The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-12-09
Here the billows ceased tossing, and

more Inhabited country, TINS same poor
| little ranch would have been 10 him but
a simple version Of poverty, pitiful, but
all told; but here in the desert, where
| the aid which does not come from self
must come from God-in a solitude so
| infinite this seemed inadequate--to him
such self-imposed Punishment suggested
rather than said, and left the mind CROP
ing.
His horse stopped to drink the cool
water which crept out from under a
blanket OF sand, where, for few yards.
trap.dike crossed the canyon and
forced the aqua perdida to the surface.
The ranch was in view, with Tom stand
ing barefooted in the trail leading from
il to the water.
"Glad you've come. doctor Bits
mighty loco in his talk to-day. Pears
something seems to be bothering him in
life has been streaky-like-full o black
and white, like the wood agate in the
Mogalons. took my boots and spurs
of, Tom continued, looking apologeti-
cally at his bare feet. "Bill mistook the
spur Jingle for the cow-bell on the range,
cause he wanted me to saddle Monte I;
said the storm was on in the divide, and
the cattle was a-drifting."
'It's the fever; delirium accompanies
it, " said the doctor, as they entered the
shack.
Meron was lying on Il rough couch OF
quilts thrown over few blankets and
hides, supported by cot OF boards.
The room was hideously hot, the roof
being too thin, and the furnace breath
from the desert wandered through the
half thatchcd walls Of OcdtodS
The surgeon walked 10 the door and
looked wcarily across the brown waste.
"Morrsy should be here tonight" he
muttered
He was thinking OF ice. Meron's
pulse was an octave too high. The fever
was rising Already he was tossing on
the unchartcd tides Of delirium, that
mysterious sea where the landmarks of
life appear for moment, and then sink
and are forgotten. lie no longer heard
the tinkle OF the cattle-bell in the pines
up the canyon the storm-day had passed
on the dry divide where his partner had
been caught in clowdburst and swept
away. lie was back in the pleasant
East now, unacquainted with the desert,
and the time was early summer. He
spoke OF woman in his rawlings now;
but OF her | cannot say. The story be-
longs to Tom and the surgeon, and they
never told it,
But this / do know, that after the de-
lirium the surgeon went oitener To Rancho
Bonita, and that Tom drank heavily OF
ranch coffee and watched day aud night
nt h, al Ia 81 lV
during the surgeons visits.
Days passed on--supcrheated change
less days, where your chronology col
lapsed aud faculties tainted.
But they won the fever battle in the
face of the desert The doctor said it
was nuwsng, while Tom thought it was
the occult knowledge of II doctor who
could wear captains uniform.
One evening, when Meron was con
valosccnt, he rode over with Tom to the
garrison. They met the surgeon at the
traders.
"Doctor,' said Mcron, "Tom tells me
you are ordered East.
"Yes; start for Boston tomorrow,
and | wish | could take you with me,
Mcron it would do you good"
II never go East" said Meron, sim
ply. looking at the surgeon with that far,
steady gaze which sees nothing.
The surgeon caught the glance, and
added: "You will have Tom with YOU
now, supposcW
81 want him to stay, but he is going
on the fall round un ut Pantano," and
then Meron continued, awkwardly, rs if
uncertain how to say The beef cattle
were not sold when | was taken i'll. but
I've arranged with Williams for the In
dian contractor 10 take them on the
range. want to square up with you
and Tom, since you are both going
away"
"Oh, | forgot to tell YOU that there
was no bill I'm glad enough to have
the practice" The expression on Mcron's
face told him he had made n mistake,
and nc added, quickly: There was the
ice and few little medicines from the
government You may pay me for
those, if convenient" naming triling
sum, which Meron handed him.
"Most OF your bill is due Tom, any
way" the surgeon said, as he pockctcd
the money. His nursing pulled you
through"
Tom would take nothing. which was
wrong, for he needed money badly. and
by his refusal he hurt Mcron's feelings.
| think Toms action was half that oh
stinatc perversity- irrational self
sacrifice found frequently among savages
and children But it might have been
principle his not accepting money for
doing for Mcron what he would certainly
have done for even Greascr peon.
He ended 10y borrowing five dollars
from Meron. bought Il bottle of bad
whisky from the trader, and after treat
ing NIL round. started for Pantano. Then |
Meron bade the surgeon good bye and
rode home alone.
$50 you are just come from Ari2opa,
doctorp aaked Mrs. Drew. at Beacon |
street dinuer. 1--WE SO wished 10 visit |
that prehistoric land, ever since Mrs. |
told me of her work there in |
and showed me the results
of her excavations among the clifr-dwell. |