The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-08-02
to turn him back. He stared at him

in painful amaZement, in bewilder-
ment, and in a dawning alarm. He
was not superstitious; he was far from
being imaginative, but tremor ran
over him. What did it mean? To his
perplexed mind it appeared thing
miraculous. Had Humboldt an uncan-
ny knowledge of matters human? A
supernatural comprehension? Lem
uel looked along his hubby spine to his
low-lying ears, and on between them,
with blank gaze. Did it mean any
thing?
No. His Judgment pronounced
negative. But as he drove on, looking
widely about him, and seeing nothing,
the inquiry required to him, and with
persistence rose again. For what rea-
son had Humboldt turned in at Eme-
line Bestor's gate? Why not at the
Whitman's? Why not at John Pur-
dy's? Could it be?' Had some unseen
power paused to take compassionate
cognizance of his, Lemuel Jilson's,
long helplessness and the starvation of
his soul-to take compassionate cog
nizance, where the world grinned?
Those strange antics of the old horse,
what might they be? Was the animal
impelled by some force extraordinary?
Was it hint, an encouragement, an
impetus from some high source? Lem
uel rubbed his unsteady hand over his
dry lips.
He said little when he paid Pitt
Wheeler, and that little somewhat in
coherently. Humboldt tapped off flies
with his meager tail, which had been
once wantonly chewed off by colt,
and had never renewed itself. He
had by means of persevering efforts
contrived to loosen the check-rein,
but Lemuel did not see it. When they
turned back up the road he kept TAX
ing off his hat and biting it's bri1a, his
habit in nervousness. He dreaded get
ting to Emeline's gate, and his dread
deepened with every rod. 1t became
sort of terror. When the clothes
line and the red hives came in view,
for sheer want of ability to regard
them he stared down at the space be-
tween his feet-and waited. Opposite
Emeline's house Humboldt slowed up,
since the lines hung lax; then he
trotted on with an obviously fresh
impulse, and turned in at Emeline
Bestor's gate, and went up the lane
at pace brisk and eager and admir-
able in one Of his years.
Lemuel sat there in the blackboard
with his hat in his lap. He was pale,
his hands shook, and the lines dropped
"Em'line!" he called, husl1ily, without
stirring, for he was afraid his legs
would not bear him up.
Emeline came hurrying over from
the rocking chair. Her hair was blown
about, and her apron and her hands
were daubed with paint. She raised
to him a beaming smile. 81 declared"
she said, in kind welcome.
EN- line," said Lemuel. He moist
ened his lips and began again. 1t
seemed to him that his voice was an
inaudible whisper, but it had, in
truth, a rasping loudness. 'Em'line,
want to know if you'll marry me?
Will you, Em'line?"
Emeline had come close to the buck
board. She stood still for moment,
her smile unfaded, all her thwarted
hopes, all her unquestioning love,
faithful through the lost years, look
ing at him out of her happy, misty
eyes. Then she laid upon LemuePs
hand, which clutched his knee, her
own warm, blue-bedaubed one. Old
Ephriam Bestor came to the door in
his stocking feet. Humboldt, with the
Retrospective, the judicial mien which
only an old horse can compass, the
expression of patient 1eniency for hui
man foibles and weakness-Humboldt
stood and waited.
"Yeup," Pitt Wheeler answered an
inquirer. 81 got new horse. Traded
with Lemuel Jilson. Tain't good fer
much, but give him one 'twa'nt much
better-old Humboldt. I'll bet you
he was a smart horse once, though,
Old Humboldt. I got him of Ephraim
Bestor eight or ten years ago, and I'll
.be hornswoggled if he don't want to
turn into his old gate every plegged
time he goes past, right up to this
day. Yes, sir. He's got memory
that'd done credit to Dan1 Webster"
l-Woman's Home Companion.
The Odd ShiIIfnrs