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opened another door with a passkey； and found himself in a dimly
lighted room whose furniture； though elegant and costly for the
locality； showed signs of abuse。 The inlaid center table was
overlaid with stained disks that were not contemplated in the
original design。 The embroidered armchairs were discolored； and
the green velvet lounge； on which Mr。 Hamlin threw himself； was
soiled at the foot with the red soil of Wingdam。
Mr。 Hamlin did not sing in his cage。 He lay still； looking at a
highly colored painting above him representing a young creature of
opulent charms。 It occurred to him then； for the first time； that
he had never seen exactly that kind of a woman； and that if he
should； he would not； probably； fall in love with her。 Perhaps he
was thinking of another style of beauty。 But just then someone
knocked at the door。 Without rising； he pulled a cord that
apparently shot back a bolt； for the door swung open； and a man
entered。
The newcomer was broad…shouldered and robusta vigor not borne out
in the face； which； though handsome； was singularly weak； and
disfigured by dissipation。 He appeared to be also under the
influence of liquor； for he started on seeing Mr。 Hamlin； and said；
〃I thought Kate was here；〃 stammered； and seemed confused and
embarrassed。
Mr。 Hamlin smiled the smile which he had before worn on the Wingdam
coach； and sat up； quite refreshed and ready for business。
〃You didn't come up on the stage；〃 continued the newcomer； 〃did
you？〃
〃No；〃 replied Hamlin； 〃I left it at Scott's Ferry。 It isn't due
for half an hour yet。 But how's luck； Brown？〃
Damn bad；〃 said Brown； his face suddenly assuming an expression of
weak despair； 〃I'm cleaned out again； Jack；〃 he continued； in a
whining tone that formed a pitiable contrast to his bulky figure；
〃can't you help me with a hundred till tomorrow's cleanup？ You see
I've got to send money home to the old woman； andyou've won
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。