The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-22
J0HNSON'S Old WOMAN"
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyright. 1891. BY Bret HartsJ


ths grassy SLOPE where the overflow from
.one smaller watercourse above had worn a
number OF diverging gullies. so like the trail
"a to be undistinguishsbl from It Unable to
dstermiae which was tho right one. threw
,be reins over the mules neck and resolved to
tn,st to that superior animals sagacity. OF
witch I had heard so much. But had not
taken into account tho equally well-known
vsnknesses OF sex and species. and Chu Chu
had already shown uncomfortable signs OF
vanting her own way. Without a moments
hesitation. feeling the relaxed bride. she lay
down and rolled over.
In this perplexity the sound OF horses hoofs
ringing out OF tho rocky cafIon beyond was .
relief, even II momentarily embarrassing. An
instant afterward horse and rider appeared
gathering round the hill on what was evidently
the lost trail. and pulled up as succeeded in
forcing Chu Chu to her legs again.
IFS that the trail from Sonora 2" asked.
"Yos:" but with critical glance at the
mule Il reckon you amt going thar to-night."
"why notf"
.rts q matter Of eighteen miles. and most Of
Il blind trail through the woods after you
take the valley"
is It worse than thisi :"
What's the matter with this trail2 Ye amt
expecting u I1Co COukb0 VI - ollou TOou ONeE
the foot hills. are YEP
mary"
"No."
THANK you Good night"
He had already passed on. when he halted
again and turned in his saddle. Look yer.
Just spell over yon cafIon yen find a patch O.
buckeyes: turn to the right and yell see .
trail. That'l! take ye to shanty. You ask II
It's Johnson's."
who's Jofnsonf"
Lam You amt lookin' for Vanderbilt or
God Almighty up here. are your Well then-
ycu bark to me-will you! You say to my old
woman to give you supper and o shakedown
somewhar tonight. Say sent you. Solong."
He was gone before could accept or decline.
Al extraordinary noise proceeded from Chu
thu. not unlike suppressed chuckle I
Locked sharply at her; she coughed affectedly.
and. with her head and neck stretched to their
greatest length. appeared to contemplate her
neat little of fore shoe with admirinS abstrac-
ton. But as soon as had mounted she set of
abruptly. crossed the rocky Gallon. apparently
sighted the patch Of buckeyes Of her own
volitlon and without the slightest hesitation
found the trail to the right. and in half an hour
htood 00IOr0 the 6n8nCy -
It was log cabin with an additional LEAN
to- OF tho same material. rooted with bark.
and on the other, side q larger and more am
bilious extension" built Of rough. unplaned.
and implanted redwood boards. lightly shin
gled. The lean. to" was evidently used as
kitchen. and the central cabin as q living
room. The barking Of dog as approached
called four children Of different sizes to the,
opau door. whero already an enterprising baby
was fsebly esssying 70 crawl over bar Of
WOODLAND across the threshold to restrain It
~ Is this Johnson's house 2"
Ny remark wss really addressed to the ED
cit. . boy apparently 8 or 10. but felt that my
attention was unduly fascinated by the baby.
who at that moment had toppled over the bar
and was calmly eyiug mo upside down. while
silently and heroically sufiocatinG In its pettl-
coats. The boy disappeared without replying,
but presently returned with q taller girl Of II
OILS. Twas struck with the way that as she
reached the door. she passed her hands rap
idlS over the heads Of the others as II counting
them. picked up the baby. reversed 1t. shook
ont It's clothes. ana returned 1t to tho inside
without even looking att The act was evil
IDENTIFY automatic and hsbitual.
repeated my question timidly.
Yes. it was Johnson's. but he had juseEone
to Kings Mills. I replied hurriedly that
knawit-thst had met him beyond the CATION
As had lost my way and couldn't get to
sonora tonight. he had been good enough to
say.thst might stay there until morning. My
voice was slightly raised for the benefit OF Mr..
Iohnson's old woman" who. I had NO doubt.
was Inspecting me furtively from some corner.
The girl drew the children away. except the
hoy: To him she said simply. "Show the
stranger whar to stake out his mule. Dolphus."
and disappeared in the extension" without
another word. l followed my little guido. who
Was. perhaps moro actively curious. but
eid,lly unresponsivs. To my various ques-
tlons he simply returned smile OF exas-
peratihg vacuity But he never took his eager
eyes from me- and was satisfied that not
actall Of my appearance escaped him. Lead
Ing the way bohind the house to little wood.
whose only clearing" had been Of
lected BY decay or storm. he stood
silently apart. while I picketed Gnu Chu.
neither Offering to assist me nor oppos-
Ing any interruption to my survey OF the
locality There was no trace OF human cultl-
mtlon In the surroundings OF the cabin: the
wilderness still trod sharply on the heels OF
inc pioneers fresh footprints. and even seemed
10 obliterate ther For few yards around
Inc actual dwelling there was an unsavory
'thse OF clvlIiZation In tho shape OF cAst-on
clothes. empty bottles. and tin cans. and the
adjacent thorn and elder bushes blossomed
unwholesomely with bits OF torn white paper
ana bleaching dishcloths. This hldeous cir
Go never widened: nature always appeared to
Toll back the intruding debris: no bird nor
oeast carried It away: no animal ever forced
tae upceanly barrier: civilization remained
cnmly trenched In it's own exuvia- The old
terrifying girdle Of FIRE around the hunters
camp was not more deterring to curious Jerd
"alurd than the coarse and accidental outwork.
When regainsd the cabin found It empty.
,os doors OF the lean.to and extension closed.
put there was a stool set before rude table.
upon which smoked q tin cup Of coffee. q tin
alsh OF hot salerstus biscuit, and plate OF
lried beet There was something odd and de-
pressing In this silent exclusion OF my pres
ehce' Had Johnson's old woman" from some
oark post OF observation taken dislike to my
appearance. or was this churlish withdrawal
regularity OF sierran hospitality Or was
MRS johnson young and protty. and hid
zen under the Restricting ban OF John
sons jealousy. or was she u deformed
cripple. or even bed-ridden croneP From