St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-05-11


letters Mrs. P. Lonergan, Ashcroft,
Colorado"
The gossip Of Ashcroft had up to this
time been chiefly confined to rich
Strikes new leads or lodes, Of the posi-
bility Of money coming into camp, but
the sight of that trunk revolutionized
social customs there, and like fire
brand to alfalfa flew the many forked
tongue of gossip, spreading in few
hours from the town to the hills the
news that Pete was back without his
man. The joke was on the boys, the
drinks were on the town, for he had
brought back wife. II it had been any
other man than the mayorl Gossip was
verified by fact as the long string of
citizens filed into the hotel and then out
OF 1t after having scanned the consump-
tive, dirty register with its last inscrip-
ton, peter Lonergan and wife, Ash
croft. Colo"
Now the hearty good feeling every
man entertained for the mayor came
promptly to the surface, and that after
noon committee was formed to give
pete and his woman" ball at the
hotel and instructed to spare no expense.
A team was sent to Aspen for the mu-
sic, and two of the committee were Or
dered to hustle up the finest grub that
ever had been laid out as a spread in
Ashcroft. Everything was to be con
Quoted secretly, and the ball would havo
been great surprise had it not been for
the proprietor of the st. Elmo, who APP
preciated the fact that Pete and his wife
had had a long journey from the east
and IL mile stage drive that morning
and might need rest before the ball.
Accordingly he took Pete aside and said:
Mayor, you've got the joke on the
boys, and they hold up their hands, but
between us they are getting up ball
in your honor-that is, for you and your
wife-and they are going to do the
thing in shape. They sent to Aspen for
the music and are rounding up every
store in camp for expensive grub. The
ball will begin about tonight, just as
soon as we can have supper and clear
the room, and, mayor, there was some
talk of sticking each boy 81 at the door
to buy one of those parlor organs for the
missis. thought | would give you a
tip to let you know their game, but
don't give it away to the boys on your
life"
well, it's pretty decent of the boys,
but I'm afraid the missis is tired out.
AS to the dollar, won't stand that.
Throw open your doors, and if there is
any charge to the business give me the
bill.
That night was an eventful one in
the history of Ashcroft, and one never
to be forgotten by Pete. About 8 O. clock
committee of four visited the mayor,
two miners and their wives. They told
him ball given in his honor would
open at O'Clock and that their wives
would "do the introducin.
Pete tried hard to look surprised, but
it was clear acting. However, the min
ers were too excited to notice anything
Of this
At 8 o'clock Ashcroft was still in q
hustle. The hotel dining room had been
cleared of its table, and at one end of it
stood Pete, his little wife and two Of
the finest ladies in town with them.
The music, two violins and cornet,
had opened the ball. Yet not soul had
arrived.
Pete had been waiting impatiently
for three minutes, uncomfortable in his
new clothes, and now he was chatting at
what looked to him like a hitch in the
affair. Suddenly the swinging doors
leading to the barroom were thrown
open, and LEFT, left. left, right. left, !"
came from Ben Sowls, who, with a new
broom over his shoulder, led 30 stalwart
miners in military style down the
room, then right wheeled and around
several times. There were miners of all
conditions, and men who were not min
ers at all. One was lonesome Indian,
who had been invited in. and who
came, gun and all. They came to a
front face halt before the bridal party,
each man carrying bundle of some
thing of practical use, from sack of
-four and bacon to the kitchen utensils.
In the center Of the party was baby
burro, with its miniature pack saddle,
piled two feet high above its back, pre-.
senting the GRUB stake"
The last man in the line drew by q
string tiny cradle made of cigar
box, and it was the possible admission
of this little present that had caused
the delay. Some Of the boys at the
meeting in the barroom thought that
the woman" would understand the
spirit in which they gave it, and Others
argued that she would not.
At last old man Worthington, who
had known Pete for years, raped on
the bar and said:
"Boys I've sized that woman up,
and she s no fool Pete can explain oul
western ways to her, and you can bel
your life he amt no man to marry q
stuck up girl.
And that ended it. The last man drew
in by cord the result Of his handi
work. When they halted and faced Pete
and his wife, Sowls advanced stel
and brought his broom to present arms
and delivered the speech Of the evening
"Mr, and Mrs. Lonergan, we, repre-
senting the citizens of Ashcroft, con
slider the detective work Pete Lonergar