South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-09-30

er INES IN hlS Wile lace. ne lttlc girl
at their freside bad grown into a tall, hand
some young woman. Once more we enter
the inner sanctum of their lives.
1T is fathers step, mother said Lucy
Parker, jumping up to open the door
well, father, what luck ?
Bad enough, child, said old Paul, meek
ly shaking the powdery fringe of snow
from his overcoat 'Miltou's down ag'n
with fever'n ague; his wife's poorly, and
Bruce has had a stroke, so he can't work
no more
And they didn't pay you the money?
Paul you were a fool for ever lending it,
shrieked his wife shrilly. And what are
we to do, with lawyer Martin writin aud
writin for the money we owe him
I'VE can do nothing, WIFE
I'VE shall be sold out at auction, and die
in poor house yet. Oh, Paul, why didn't
you pay more heed to what I've always
kept tellin' you 2
'Not so bad as that, hope said the old
man cheerily though the muscles of his
lip and brow quivered.
Father, is it st. john Martin, the Leeds
street lawyer, to whom you owe this mon-
ey"
yes; what do you know about himY
'Not much but met his son at several
parties last fall, and II think, if you
were to 90 there and tell him just how it
| Is, or write, even
mo USE crooked Mrs Parker, despair
ingly, 'other folks amt so ready to let 90 of
their money as your father is, Lucy
May be it's worth trying, said old Paul,
hopefully, well write this very night and
next week wen 90 up to Boston aud see
what answer he makes US
Aud then Lucy, blushing like a sweet
pea ran to get the pen and paper, timidly
trusting in the efficacy of her plan.
For his father can't be 50 very hard
hearted, she thought, land they are so very
rich that surely they will be willing to wait
for this five hundred dollars until we eau
pay it
The elegantly furnished little Office on
Leeds street did not often have such ouire
[ equipages drawn up before it as Paul Park
er's mud be splashed box wagon and shay
gy old pony, and the elegantly attired
young lawyer, who sat at the desk exam =
lining some papers, glanced up in surprise
as the blooming girl and the bent old man
entered together, like May and December.
lucy !
'Ninian 1 thought your Ether-I did
not know that
My father is detained at his country
scat ard | am acting member of the firm,
Lucy. He took me into partnership last
week, aud this is
He turned inquiringly, and with some
thing Of start, to the brown faced old
man. who stood modestly in the back ground
Lucy introduced her father, and stated their
business, with profusion Of very becom-
ing bushes. She had not expected to find
her gallant young cavalier of the past fall
in the Office Of ST. John Martin.
I'VE are in very Strengthened circumstan-
ces, Mr. Marlin concluded Lucy, aud my
father cannot al present hope to discharge
this debt but am soon 20 have a very good
situation in Madam Elvaiue' school as mu.
sic teacher, and We can get along and pay
part at q time if your father would be 50 kind
as to wait little
Lucy stopped short; her voice was getting
unsteady, and she was far too proud 20 yield
to the fast coming tears in Ninian Martin
presence.
The young man had listened in silence,
but now he took tin box from its shelf in
the safe and unlocking it disclosed sundry
packages Of labelled notes, receipts, etc.
LET me see, be said running his eye
over them, 'it was note for five hundred
dollars, l believe
yes, sir answered the old man, for
FIVE hundred dollars
is this your note 2
Yes, sir
Minian Martin tore il in two, and laid the
fragments on the FIRE. Paul Parker aud
Lucy g1zed in astonisbment as the young
lawyer lifted his dark eyes calmly toward
them
MIR. Parker, you will please consider that
you have this day received payment for a
very old debt. We have balanced accounts
Sir, ! don't understand you, said the
bewildercd old man I don't remember
But I do. Il is rather more than ten
years, Mr. Parker, since you puttbat money
at interest
'Sir 2
Il will be more plain with you, said the
young man, smiling Perhaps Miss Park
er De- not aware that am only the adopted
son Of my more than father Ny real name
Is NIuo Beraui ] ara an Italian by birth
just ten years ego ] was begging in the
streets Of Laudhill, starved and pcnnilcss
a kind hand-yon know whose, Mr.. Parker
extended itself TO me in tho hour Of need >
The old man face lighted up
II do remember now IL was a Fifty cent
piece; and told you TO come back just
week from that time and
And / did not come No, but ] tried
ny very best 90 come, but was prevented by
The brutality Of the man whose slave and