The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-07-23

eyed, full-throated young woman
whose wet gown of coarse blue STUFF
could not hide the beauty of the fem
mime curves to which it clung; from
the chestnut crown of whose head
topped by mans oilskin sou'wester
to the little feet and ankles, bidder
somewhere in the recesses o. her boy!
brogans, all was grace; this was Mig
giles, laughing at us, too, in the mos
airy, frank, offhand manTer imagin
able.
"You see, bo5.," said she, 81 was
morn two mites away when yor
passed down the road. thought yor
might pull up here, and So ran the
whole way, knowing nobody was home
but JIM"
The Judge recovered himself first
"This afflicted person is" hesitat-
ed the Judge.
"Jiml' said Miggles.
"Your father?"
mo"
Brother ?"
mo"
"Husband?"
Miggles darted quick, half-defiant
glance at the two lady passengers,
who | had noticed did not participate
in the general masculine admiration
of Miggles, and said gravely, mo,
it's JIM"
There was an awkward pause. The
lady passengers moved closer to each
other But Miggles's laugh, which
was very infectious, broke the silence.
Come" she said briskly, you must
be hungry. Who'll bear hand to help
me get tea? 2" She had no lack of vol
unteers.
The meal was a culinary success
But more, it was social triumph,
chiefly, | think, owing to the rare tact
of Miggles in guiding the conversa-
ton.
The repast over, chilliness radiat-
ed from the two lady passengers that
no pine boughs brought in by Yuba
Bill and cast upon the hearth as a sac
rifice could overcome. Miggles felt
it; and suddenly declaring that it was
time to turn in," offered to show the
ladies' to their bed in an adjoining
room. "YoG, boys, will have to camp
out here by the fire as we'll as you
can" she added, "for thar amt but
he one ROOM
In the midst of an exciting discus
sion and speculations in regard to our
pretty hostess and her singular com
,anion, Miggles re-entered But not,
apparently the same Miggles who
ew hours before had flashed upon u.s.
Ter eyes were downcast and as she
iesitated for moment on the thresh-
Id, with a blanket on her arm, she
eemed to have left behind her the
rank fearlessness which had charmed
IS moment before Coming into the
Dom, she drew a low stool beside the
aralytie's chair, sat down, drew the ,
lanket over her shoulders, and say
1g, If it's all the same to you, boys, I
IL stop here tonight" took the in
Aids withered hand in her own, and |
lrned her eyes upon the dying fire. t
hen suddenly she lifted her head and &
sked-- G
as there any one of you that knows G
he ?" L
There was no reply.
"Think again! | lived at Marysville |
! '53. Everybody knew me there, and a
had the right to know me.
kept the Polka saloon until | came n
, live with Jim. That's six years i
90. Perhaps I've changed some"
"Well, you see | thought some of
ou must have known me. There's no c
reat harm done anyway. What was
ping to say was this: jim here
lie shook his hand in both of hers as
lie spoke-"used to know me and 7
,ent heap of money upon me. And
lie day-it's six years ago this win
r-Jim came into my back room,
Il down on my sofy, like as you see ii
m in that chair, and never moved q
rain without help. The doctors adj
sed me to send him to Frisco to the =
'spital, for he was no good to any n
lie and would be baby all his life. il
srhaps it was something in Jim's ;f
e, perhaps it was that never had :
baby, but said NO sold out my a.
Isiness and bought this yer place, a
ID | brought my baby here. 1t was IL
long time before | could get the w
ing of things, for was used to COM
my and excitement. | couldn't get a y
,man to help me and man dursn't ell
lst The doctor would run up from ii
.cramento once in while. He'd ask ot
see 'Miggles's baby as he called n
m, ana when he'd go away he'd say, u
iggles, you're a trump-God bless tt
W and il didn't seem so lonely af ia
r that. But the last time he was 20
re he said, as he opened the door to !.
DO you know, Miggles, your baby -
Il grow up TO be man yet and an al
nor to his mother. but not here,
cycles, not herel' And thought he
mt away sad-and- -and-" and
re Miggles's voice and head were