Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-02-04
PRIVATE TUCKER

BE was q plain man, with q plain
name. Before william Tucker, ESQ,
became known TO the world Of men be
had bean q plain boy. very good, very
tender henrted1nd very much In earnest
about nothing "a particular. Smaller
boys checked him with impunity and
made him fag for them; bigger boyn
simply ignored him. Grown tU man
hood. there was but little change ia
him. His Juniors nnpbbed him and vot-
cd him q foca his seniors fQr the MOST
part impossN upon him. he Submitted
to it all v 3lh the best possible grace,
glad only be taken notice Of ia any
way and. 5parently considering that it
was thf Snly thing be could expect
Then, q though life itself. ns It stood,
did hold sufficient bitterness for
him, le fell ia love
IL must have Known from the very
nrE hat IL was all hopeless and that it
eoq at the beat only disturb his peace
oa lind. But he went on nevertheless
! Is own dull. stupid fashion. content
to touch her hand occasionally, to
sort Of second rate smile from her.
probable that there was no thought
hny future IN his mind.
he would turn up quite unexpectedly
any place to which be knew she would
g going. He would linger aboat nerv-
5usly and unhappily in corners. so that
be might have the opportunity Of look
ing AZ her. he seemed to nsk for moth
ing moro.
He would carry parcels and run mos
sages for the pretty child--she was but
little more-and considered himself
we'll paid il he received only q amile IN
return.
Once che was III, and be scarcely left
the house ia which she lay until she
was well again. DO haunted II BY day.
He lingened about aimiessly a. night.
He ruined himself BY his lavish pur.
ohases Of flowers and hothouBe fruit
When At last one summer day be wa,
told that she was conva lescent. and that
she would see him, he felt that heaven
was within sight.
He was shown out into a garden
where she was seated IN a great chair
with al her delicate beauty thrown int,
stronger relief by the white bearskin ruf
against which she leaned.
She looked 50 pale and weak that, Il
anything could have increased his iovs
J for her, her appearance alone would
have done IL.
''You have been very kind, Mr.. Tuck
on, she said ia q low voice, 'and an
very grateful You have done 80 muoi
for me, and your lloWera have been viii
me every day.
There were tears in her brown oyea Al
she finished speaking and held out hel
hand TO him. Then Il was that william
Tucker maac tho oua ehief mistake d
his life, and, II sialnnlskiaa uttszanoss
tried 10 Tell her ol the emotion Whiol
possessed him. But she staid him Will
a light hand upon his lips
n am more grateful even than bo
fore. she said slowly. ''but you one
me 4 gift which cannot accept. can
not toll Jon how sorry ! ana Or how
! much / believe 81 all that Jon have toli
me- But love another man, and Low
him very dearly
he was silent for = few moments
standing there with his eyes cast upol
the ground like a ecolded echooihoy
Bus BE- looked up at last, with aozDe
thing Of 3 smile breaking aorpgs th
whiteness of his faces
~ might haTe known. q iae saio SLOW
81. ~ might have known. above y
thinea. that q Is nOG lor such q man q
lam 20 snatch 80 great prize ] mlgh
have known that it was tho BEST eu