Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-05-02
FOR LOISY AN THE BOY.

He came up the mountain road at
nightfall, urging his lean mustang for
ward YEARLY, and coughing now and
then heavy, hollow cough, that told
its own story.
There were only two houses on the
mesa, stretching shaggy and somber
with greasewood from the base of the
mountains to the valley below. Two
unpainted red wood dwellings, with
their clumls of trailing pepper trees and
tattered bananas, mere specks of civili-
zltion against stern background Of
mountain side. The traveller halted be-
fore one of them, bowling awkwardly as
the master of the house came out
"NIr. Brandt, reckon"
Joel Brandt looked keenly into the
strangers face. Not bad face cer-
tainly: salIow and drawn with suffering,
one of those hop, lessly pathetic faces,
barely saved from the grotesque by pair
of dull. wistful eyes.
Not that Joel brandt saw anything
either grotesque or pathetic about the
man.
"Another sickly looking stranger out
side, Barbara, wants to try the air up
here Can you keep him? Or may be
the FoX's III give III BERTH"
Mrs. Brandt shook her head in wifely
meditation.
No. Mrs Fox can't, that's certain.
She has an asthma and two bronchitises
there now. What's the matter with him,
Joel?"
The strangers harsh, resonant cough
answered.
Keep him? To be sure. You might
know Id keep him, Joel; the night air
s no place for a man with cough like
that. Bring him into the kitchen!'!
The new conner spread his bony hands
over Mrs. Brandt's CHEEKY fire, and the
soft, dull eyes followed her movements
wistfulIy.
"The fire feels kind O honey, ma am;
Californy amt much of place for fires,
it pears"
"Been long on the coast stranger?"
Joel squared himself interrogatively.
Bout week. I'm from Indianny.
Brice S my name-Posey Brice the boys
N the glass mill called me- was blowed
up In glass mil oncet.
The speaker turned to show an ugly
scar on his neck.
"Didn't know where l wuz fur six
weeks-thought hadn't lit When I
come to there wuz Loisy potterin' over
me; but amt been rugged sence"
"Married?"
The mans answer broke through the
patient LONELINESS of his face at once.
He fumbled in his pocket silently,
like one who has no common disclosure
to make.
"What dye think O them, stranger?"
Joel took the little, rusty black case
in his hands reverently. A woman's face
not grand nor fair even-some bits of
tawdry fnery - making its plainness
plainer-and beside it a round eyed boy
pumped into high chair, with two
little feet sticking straight and sturdily
out in Joel's face.
Mrs Brandt looked over her hus-
bands shoulder with kindly curiosity.
"The boy favors you amazingly about
the mouth; but he's got his mothers
eyes, and they're sharp, knowin' eyes,
WV. A1C q ~ VIC l IL DO OOuhds
"Yours, 1 reckon"
"Yes, that's Loisy an the boy"-fght-
ing the conscious pride in his voice like
one who tries to wear his honors
meekly.
He took the we'll worn case again,
gazing into the two faces an instant with
helplese yearning, and returned it to
its place. The way he handled it was
caress, fastening the lite brass hook
with scrupulous care.
"Tll be sendin' fur 'em when I git
somewhat red O this pesterin' cough"
A very quiet, unobtrusive guest Mrs
Brant found the man Brice; talking
little save in Q sudden gush of conf
dence, and always Of his wife and child;
choosing quiet corner of the kitchen
in the chill California nights, where he
watched his hostess deft movements
with wistful admiration.
"Try huntin', Brice; the doctors say
it's healthy"
And Brice tried hunting as Joel ad
vised. Taking the gun from its crotch