Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-11

''Ihe two names arc so much alilEd
that it is no wonder | misunderstood
you. Yet might have known that il
was not Mart Thompson. He would
never do anything wrong, even the least
little thing, and 1 was foolish to think
you could have meant him.
The men exchanged glance, and the
one who had spoken last spoke again.
"Do you know MARI Thompson" he
asked.
do know himY' she repeated, while
proud, happy smile wreathcd her thin
features. AYE, raised him from 0
baby and | kept him with me until he
was almost a man grown He Is my
graudson, and his mother and father
died when no was only year old, so
took him and raised him"
The good old lady, glad Of an opportu
nifty 10 speak Of "her boy" continued in
her childish simplicity to nnrrate his
history.
"Whon he was almost man." She
said. "he went away from home, and
after awhile he married, His wife was
not strong, and in a year or 80 aho died.
leaving a child. this little girl here, and
took her to raise, as had taken him.
"Then be became restless, and when
so many were coming 10 California he
came too. That was five years ago. J
got few letters from him the first year.
but after that no quit writing. sap
pose he has been very busy and hasn't
hud time 10 write, and then no may
have forgotten about It. He was Away,
little forgetful about such things. and
then he was little wild.
"Ho wasn't OWL disposed, though
she hastened to add, land no never done
anything rcnl bad He was just littld
wild, like Young men often are, yon
know, but he never meant any harm b.
Il. lie was good aud kind, only some
times no was u little thoughtloss.n
1t was really pitiful 70 nUto how tho
honest simple old Houl excused and
sought to wipe awly tho faults Of "hei
boy Her tone was 80 npologotic. and
her manner 30 chlllige aud innocent
that hoart Of stone must have been
touched by it. 1t wn8 plain that fho
saw cher boys faults and realized tho
cxtout Of thcm, olso she would not have
iakcu such pains 10 excuse and shield
them, yet she did not admit TO her6cll
that she saw and understood nnylhiua
Of the kind. For his snke she denied
and disputed the evidence Of her own
sensea.
For four years, she continued in hei
simple way, 81 have had no letter from
Mart, and no ono day concluded 10 take
bis child and 20 in search Of him. You
SEQ, | didn't know but he might be sick
or in trouble or something, and felt ne
though / ought to 20 and aUe.
when we camo to California and
went 70 the place whore he was when
we heard from him last be WINS gone.
and nobody there knew anything about
him. | was little discouraged, because
California Is largo place and didn't
know where to go in search Of my boy.
! didn't have much money and we
couldn't 20 very far but Thought ! 1
could go rs Tar as my money and |
strength would permit
"But God helped me, and before my |
little money was all gone he directed me
to the post down there where the Btage
started. ! heard Of Mart down thore,
aud they told me ho was up in tho noun.
taius somewhere near the Poverty Flat |
mines, 80 now shall soon find him.
There was q short silence, after which
the old Indy suddenly said,
81 never thought 10 asl you, but ]
expect maybe you two gentlemen 1.-Two |
at Poverty Flat. Isn't It 8oy'
Eyes, ma'am," ono OF them replied
bositaangly,
"ThcQ You know Martyr she cried
with oagorncss
Tbs two Iuen exchanged a quick
glance, moved little in their seats and
appeared greatly embarrassed, hut nci
ther Of thom spoke The old lads
thought they had not heard her and she
repeated hnr question.
"Ic3, mGam," slid one, seeing that
an answer must DO given, yet speaking
win great reluctance; II know Mari
Thompson, or, moro correctly speaking,
| know Of him"
DO your tho old lady cried, smils
OF happy anticipation lighting mp her
features. 81 am so glad, because then
you can tell mo about him. Is no at
tho mines now, do you think"
"Why-no, ma'ami / don't think hs
Is just now. You see," tho man won't
on hesitatingly, "ho don't Just stop nj
the mines, He's out in tho mountains
most generally
ia hol What does he do out in tho
mountainsl is he miping7n
Tho men exchanged another glance.
appeared very restless and exceedingly
disturbed, and remained silent. The old
lady waited q moment, then again said
Ia little louder tone:
what does Mart do in tho noun
AinE7
"Why--l-you sec" began tho minu
in arecslehs way, but he got no further.
At that instant thcro was a firing of
pistols, and tho old coach. giving a
luroh, came to halt, A momont lntei
tho door was thrown open and a masked
face looked in.
Now step out here you folks inside.
q grnif, unnatural voice commanded,
"and Wen proceed to unload YOU Of any
burdens you may happen to have in tho
shape OF money or valuables. Hero.
YOU he continued 10 tho miners. "you
needn't be fumbling for your shooters,
Tor we've got you covered, and any
Hnhrtnesa on Your part will only co,,,,,si I