Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-06-25

J" nen Gne olu mau SaiusQ MS accuS
toned walk among the great sycamores
he wiped something from his eye. He
acted as though mote had blown in
there.
Two weeks passed on. and Agnes grew
pale and thin. She did not sing as she
used to, nor could she smile as had been
her wont. Sill she murmured not, nor
did her kindness to her father grow any
less.
'oh. God! help me to love my fathsr!'
she prayed one night. Let not my grief
make me forget my dutyli Is a.
And the old man heard it.
city, and in his hand he brought small
trunk. He barred the door, and drew the
taLtered curtains close. -7lt
'Seel' he said. as he opened the trunk
and piled the new bank notes upon the
table. Look there. Agnes. aud see how
| have worked in my lifetime. 1 had no
education. but I've laid up money. How
many men would sell me all their brains
to night for this! See-one thousand
o-three-lour-6ve. Count them.
Agnes. There's thousand good dollars
in each package!'
Agnes counted them all over. for she
thought her father wished it, and she
made fifty packages. e
'Why have you taken it from the bank,
father?' she asked.
To let it. my child-to let it at a round
interest. Agnes. shall double it, dar-
Iing-double it-double it!'
And while the old mans eyes sparkled
with evident satisfaction, his child wore
sad. sorrowfuI look. Aud long after
that she sat and looked at the working
features Of her father. and prayed that
the Gold Fiend would set him free.
When Agnes retired she left her father
up: but ere long she heard him put his
little trunk away. and then GO to his bed.
And then she slept.
Harkl What sound is that? Agnes
starts up in alright. and listens. But see
bright light is cleaning out into the
night, and thick volumes of smoke pour
into the garret.
'Firel FireP shouted voice from the
entry. and she hears the sharp cracking
now, and feels the heat. 'Agnesl my
childr Aud in another moment she
meets her father upon the stairs. He is
dressed. but she is not.
Take all your clothing. Agnes. and
you can put it on in the entry. The house
is Il on frep r-r, .t#
ln few moments more the father and
child stoodi in the road. the latter with q
bun IL of clothing in her hand. while the
former held a small trunk. They gazed
upon the burning building. but neither ol
them spoke.
And others came running to the scene.
but none tried to stay the flames. And
the effort would have been useless had il
been tried. for ;he old she'll burned Ike
tinder. But more slill-no one would
have made the effort, even had success
been evident, for the miserable old hut
had too long occupied one Of the fairest
spots in the village. There were no 9th
er buildings TO be endangered, SO they
let the thing burn.
you have your money SAFE said Ag.
mes.
Yes. See-I took the trunk. I left
the candle burning SO that l could watch
it. But went TO sleep, and the candle
must have fallen over. But got the
trunk!' And as he spoke be held it up
and gazed upon it by the light of the
flaming ruins.
THAT'S not Ahe trwnkF whispered Agnes.
in atf'isht.
Nor But the old man spoke no
further. He saw that he had taken the
wrong trunkl This was only filed with
old deeds and dusty receip,s!
Ruined! Lost" groaned Noah Brennan,
as lie turned from the scattered embers.
Il had fifty thousand dollars in that trunk!
And where are they now?'
Never mind. said Agnes. winding her
arm about her fathers neck, 'we'll be
happy without it,
'What? uttered Noah Brennan. gazing
into Walter Adams face. DO you mean
that you will give NE home. too? That
you will provide for me. and keep me2'
Yes returned the youth, hopefully
i could never be happy with Agnes.
much as love her. If thought her poor
old father had no home. Come-we'Il
live together and be as happy as the days
are long
But your salary. young mani
is sufficient r US. sir. l have FIVE
hundred dollars year. We can live
well on that. and lay up something too
Well. well-take her. love hel-be
good to her, make her happy. dOn's never
-
When the old man saw the joyous tears
leap from his child's eyes. he turned
away, and walked quickly from the
house; but he was not SO quick but what
be heard the blessings that followed him.
And when he walked alone beneath the
starry heavens he wiped his own eyes as
thou gh something troubled him.
Gay as lark was gentle, beautiful
Agnes, when she became the wife oi
Mal,ar Adans The rnsa hInnmeh anai,,