South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-06-17

ant story, 1t might be Of Joseph or David,
or some good child, who afterwards became
great man and then she would part VIII.
lies brown curls from his forehead, and
IN voice can never forget, say, Promise
me, Willie, when you 60 into the world
and its temptations, aud your mother is
laid down to sleep in the churchyard yon.
der, promise me, child, that her prayers
and her memory shall keep you from all
evil ways And Willie would lift his
laughing blue eyes to her face and saw,
III be tirst-rate man don't be afraid,
mother
'And then, after we had said our pray.
ers, we would 60 to our bed as happy as
the birds that went to their nests in tho
old apple tree branches by the window, aud
just as we were sinking to sleep, wo would
hear soft foot on the stairs, and q loving
face would bend over to see if we wore nice
ly tucked up. 1t is a long time-father
would say after q pause-since l heard
from Willie, but am sure that he has
never fallen into any evil ways. The
memory of his mother would keep him
from that
Rap, rap, rap went the words of the
lady at the door of that old mans heart,
crack, crack, crack went the door on its
rusty hinges, while far above them both,
the angels of God held their breath and
listened. But the lady could only see the
subdued man bury his face in his hands,
and while his own frame shook like an as.
pen leaf, she heard him murmur amid child
like sobs IT.:
'My mother! Oh, my mother =
And she knew the tears that were wash
ing those wrinkled cheeks washed out also
many dark pages in the record of Old Bills
past life so, with silent prayer of thank
fulness, she resumed
but there was one scene my father low
ed to talk of better than all the rest. 1t
was In the morning you were married, Mr..
Strong. 1t was enough to do ones eye
good-he used to say-to look at them as
they walked up the old church aisle, he
with his proud, manly tread, and she a
delicate and fragile creature, fair as the
orange blossom that trembled il her hair
L remember how clear and firm his voice
sounded through the old church, as he
promised to love, protect and cherish the
fair girl at his side; and / know, as he
looked upon her, that the very winds of
heaven should not visit her face too roughly.
'And then my father would tell us about
house made very bright by watchful af-
fections, and of dark-eyed boy and fair
haired girl, who came after a while Ia
gladden. 1t; and then you know he remov-
ed to the West and lost sight of you, Mr..
Strong.
Once again the lady paused, for the man
before her was fearful to behold and when
she spoke again it was in lower and
mournful tone.
Il promised my father, previously to
his death, that if ever L visited his native
State, L would seek his old friends. ]
kept my promise. But when l inquired
for you, they unfolded terrible story to
me, Mr. Strong, they told me of broken,
desolate household, of the gentle, uncom-
planning wife who went down with pray
er on her lips for the erring husband, bro
ken heaEted, to the grave, and of the fair
haired girl they placed in a little while by
her side. Oh, it is a sad, sad story l have
of my fathers old friend.
1T was l 1t was I, that did it all! |
killed them ? said old Bill, in voice
hoarse with emotion, as he lifted his head
from his clasped hands and looked upon
the lady, every feature wearing such look
of agony and remorse that she shuddered
to behold it. Wide, wide open stood the
door then, and the lady FASTENED to pass
IN. A small hand was laid gently upon old
Bills arm, and a sweet voice murmured.
even for all, there is redemption. In
the name of the dear mother that loved
you, in the name of your dying wife, and
OF the dear child that sleeps beside her, |
ask you, to sign the pledge2
q will said old Bill, and he brought
down his hand with such force on the
pine table that his rhuematic limbs hardly
regained their equilibrium, and be eager
ly seized the pen and pledge the lady had
placed before him and when he returned
them to her the name of William Strong
lay in broad legible characters upon the
paper.
There was an expression, ludicrous from
its extreme curiosity, on the bar keeper s
face, as the lady passed quietly through
the shop after the long interview with
old Bill, and the expression was in no de-
Z gree lessened when in a few moments af-
ter, old Bill followed her without stopping
as usual, TO take bis first glass. And he
never passed over that Threshold again.
And now, reader, you whose heart throbs
with tenderness aud reverence for human
ity, fallen, despised, miserable though il
may be, remember that somewhere in tho
heart of your fellow man is a door. which,
though closed for many years, will surely
open to the hand that knocks in kindness
aud the voice that calls 10 love-
Eas~The great lesson for youth 70 learn
Is fidelity to trust. Now and then a bov