The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-03-28 00:00:00

•SATURDAY; MAROII 2&,1885

LALL ntanTs ItEsEnvED.)
STRIATV
v A.:4 AND THRIVE.

CHAPTER
'4llO THE LITTLE STRANGER.
h„„bollz WaLsvoirrn was a lawyer by education;
e had abandoned his profession for literary pur-
--':,%4 and an editorial chair. He was a widower—a
ttual, kind-hearted man, devotedly attached to his
ki,Liter and his little son, and he was quite contented
SZ, haPPy while he could see his way clearly from
Year in the support of his small family. Not
was without ambition. He had his visions
of fame and wealth, which flattering hope told
17:would be the reward of a literary work on which
'4(l been long engaged, and to which some hours of
if Lq, day were devoted. But the hour for this triumph,
I.L'ueeclit should ever come, was yet distant, and in
beea."7laeantime he bore a lot, which was certainly very
r akin to poverty, with tranquility and even with
,eerfulness.
Was almost his idol, and Frank was scarcely
,3 beloved, and while he saw them happy he could
"c't be far otherwise himself.
8411?,.! Children had been spending a few weeks of a
:AY summer with an aunt who resided in the
bbourhood of Newburg, and Mr. Walworth, who
of um I.ook.ed forward impatiently to the termination
eir Visit, had been greatly delighted on the morn-
qa of the day which closed so gloomily for many
rts, by receiving a letter from Eda announcing the
4,g 12°,ecliate return of herself and brother, and request-
tatieni,er father to meet them at the landing. Though
loos!' Occupied with office duties, Walworth had
ss,:ed forward a score of times in the course of the
thi to the joyous meeting which he expected. When
14 second, and, as he supposed, the last edition of
s2aPer had been issued, it still lacked nearly an
he °f the proper time to go to the boat; but while
thewas engaged in reading-some of his journals, one of
ti tePorters came in hastily with an excited, but by
,ttleans a horrified aspect, and said—
,Here's news for a third edition, sir! Dreadful
eident on the river!"
bt 411! what is it ?" asked Walworth, sympathetically,
" Without alarm.
1a5.711, e Henry Clay—the day-boat from Albany—is
Up, and more than half her passengers lost."
The Henry Clay! Good Heavens! Both my chil-
Em4ll are on board of her !" exclaimed the father,
,`-egirig up, but immediately staggering back to his
to with such a groan as only the intensest anguish
11314 wring from a manly heart.
Isssl,l,t immediately recovering his self-command, Wal-
pe-s'o hastily inquired when the accident had hap-
and what particulars had been received. Hope
ti.o'4ved in his heart as he reflected that the catas-
ss_Phe might have occurred before the vessel had
-whed Newburg, where his children were to take
Paesage.
ii i:lt Was only a few miles above the city, sir. She
l Ung still, and they say the blaze and smoke can
Is,:t'en from Trinity steeple. Of course, no list of
is;:seagers either lost or saved has reached us yet.
Probably the story is exaggerated."
Use' l'ou must come with me, then, Mr. Brown," said
skiagonised man, taking his hat and grasping the
Co °I the reporter. "Others must see to the paper.
ase!
Th
sw.se two went forth, and taking a carriage, drove
te.“:llY up town, the unhappy father vainly trying
Lviraagine some contingency which might have de-
sslttsecl bis children for another day. He shuddered
bo'le-refiected upon their helpless condition on the
hean', without a protector, probably without an
Is's„,llsbatance, and he well knew that Eda's anguish
brZcl be increased tenfold by the presence of her
Sr. But fortunately, as the carriage drew near
tee,atre.et (very far up town) in which Mr. Walworth
411,.ded, his friend suggested that they should go
the-sito his house and learn if there were any tidings
tea 7 from the scene of the disaster. If their worse
thari.B were to be realised, he felt that it was better
tea; the distracted man should go no farther. But
ati-„celY had they alighted from the carriage before
seePPer window was thrown open, and Eda her-
-4%4 aPPeared before it, holding her brother by the
d.
ts:jel)!? Pa! We are safe!" was all she could say,
the tappy man, almost too happy for speech,
his friend's hand with a 14Y* of exultation,
bidding him follow, rushed into the house,
braecre his beloved ones were soon folded in his em-
Heaven be praised," he said, "and Heaven
tide mercy on those unhappy wretches for whom
of 8 iS an hour of bereavement and mourning instead
But what—what is this? A baby, as I
joPszla laughed, and Franky jumped and shouted for
Y, as he exclaimed—
efoUnd it! We found it in the water, swim-
let 7g about, and so Nte brought it home. Won't you
hg keep it, pa?"
h 5 't pa scarcely heard the prattler, so intently was
te listening to his daughter, who had begun to
or:RI/It the whole strange story of their rescue, and
el tile finding of the child. When the long story was
tg
b,ated 0
though Eda in that hour of excitement could
hn•Y no e means recall half the particulars of her dreadful
eire' Mr' I'ValWorth immediately inquired what
me of her preserver.
When he saw that there were kind people there,
OdY to take charge of all the sufferers, and to send
;'42ern to their homes, he took my address and left us
`ti-,kTieir hands, and I really think he was then more
stlausted and helpless than I. But he had his ser-
'ant ts look after him."
ts" ut the child? Did no one claim it? Were its
"rents lost ?"
its` We could find no one that knew anything about
sib So we left word there to be told to all the 5ur-
5,,,,"31.8, that a baby had been saved, and where it
thes"(l be found. The people were not yet all out of
vb:water when we came away, for a train of cars
Ns‘e;:eh were passing down had been stopped, and we
hurried on board, some dozens of us wet and
Sov,sering, but wrapped up in shawls and blankets.
Loze were brought to the city, and sent to our
hei's in carriages. That accounts for our getting
e so soon."
yckt,,d who was it showed all this kindness to
1;1 don't know. There were quite a number or
active men, who seemed as if they could net do
for us. They brought us brandy to keep us
takingNviss-1 cold, and they kept up the spirits of those
NVei:°" friends were missing, by telling them that there
the-,-.?Illarly more who would be saved yet, and that
el,'Mlst not give up hope."
tOid 40,005 t noble fellow that Mr. Belmont must be,"
,Walworth. "I hope it will not be long before
111:1,91 see him. Indeed, I shall ,go to-morrow and
has: um/ up. If he is an invalid, as you say, per-
can be of some service to him, especially as ho
have lost all his baggage."
thallys"vish we could. I feel as though I never could
thiCs 'him. enough; but I fear we cannot do any-
to for him. He must be a rich man, you know,
`avel with a servant."
11d a big dog," said Franky.
Conversation of course soon recurred to the
which was a pretty child, about eight months
t.ak '1,411 which it had been Eda's first care, on reach-
Wie„"°l/le, to have relieved of its wet garments, and
44(.,Ped in warm dry flannels. It had also been fed,
444, was now fast asleep, closely watched by a little
girl, who had gladly taken it in charge while
Walworth changed Frank's and her own soaked
'Tents'
kssim...tne of the neighbours had also been in to render
'
ktis—'llee, so that during the brief interval by which
11418
iarrival home had preceded her father's, all parties
I,3e,en rendered tolerably comfortable.
Pra,;;_au we keep it, pa? We found it ! " repeated
'looking very anxiously into his father's face.
N',4 hope not, my child. I hope the poor child's
IVIla has been saved, and will come for it. If it
1:401,2t, claimed to-night, I shall advertise it in the
baclilintr papers. Perhaps some distressed mother is
tohs flg it as lost, and this will be a dreadful night
Ott' if nobody comes for the baby, can we keep it
&Pa?"
tliser:es, my child, we will. We will accept it as a
pi.a7 gift from Heaven."
+4oss was satisfied with this promise,and was
4tikbe far relieved from the memory of
h. recent
litss—e', as to give a synopsis of his afternoon's expe-
'°lls-es to a wondering playmate (who had come in
tlbaabout the accident) in the following extraor-
, Words :
We'v
op e all been a swimmin', Charlie, with a big
tied I want to go agin to-morrer."

