Bates and the cowboys Tom p.
Morgan, in Homestead.
BUCKIIN'S ARNICA SALVE,-The