The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-07

event occurred a month before il would
not have mattered SO much but now.
Just as he had struck it rich and had writ
ten East for his wife to come on and share
his good fortune. it was. to say the least.
very exasperating. But ne was dead. be-
yond a doubt. and likewise variously scat
tered, the result of too close intimacy with
a premature blast
The miners gathered up his visible re-
mains and buried them with due solem-
nifty then they waited for the advent of
the widow.
But not without much misgiving. How
would they meet her? And who of their
number would assume the delicate and
embarrassing task OF informing her that
che was a widow?
They talked it all over that night in
front of Pete Simpsons bar
Fac is. fellsrs," said One-eyed Jerry,
the autocrat OF the camp, as he turned his
solitary optic on the crowd. fac is. it's a
tough job, but its got to be done, an I'll
do 1t. if it takes leg. Leave it to me.
feIlers, and I'll let 'er down as soothin'
possible" And with a deep feeling of
relief, that found expression in another
round of red liquor, the miners lett it TO
Jerry.
In due course of time a letter addressed
10 James Lowry in a shaky, feminine
hand and postmarked Harrisburg, Pa. ar
rived in camp and was opened by Lowry's
self-appointed executors. Il was from
Mrs. Lowry, and from il they learned that
she would not arrive for several weeks.
One day about six weeks after the re-
ception of this letter. as the stage ratified
Up to the single so-called hotel OF the little
Tuolumne mining camp. the loungers on
the porch caught the glimpse OF a dress
inside. At once all was excitement.
she's come" they exclaimed.
where's jerry"
Jerry, who was seated at table In the
bar-room, reluctantly laid down a pat
hand" and reached the outside in time TO
assist the lady from the stage, RWkWardly
lifting his hat as he did so.
Mrs. Lowry, L reckon" said Jerry, as
she slighted.
The lady threw back the veil from her
face, smiled and answered:
Yes. Where's my husband"
The crowd that had gathered inquisi-
y
fell back astounded not at the question,
bu. ct the woman who asked il. Lowry
was fifty years old, if day, at the time
he wasl so unceremon;ously fired out of
existence. He had never spoken much
about his wife, whom he had LETT in the
East fully ten years before, yet from IA
miiiaFity with Jim's age, his hOmely face
and still more homely WAYS, the miners
had formed the impression that his wife
must be a woman of forty or forty-fve
and equally angular ana unimpressive In
appearance. But here she was before
them, q woman of possibly thirty, plump
and shapely, with face that was simply
bevitching. She was absolutely hand
some and there was an expression in her
eve and mouth that seemed to indicate
that che knew it.
The smile disappeared and she looked
at Jerry somewhat Anxiously. why
isn't Hir. Lowry here to meet me2" she
Enked.
There was painful pause. The miners
looked st Jerry and Jerry looked at his
boots.
Fac is, ma'am," he finally said, as he
slowly twirled his greasy hat with one
hand, Fac ls, Jim's-a ailin'. Bin work
IN like-like blazss, you know, gettin'
ready Ter you, an'-an'-sorter down with
sayl You must be tired an hungry /;
there's a room fer you in this here hotel
an I'll take YOU over TO see jim later"
With apparent reluctance Mrs. Lowry
followed the hotel proprietor 10 the room
that had been fitted up for her weeks be-
fore and sacrsdly kept unoccupied ever
since, while the crowd, with EXPLANATIONS
of sstonishment and delight, pressed for
ward to the bar.
"FellsTs," said Jerry, with the air of
one who has just discovered rich ''pock-
et'' OF the rich metal; 'fellers, here's TO
the wilder"
An hour later Mrs. Lowry, accompanied
Jerry to Jim's cabin, aud on the way up
the trail he broke to her the sad news of
Der husbands death. But in what way
ne impaired the melancholy information
his companions never could learn.
Fac Is, feilers." he had said in reply to
their questions, 1T makes me creepy to
think about it, she took on that terrible /;
but i let 'er down easy as posserb
Thought she faint sure, special when l
showed her where Jim was chucked Her
rarryin' on was mighty depresain', I'm
tellin' you. Let's liquor"
The next morning the widow, who had
Eat down at the supper-table the evening
Of her arrival in gown of soft-toned gray
tnat n once LOOK al the DOarQ6rB captive,
surprised every one by appearing arrayed
n q somber robe OF mourning Her face
Ras pale and sonoWful, and there was a
badness in her voice that excited the deep
sympathy of all who saw her
All but one. Bradford, the gentleman
gambler" whose dark Dyes and long black
nustache had dawned upon the camp a
lew months before, wore a scowl as he
got up from the late breakfast table. He
had eaten slowly, if indeed he bad eaten
ANYTHING at ali. The miners had break
lasted long before, only a few business
men. gamblers and idlers were at the ia
bic, and one by one they finished their
meal and departed, until only he and the
widow remained. AS be passed hsr chair
On his way out he stopped and hurriedly
whispered: Fool what are you doing
with that dress on2 Were you supposed
20 know that you were a widow when you
started And il not. how the devil do
you expect to account for that dress be-
tween last night and this morning ?H
Then, with a suppressed oath. he strobe
angrily out from the room.
The widow looked frightened. She
hastily arose and went 10 her room.
The landlord, out on the porch, wa
talking 10 Jerry, and obviously shaking
his head. Now. where IN blixen did she
git them du6s?' he said in a manner thai