The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-10

Ezra carried out Davids orders to the
letter, wore old clothes, and took life, fol
the most part, very monotonously. His home
was at the pretty house in the village, o.
course-half of it belonged TO him by right
and there was one room therein-a pretty
room it was, too, though far up under the
roof-wbich we always called Ezra's," al
though Ezra himself rarely occupied it. The
truth was, Julia was not always over-cordial
to him, especially if there were company
about His rough, awkward ways and un-
tutored speech annoyed her,-and, then
when he went out evenings to get out ol
her way, he was about sure to drift into q
Observation-Disclosures are always amia-
BILE and sociable, even if home-folks are
not-and David and Julia always made q
big time over that, so that things were
uncomfortable all around. 1t was better
to stay in the woods, most of the time
there was no one up there to look grim
or scold, even if he wasn't able to walk a
crack of Saturday night or Sunday now and
/ then, and if Julia was bossD down at the
| house he was boss" " up in the camp, and
| that was some comfort.
| This last week, however, as has been said,
he felt restless and uneasy. Perhaps his last
! importation OF sour wine had not agreed
| with him; perhaps a longing for some OF
the Creek" whisky filled his breast.
| Whatever the reason may have been, certain
it is that on this Saturday he made up his
mind to " foot it down to the village that
evening split up some wood to make Julia
good-humored, see "the boys" around town,
to learn the news, and come back to the mill
again late Sunday evening.
The two Cinnamon in the cook-house
looked after him, as he crossed the little
bridge which connected the mill with the
main road, and said few words to each
other in their own hen-like language. They
| knew their employers peculiarities, and en-
We'd him g heap good time" of which they
had no doubt he had gone in quest Some
of the workmen loungiDg about the place
exchanged jokes with each other in under
| tones-since EZ Daniels was known to
be, as they expressed it, a bad man TO fool
with "-eoncerning the probable size of the
boss's" head when he came back to duty.
But Ezra, obliyious to all this, kept on his
way down the narrow mountain road.
Two hours later-tired, warm and covered
with dust-EZra entered the village, and,
true to his instincts, made straight for the
nearest saloon, The First Chance" as its
pretentious sign announced. He needed
drink, certainly, to wash that choking dust
out Of his parched throat, and then another,
perhaps to keep that company. Perhaps,
after ell, he would better take bed in one
OF the numerous hotels around California
timber towns are always well supplied with
hotels for the accommodation of wood
choppers and mill-hands who come to town
to spend their wages and not go up to the
house at all that night. Julia and David
would not know that he was down from
the mill until morning and he could enjoy
L.. L. H.
string" before his presence in town was dis
covered.
Well nigh decided to adopt this pleasant
plan, he paused at the saloon door to wipe
his heated forehead, when red faced man,
with waist the reverse of sylph-like, nearly
fell over him on his way out, and then
turned back to give him hearty hand
shake.
Came down to see the new arrival, eh ?n
he asked, punching Ezra facetiously in the
ribs the while. Quite surprise, it was,
to all of us, for Mrs. Daniels was so SLY about
it that no one felt quite sure about it until
almost the last minute. Dave is most crazy
over it, can tell you, and no wonder
married 10 years and just starting in to ac-
cumulate family! He wouldn't think it
was such devil of a thing if he had eight
to rustic for, same as have" And then the
big man waddled off, chuckling unctuously TO
himself, and Ezra was left to recover his men
tai equilibrium as best he could after receiving
the shock of the almost unbelievable news
which had come upon him so unexpectedly.
The saloon had no charms for him now.
The dust could stay in his throat until he
reached home-and home he went, as fast
as his long legs could carry him.
David met him at the door with his finger
4 I.
him silently. 1t was simple thing to
do, but the tears came into David Daniels's
eyes as he clasped that hard, rough, red
wood-stained hand in his own. He was
feeling very thankful and soft-hearted just
then, and bis conscience smote him a little
as he saw the unselfish joy which beamed
on his brothers scanned face, and felt the
vise-like grip of the strong fingers that had
toiled so hard, and yet had earned their
owner so little of this worlds comfort and
happiness
When was it?" asked Ezra, awkwardly,
longing to show his interest and delight in
the wonderful thing that had occurred,
and yet feeling uncomfortably conscious of
his sbachelorhood the while, and David
glowing with the proud happiness of
paternity long g-deferred-answered, Yester-
day morning"
We didn't think that Julia would pull
through at first" he went on, explanatorily;
" but she did, and sent word to you, right
away by Jim Gregory. though was afraid
he might get drunk on the way and not get
it up to YOU"
Ezra was too well aware of his own weak |
ness as regarded the strong waters" of
the Greek" to betray the fact of Jim |
Gregory's total failure to deliver the mes
sage entrusted to him Though he mentally |
determined to shave it outn with that un- |
reliable Mercury at their next meeting), |
therefore he discreetly avoided reference to |
him.
Il was knocked all of heap when I |
heard it," he said, "for 1 thought-being
brothers, you know-even if / warn't mar
ried, you might have just limited something
about it before. 'Twould have been some |
thing to look forward to- you see." This
apologetically, as not wishing to seem in
trusive, but simply stating fact.
David laughed, a trife shame-facedly.
lyon mustn't feel hard about that" he re-
turned, resting one hand-with brotherli-
ness not expressed, perhaps not felt for
years-upon Ezra's shoulder as he spoke.
=" Julia was notional-they all are at such
times, you see,-and she wouldn't hear to
its being mentioned to anybody; but she's
all over that now, and wants to see you and
show you our little daughter"
Would wonders ever cease? Julia
" wanting to see" him aud David talking so |