The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-07-24

I NV name is WhittOn what mal
/ call YOURS ?" asked the major
"Ames-Robert Ames," replieS
the soldier. II am a shipwright by
trade. l worked at 3 yard neal
Greenpoint, before the war
A shrill scream ringing out on the
still evening air attracted the atten
ton of the two.
The scream came from . woman !,
( lips.
Ia crossing Broadway the woman
had been knocked down by an omni
bus and had fallen right In front o.
the horses
Quickly the soldier and Nhittor
sprung to her assistance
The omnibus driver had luckily
pulled his horses up upon perceiTing
the woman in front of him. so that
: beyOnd the bruises caused By her fall
she had escaped injury.
The two men assisted the woman
-whe. though clad in wretched gar
ments was both young and pretty-to
the sidewalk
Are yoa hurt, nla'am r. asked the
soldier messenger.
No thank you: only slight bruise :
replied the woman in low, sweet
voice. Il was more frightened than
| was hHrt-
Ames started with surprise as the
woman spoke, and anxiously he look
ed in her face
"4gaes RGplye.'~ he cried in a.
tonishment
What exclaimed the woman
amazed, do you know me Z"
Have vou forgot Robert Ames -
the soldier said, a slight huskiness
pereeptible in his voice
@You Robert Ames - the woman
exclaimed, a. if unable to believe Der
hearing
Yes. / am the Robert Ames that
voa once knew the soldier said Il
have changed a great deal since 81,
but voa have changed more than l. -
Sad was the tone Of thespeaker
oh, | have had ~ much trouble. "
the woman cried, despairing,y. My
husband now i living on his death
bed. | fear; ! was seeking some
friends for assistance. Robert" ex-
claimed the woman. looking into his
face with her soft blue eyes, -can
YOU forget the past and aid me now in
my hour Of trouble p
"W1lingly,- cried the soldier. iIa-
pulsively. What DO you wish me
to do p
Come with me 10 my wretched
home and see if anything esn be done
10 aid nv husband the woman re-
piled
Yes, III 90 On atonce"
I'm 90 with you,r exclaimed tire
major, perceiving there was some mys-
terry connected with the woman and
soldier messengers relations in the
past
The woman whom the Red cap had
called Agnes Raplye led the way,
while the one-armed soldier and the
major followed
@The woman-or girl rather, for
she seems 70 be qaite voung-is an
old Acquaintance Of yours" the ma
jor said.
YES, = replied Ames; in so she
almost broke my heart; and in 90
her husband cost me nv right arm
Through him and her my whole life
has been ruined"
The major stared in astonishment
as these strange words fen upon his
ears.
The woman led the way 10 i tene-
ment house in Mulberry street
The house was situated in the rear
and was one Of the wors; Of It's class.
The stairs and entry WAYS were reek-
ing with filth Contagion lurked in
the air
The woman led the two 10 I room
At the very top Of the house
On a dirty mattress extended on the
bare floor lay a man evidently nigh
unto death. The bloated and swol-
len features told that the demon, Rum,
had much 10 DO with the advent Of
the Dark Angel. who even now was
tapping his wings over the head Of
the death stricken man
The major, though used TO scenes
OF carnage, shuddered at this sight
is there any hope - asked the wO-
man, eagerly.
The major shook his head
Il viii not attempt to deceive you
he said SLOWLY. Il DO not think be
viii live an hour"
@0h. If be would but speak before
be dies the wife moaned. sadly
He has some secret upon bis mind
something that concerns nv hapPi-
ness, 80 he said He was about to
tell me before this attack
Then be has not spoken since ?"
No
Possibly some brandy might re-
vive him 80 that be can speak VII
you 20 for some p
The major gave her greenbaek, .
and quickly she departed
The Red cap gazed long and earn
estly at the face Of the helpless man.
f. You know him - asked the major.
'1Yes, he was once my rival for the
love Of the woman who has Just left
Us, Agnes" the soldier said His
name is William Raplye He and
were boys together-IiFed IN the same
20 the same school, and
then, when we became men. entered i
The same shipysrd and worked side
by SIDE He was handsome fellow
you wouldn't think It TO look at him
1ow-but be was ALWAYS fond Of
irink and deyilment. and | see it has
proved the ruin Of him &; not onlv his
ruin, but hers, t0o-the girl. major.
once loved better than | did anv-
hing else in the world III tell voa
he whole story-that Is, If you'd like
70 hear it .
"Certainly; 1 feel quite a curl
,sitv.r
While Bill Raplye and We're
side By side in the same ward,
We both got acquainted with Agnes.
She was an orphan, without a rela-
i've in the world, and worked in a
store on Dawson street.
he hnariah ins. tr-n dnnrs FINN my