CHAFFER IV.
tic EBENEZER MINE'S ANXIETY.
4-411137 hours Ebenezer Mink feasted his imagina-
lat '3ll visions of wealth and grandeur, and when,
• giett Ilight, his excited brain yielded to the influence
it was only to pursue in dreams the same
tstr,tkltful theme through a thousand wild and gro-
, _variations.
the ing found him early astirrassuring himself of
LN'eitthealitY of the preceding day's intelligence, and
reviewing the ground of his brilliant hopes,
hce If there was any reason to doubt their stability.
,71(1 111141, find none. All the evening newspapers had
same story of the ost by the great acci-
,Z4 as to old Mr. Frazer, he was well assured of
nent imbecility of mind, if not of his speedy
th,Th
ef seemed to Eben most opportune, for his
),T hl4)ng failing, had lately sunk to a low ebb, and
r,"4al
te'' Yielded to the sad conviction that his sem-
-4",.4t1it.„e °I 'wealth could not be longer maintained.
LIM -1:'13 pressed on every side. Several had threat-
t4.74 e
4gal Proceedings, and one suit had actually
LVe,.4.-111Itlenced, which, if he could not find means
i▪
t, Would be sure to bring a dozen more upon
,eaides this, the landlord, long deluded by
Promises' had grown peremptoryt and was
1,14111.2' clisPossess him of tho fine house which for .
Year he had continued to occupy rent free.
ZNt• led 'Were other consideratiOns, too, which new
lAablegltatly to his happiness. Eben was a man ,
t ado et violent dislikes and hatreds, and he had
13111411 Y enernies over whom he felt he could now
and
4, :p who should be made to feel the weight
.11
184leasure.
44
kti 141 Illueb mistaken if the Courtneys bold their
high a year hence as they do now." he said

to his wife at breakfasttable. "They shall rue their
treatment of us."

