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twenty times that amount from me。〃
The conclusion was； perhaps； not entirely logical； but Jack
overlooked it； and handed the sum to his visitor。 〃The old…woman
business is about played out； Brown；〃 he added； by way of
commentary； 〃why don't you say you want to buck agin' faro？ You
know you ain't married！〃
〃Fact； sir；〃 said Brown； with a sudden gravity； as if the mere
contact of the gold with the palm of the hand had imparted some
dignity to his frame。 〃I've got a wifea damned good one； too； if
I do say itin the States。 It's three year since I've seen her；
and a year since I've writ to her。 When things is about straight；
and we get down to the lead； I'm going to send for her。〃
〃And Kate？〃 queried Mr。 Hamlin； with his previous smile。
Mr。 Brown of Calaveras essayed an archness of glance； to cover his
confusion； which his weak face and whisky…muddled intellect but
poorly carried out； and said：
〃Damn it； Jack； a man must have a little liberty； you know。 But
come； what do you say to a little game？ Give us a show to double
this hundred。〃
Jack Hamlin looked curiously at his fatuous friend。 Perhaps he
knew that the man was predestined to lose the money； and preferred
that it should flow back into his own coffers rather than any
other。 He nodded his head； and drew his chair toward the table。
At the same moment there came a rap upon the door。
〃It's Kate；〃 said Mr。 Brown。
Mr。 Hamlin shot back the bolt； and the door opened。 But； for the
first time in his life； he staggered to his feet； utterly unnerved
and abashed； and for the first time in his life the hot blood
crimsoned his colorless cheeks to his forehead。 For before him
stood the lady he had lifted from the Wingdam coach； whom Brown
dropping his cards with a hysterical laughgreeted as：
〃My old woman； by thunder！〃
They say that Mrs。 Brown burst into tears； and reproaches of her
husband。 I saw her； in 1857； at Marysville； and disbelieve the
story。 And the WINGDAM CHRONICLE； of the next week； under the head
of 〃Touching Reunion；〃 said： 〃One of those beautiful and touching
incidents； peculiar to California life； occurred last week in our
city。 The wife of one of Wingdam's eminent pioneers； tired of the
effete civilization of the East and its inhospitable climate；
resolved to join her noble husband upon these golden shores。
Without informing him of her intention； she undertook the long
journey； and arrived last week。 The joy of the husband may be
easier imagined than described。 The meeting is said to have been
indescribably affecting。 We trust her example may be followed。〃
Whether owing to Mrs。 Brown's influence； or to some more successful
speculations； Mr。 Brown's financial fortune from that day steadily
improved。 He bought out his partners in the 〃Nip and Tuck〃 lead；
with money which was said to have been won at poker； a week or two
after his wife's arrival； but which rumor； adopting Mrs。 Brown's
theory that Brown had forsworn the gaming…table； declared to have
been furnished by Mr。 Jack Hamlin。 He built and furnished the
〃Wingdam House；〃 which pretty Mrs。 Brown's great popularity kept
overflowing with guests。 He was elected to the Assembly； and gave
largess to churches。 A street in Wingdam was named in his honor。
Yet it was noted that in proportion as he waxed wealthy and
fortunate； he grew pale； thin； and anxious。 As his wife's
popularity increased； he became fretful and impatient。 The most
uxorious of husbands； he was absurdly jealous。 If he did not
interfere with his wife's social liberty； it was because it was
maliciously whispered that his first and only attempt was met by an
outburst from Mrs。 Brown that terrified him into silence。 Much of
this kind of gossip came from those of her own sex whom she had
supplanted in the chivalrous attentions of Wingdam； which； like
most popular chivalry； was devoted to an admiration of power；
whether of masculine force or feminine beauty。 It should be
remembered； too； in her extenuation that since her arrival； she had
been the unconscious priestess of a mythological worship； perhaps
not more ennobling to her womanhood than that which distinguished
an older Greek democracy。 I think that Brown was dimly conscious
of this。 But his only confidant was Jack Hamlin； whose INFELIX
reputation naturally precluded any open intimacy with the family；
and whose visits were infrequent。
