Middletown transcript., 1894-03-17

Ut ATW r..,. "rn,rsss' a,nes y
died, an I've only half kept my prom
ise 'oout lookin' after that wife and
i'ttle girl, Prudy, of hisl I've been :
racln' after money sE.As nigh raced
me uo"n." The gray, but rather fine
looking man by a lonely ranch 6reside
III Colorado, brought his band dowr
win emphasis on the table beside him
~ Just write her letter, a Valen'
.'he letter. Jacks girl, Prudy, musl
be sixteen now. wonder what She
looks like?''
Ihe Chinese cook brought in his sup.
per, an appetizing meal it seemed, for
ne fingered long over it; then he called
ior pen, ink and paper. and it was
growing late bedtime when his letter.
valentine was finished.
In an inland Michigan town young
glrl, pale and slight was busily enga g.
ed In decorative painting. She, who
never received valentines, never had
received one, was making some very
beautiful ones "to order.n This was
Prudy Bristow's one gift, an eye for
the beautiful and genius for express
Ing it. Her invalid mother put the
work together when the painting was
dry; and their Christmas, Valentine,
and Easter Work" brought them quite
an incom e,
Prudy's great ambition was to study
art, but in their circumstances that
could never bel The little home con-
tanning the bare necessities of life was
all they had, since her mothers health
had forbade sewing and embroidery.
Prudy had left school year before and
was bravely trying to make living
herself. Her old day school teacher,
Miss Hite, had given her one course of
painting lessons, ahd another friend
had made her a present of a fine
ARTISTS OUTFIT" SO a way had been
opened for her which was entirely un-
expected.
''Lettis s. Gibbs" fancy-goods deal
ers, took nearly all the work she could
make; then she had private orders now
and then, and the reputation Of her
original designs was steadily on the
increase.
The doctor had said that her mother
might get better, if she could 60 West
to mountainous country. That, ''if''
meant obstacles that could not be over
come, thought Prudy, signing deeply
as she noted the failing strength of the
dear, faithful little mother! She could
not remember her father; he died in
California where lie had been poor,
then rich, and poor again. When he
was prosperous he had sent money for
the home which they we're aft. wards
obliged to sell; and when in rapidly
falling health he left his wife for lone
more venture" in the direction of inde-
pendence she never expected to see him
again. He died in the mining camp of
Joe Horton, or LUCKY Joe" as his
comrades called him. Subsequently,
Horton removed to Colorado, was still
unmarried, and altogether forgetful of
his promise to ''poor jack"
At long intervals he made inquiries
about them, and twice had sent them
moderate sum IF money from an sun
known friend;n now a letter received
some two months previous from "Tom
Dale: ;, who had mined with them, and
lived in the same town with Prudy and
her mother, advised him that Mrs.
Priston had lung trouble, and that
their circumstances were quite strait
ened indeed.
ut stirs me all up JUS to think how
keerless I've been-deserve bad luck
myself for this long silencep
Straightway Joe Horton rode to Den
yer and sent the widow a check for
one hundred dollarsl This paid some
small debts and gave a sense of relief
tbsv had not felt for some time. Still
Toe was not satisfied. lie had warm
and generous heart under an uncul-
,ured exteror, "but blamed if know
what to do when wimmen and girls
.ro concerned. Theirs my place down
near Georgetown; they might i've on
thai. purty little spot as there is IN
CnI,radol There's Mary Ellen Sanders
Tim Sanders gal in Placerville-giad OF
oh,nce to come an work for them.
ri write her as soon as 1 find out"
rhsn LIE hesitated and pondered,
aud then be wrote the letter:
90" Eagle Ranch, Colorado,
"Feb. 7th, 1SS-
.noar Little Miss Prudy Brlstow;
ST low you don't remember me nor
nuthin' bout me nuther! | was you.
t,nar,s na, pard way back, twenty years
aao,Sue saved my life onct in Cai'lony
"so' .:a more for me than any other
nn ';n;n, ~ man ever did. Thar want no
,,,wio, and or maxim out exta'S 'oou.
J.or but the was thar. l promised
tnat t@fl I'd keep you and your mother aaa IN
mind, kind see that you i. aian : nai1t nio1
en n,nl' nothin,, but iii admit nam.
for for. "o'1'", m1 whole duty by yel I'm rich
man. fur as money goes an ..t ''s' N "ani and
you on your mot no'hsr 'vs iO ip 5oh Colorado for
year or two, until sIs hspse p'ses Sse down BY
Georgetown that II, ,.rms reus YOU You o. may may
:': :'$ s;a: s;s:5 's''; VI. # T. .ss:. ss: E;
g, s.' 1s % Son : :: you git ss, .s's way, 1s'
enclosed c,'s laughter will be thar 70
s