"I hope so. There is no end to their airs, and to
the modes in which they contrive to show that they
look down. upon us. And that little doll-faced and
ringletted Marietta really almost affects not to know
our Miranda, or any of the rest of us, for that
matter."

" They shall know us—they shall know us; and some
other people that I can name shall, too, to their
sorrow."

"I don't know how you can make the Courtneys
feel your resentment; he is a rich merchant, doing a
very large business —"
"On a very large credit. His trade is ten times the
amount of his capital, to my certain knowledge. If
such a man can't be upset, I don't know who can.
Let me alone. I know the ins and outs of his busi-
ness—and Gifford's, too, the puppy! who threatened
to prosecute me for false pretences. I only wish, now,
I had caned him."

_
Before breakfast was over the morning paper
arrived, and was brought to the table by a servant
who had beeh directed to keep a sharp look-out for
it.

Mink eagerly seized it, 'lid devoured all the details
of the steamboat accident, drawing a long breath of
satisfaction at its close to find that in all essentials
the news of the preceding evening was corroborated.
His wife in vain besought him to read aloud; he
was in too great haste for that; but she saw by his
countenance that all was right, and now she heard it
from his lips.
But before Eben put down the "paper he glanced at
the editorial comments on the calamity, and his eyes
fell upon the following startling paragraph:
"It will be seen, by reference to our advertising
columns, that an unknown infant was rescued from
the water, and can be seen at No. 34th-street. It
has, doubtless, been made an orphan by this dreadful
calamity, yet there must be some hearts which will be
gladdened by news of its safety."
Eben rose from the table, pale and trembling, and
withdrew to the parlour where his wife, who had
witnessed his agitation, quickly followed him.
"What what is it?" she said, scarcely less
moved than her husband. "Are they—saved after
all?"

"Read that!" replied Mink, holding the paper
before her, yet with such unsteady hand that it
shook and rattled so as to defy all attempts at
perusal.
Honora took the journal in her own hand, and
hastily glanced over the editorial remarks which her
husband pointed out to her.
"But it may not be their child," she said, quickly.
"It may not be, of course. Probably the chances
are that it isn't. But if it should turn out so— the
idea is dreadful, after all our plans, and in our situa-
tion. It would be too much, that would."
Eben walked the room in a state of great appre-
hension, and with the air of an injured man.
"Think how many children there must have been
amongst all those passengers," continued the wife.
'lt seems to me you are very easily scared. Pro-
bably this is the child of some poor woman—perhaps
some deck passenger. There's always a plenty of
them, and they are the very kind that do not half take care
of their babies. lam sure Sarah would have hung on
to hers to the last minute, and it would have gone
down with her."

Eben had sagacity enough to see the fallacy of this
reasoning. He did not believe that poor people were
less fond of their children than the rich; he thought,
indeed, that the reverse of this position was true.
Besides, he knew that Mrs. Sibbald must have had a
nurse with her to whom she might have been induced
to intrust her infant, and thus have been separated
from it. Still, as the published list showed many
children to have been lost, he could but own that the
chances were against this rescued one proving to be
the grandson and heir of old Simeon Frazer.
He had argued the point several minutes in his great
agitation before it occurred to him that the ad-
vertisement itself, which he had not yet looked at,
might contain a description of the rescued babe.
With palpitating heart he hunted it up.
"A male infant about a year old!" he said, reading
with despairing voice. "That is all the description;
but that is certainly against us."
"Not altogether," replied Honora. "Little Arthur
was not over eight months."
"Wasn't he? Wasn't he ? " asked Eben, eagerly.
"Well, I will not be long in suspense. Thirty-fourth
street is less than a mile from here, and I shall go at
once and see."

He paused, seemed very thoughtful for awhile, and
then added—

"I wonder what kind of people they are, those
Walworths ? "

•
Honora looked inquiringly into his face; but all
that she said was—

"Of course we know nothing about that; but you
had better make haste."

There must have been something suggestive in the
look or the words, for Eben instantly replied—
"Yes, yes; if anything is to be done, there is no
time to lose."

"You will come right back, and let me know the
result, won't you; and—and all about it?"

"Of course, of course."
"You know I shall be dying of suspense; and,
besides, perhaps—"
"I will come back as quick as possible; and, if
worst comes to worst,' then we will see what can be
done," replied the husband, who was convinced, by
his wife's words and manner, that there was a com-
munity of thought between them, although each was
afraid to take the initiative in divulging it.
"Are you sure that you will know Sarah's child
when you see it?"
"Yes—among a thousand: there is no mistaking
its little pug nose, and great blue saucer eyes. Let ma
alone for that."