It was midsummer； and a moonlit night； and Mrs。 Brown； very rosy；
large…eyed； and pretty； sat upon the piazza； enjoying the fresh
incense of the mountain breeze； and； it is to be feared； another
incense which was not so fresh； nor quite as innocent。 Beside her
sat Colonel Starbottle and Judge Boompointer； and a later addition
to her court in the shape of a foreign tourist。 She was in good
spirits。
〃What do you see down the road？〃 inquired the gallant Colonel； who
had been conscious； for the last few minutes； that Mrs。 Brown's
attention was diverted。
〃Dust；〃 said Mrs。 Brown； with a sigh。 〃Only Sister Anne's 'flock
of sheep。'〃
The Colonel； whose literary recollections did not extend farther
back than last week's paper； took a more practical view。 〃It ain't
sheep；〃 he continued； 〃it's a horseman。 Judge； ain't that Jack
Hamlin's gray？〃
But the Judge didn't know； and as Mrs。 Brown suggested the air was
growing too cold for further investigations； they retired to the
parlor。
Mr。 Brown was in the stable； where he generally retired after
dinner。 Perhaps it was to show his contempt for his wife's
companions； perhaps； like other weak natures； he found pleasure in
the exercise of absolute power over inferior animals。 He had a
certain gratification in the training of a chestnut mare； whom he
could beat or caress as pleased him； which he couldn't do with Mrs。
Brown。 It was here that he recognized a certain gray horse which
had just come in； and； looking a little farther on； found his
rider。 Brown's greeting was cordial and hearty； Mr。 Hamlin's
somewhat restrained。 But at Brown's urgent request； he followed
him up the back stairs to a narrow corridor； and thence to a small
room looking out upon the stable yard。 It was plainly furnished
with a bed； a table； a few chairs； and a rack for guns and whips。
〃This yer's my home； Jack；〃 said Brown； with a sigh； as he threw
himself upon the bed； and motioned his companion to a chair。 〃Her
room's t'other end of the hall。 It's more'n six months since we've
lived together； or met； except at meals。 It's mighty rough papers
on the head of the house； ain't it？〃 he said； with a forced laugh。
〃But I'm glad to see you； Jack； damn glad；〃 and he reached from the
bed； and again shook the unresponsive hand of Jack Hamlin。
〃I brought ye up here； for I didn't want to talk in the stable；
though； for the matter of that； it's all round town。 Don't strike
a light。 We can talk here in the moonshine。 Put up your feet on
that winder； and sit here beside me。 Thar's whisky in that jug。〃
Mr。 Hamlin did not avail himself of the information。 Brown of
Calaveras turned his face to the wall and continued：
〃If I didn't love the woman； Jack； I wouldn't mind。 But it's
loving her； and seeing her； day arter day； goin' on at this rate；
and no one to put down the brake； that's what gits me！ But I'm
glad to see ye； Jack； damn glad。〃
In the darkness he groped about until he had found and wrung his
companion's hand again。 He would have detained it； but Jack
slipped it into the buttoned breast of his coat； and asked；
listlessly； 〃How long has this been going on？〃
〃Ever since she came here； ever since the day she walked into the
Magnolia。 I was a fool then； Jack； I'm a fool now； but I didn't
know how much I loved her till then。 And she hasn't been the same
woman since。
〃But that ain't all； Jack； and it's what I wanted to see you about；
and I'm glad you've come。 It ain't that she doesn't love me any
more； it ain't that she fools with every chap that comes along；
for； perhaps； I staked her love and lost it； as I did everything
else at the Magnolia； and； perhaps； foolin' is nateral to some
women； and thar ain't no great harm done； 'cept to the fools。 But；
Jack； I thinkI think she loves somebody else。 Don't move； Jack；
don't move； if your pistol hurts ye； take it off。
〃It's been more'n six months now that she's seemed unhappy and
lonesome； and kinder nervous and scared…like。 And sometimes I've
ketched her lookin' at me sort of timid and pitying。 And she
writes to somebody。 And for the last week she's been gathering her
own thingstrinkets； and furbelows； and jew'lryand； Jack； I
think she's goin' off。 I could stand all but that。 To have her
steal away like a thief〃 He put his face downward to the pillow；
and for a few moments there was no sound but the ticking of a clock
on the mantel。 Mr。 Hamlin lit a cigar； and move