Writings - v. 13 Author:Bret Harte Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER in GABRIEL It was found the next morning that the party was diminished hy five. Philip Ashley and Grace Conroy, Peter Dumphy and Mrs. Brackett, wer... more »e missing; Dr. Paul Devarges was dead. The death of the old man caused but little excitement and no sorrow; the absconding of the others was attributed to some information which they had selfishly withheld from the remaining ones, and produced a spasm of impotent rage. In five minutes their fury knew no bounds. The lives and property of the fugitives were instantly declared forfeit. Steps were taken — about twenty, I think — in the direction of their flight, but finally abandoned. Only one person knew that Philip and Grace had gone together, — Gabriel Conroy. On awakening early that morning he had found pinned to his blanket a paper with these words in pencil, — "God bless dear brother and sister, and keep them until Philip and I come back with help." With it were a few scraps of provisions, evidently saved by Grace from her scant rations, and left as a parting gift. These Gabriel instantly turned into the common stock. Then he began to comfort the child. Added to his natural hopefulness, he had a sympathetic instinct with the pains and penalties of childhood, not so much a quality of his intellect as of his nature. He had all the physical adaptabilities of a nurse, — a large, tender touch, a low persuasive voice, pliant yet unhesitating limbs, and broad, well-cush- ioned surfaces. During the weary journey women had instinctively intrusted babies to his charge; most of the dead had died -in his arms; all forms and conditions of helplessness had availed themselves of his easy capacity. No one thought of thanking him. I do not think he ever expected it; he always appeared morally irresponsible and quite unconscio...« less