Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-02-21

the clearing grew steadily larger. With
all her loveliness, Nature failed to WOO
him. What was the exquisite languor
Of those days to him but so many hours
Of patient waiting. The dull. hungry
eyes saw nothing of the lavish beauty
around them, cooking through il all
with restless yearning 20 where an
emigrant train. with its dust. and dirt
and noisome breath crawled over miles
OF alkaii. or hung from dizzy heights
@To.morrow's the third, neighbor.
reckon she'll he long now direckly.
THAT'S fact; what rattler time is
The days had not been long TO joel
well go in tomorrow, aud il they
don't come you can stay and watch the
trains awhile. She won't know You,
Brice, you've picked mp amazingly.
Il think likely Loiseyll know me il
she comes
But she did not come. Joel returned
the following night alone. having left
Brice at cheap lodgings near the station.
Numberless passers by must have
noticed the patient watcher at the in-
coming trains. the homely pathos of his
face deepening day by day. The
dull eyes growing shade duller, and
the awkward form trifle more stopped
with each succeeding disappoint-
ment 1t was two weeks before he re-
appeared on the mesa. walking wearily
like q man under load.
II reckon there's something wrong,
ma'am. come out TO see ef yer man
'ud write me letter ] hadn't been
long In Plattsville. but worked a spell
for a man named Yarnell: like enough
he'd look it up little. / amt much at
writin', an I'd want it all writ out care
ful like, You know" The mans voice
had the old. uncomplaining monotony.
Joel wrote the letter at once. making
the most minute inquiries regarding Mrs
Brice, and giving every possible direc-
tion concerning her residence. Then
Brice fell back into the old groove,
working feyerishly, in spite of Mira
Brandts kindly warnings.
Il can't stop. ma'am; the settin'
round 'ud kill me.
The answer came at last. business
like epistle, addressed TO Joel. Mrs.
Brice had left Plattsvlle about the time
designed Several OF her neighbors re-
membered that stranger. "A well dressed
man. had been at the house for nearly q
week before her departure, and the two
had gone away together. taking the
western train. The writer regretted
his inability TO give further information,
and closed with kindly inquiries con-
cerning his former employees health
and earnest commendation of him to
Mr.. Brandt.
Joel read the letter aloud. something
--some sturdy uprightness of his own,
no doubt-blinding him to its terrible
significance.
will you read it agin. neighbor, for
Pm not over quick. you know.
The mans voice was revelation full
of an unutterable hurt. like the cry OF
some dumb wounded thing.
And Joel read il again, choking with
indignation now at every word.
%Thank ye, neigllhor. I'll trouble you
to write a line tlinnkin' him; that's all. /"
He got up heavily. staggering little
as he crossed the floor, aud went out
into the yellow sunlight There was
the long, sun kissed slope, the huge pile
its clamLering vines The humming Of
bees in the sage went on drowsily. Life,
infinitely slirunkem, was life still. A
more cultured grief might have swooned
or cried out This man knew no such
refuge; even the poor relief of indigna-
tion was denied him. None Of the thou
sand wild impulses that come to men
smitten like him fitted across his
clouded brain. lie only knew to take
up his burden dunbly. and go on. II
he had been wiser could he have known
more?
No one spoke of the blow that had
fallen upon him. Tie sympathy that
met him came in the warmer clasp Of
hard hands and the softening OF rough
voices, none the worse certainly for its
quietnesa
Alone with her husband. however,
good Mrs. Brandt's wrath bubbled in
cessantly.
@Ifs a crying. burning, blistering
shame. Joel. that's what it isl / sup
pose it's the Lords doings, but can't
see through it.
"If the Lords up 10 that kind o. busi-
ncn1s AOll HEE ltO buCA u30
fur the devil, +" was the dry response.
Joel's religion WAS as free from any
theological timidity as a childs, and
quite as simple.
These plain honest folk never dreamed
Of intruding upon their Beighbor's grief
with poor suggestions Of requital.
Away in the city across the mountains
men babbled of remedies at law. But
this mans hurt Was beyond the iurfsdic-
tion of any court Day by day the
hollo~ cough grew more frequent, and
the awkward step slower. Nobody
asked him to quit his work now. Even
Mrs. Brandt sllrank from the patient
misery Of his face when lille. He cams
into her kitchen one evening, choosing
the old quiet corner, and following her
with his eyes silently.
as there anything lackin', BricefH
The woman came and stood beside him,
the great wave of pity in her heart WELL
ing up to her voice and eyes.
-Nothin', ma'am, thank ye I've
been tliinkin', he went on. speaking
more rapidly than was his wont, @an'
dunno. You've knowed Nv people git
tim wrong in their minds, s'pose. They
wuz mostly smart. KNOWN chaps,
wuzn't theys" The low, Inonotonous
voice growing almost sharp with eager