The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-21
old. 1t was written from Stanton, and
read as follows: 4.,,U .,,I..

old. It was written from Stanton, and
read as follows; rNin.l,I1.
"DEAR GEORGE: For ten years l have
not written to any Of your family. I
need not disguise the fact that when
your father died / had no other tic to
any Of you. But / have heard latelJ
that you have embraced my profession,
and are practicing, I suppose, in the
old village, Now, 1 am growing old,
and shall soon give up work either with
or without my own free will, and it
might reasonably be supposed that I
would surrender to you, the only other
doctor in tho family, and my brothers
son, my practice. But ] am much op-
posed to bringing strangers into circle
OF patients, II it can be avoided, and I
have n young assistant, who is better
qualified than any one else to take my
place. Besides, you are far better where
you are. But 1t may, perhaps, be in
my power to help you in some other
why and, ut any rate, / would be very
glad il you can get off for few days,
for you to pay me q visit. II is to in
vite you to do this that / now write to
you: Your affectionate uncle,
"Wnn1AM BARRATr.
When got this letter, I determined
TO start of directly, and on my way I
stopped in the city to see my mother.
/ had left my practice in charge Of n
brother physician, residing few miles
from the village, and consequently,
feeling easy in regard to the matter, 1
thought Of spending day or two in the
city before seeing my uncle. But my
mother strongly opposed this.
"Your uncle William" said she, sis
a strange person, and although l never
liked him, and was probably the cause
OF his estranging himself SO entirely
from us, I must admit that he frequent
ly behaved in very kind manner to
your dear father. And he never prom
ised anything, either, but some triiling
help-which often in the days when
your father was struggling to get along,
was Of the greatest value. He paid the
mortgage of the old house, rs a Christ
mas gift, before you were born. You
may depend that il he wishes to see
you, he intends to do something hand
some for you, and you should not lose
another hour; especially as the letter is
three weeks old now. l am very certain
that you will remind him, MS soon rs he
sees you, Of his brother but 1 hope
you will not meet that Bingham"
Until this had not known that Bing-
ham lived in that town, but, ncverthe-
less, set off Immediately for my un-
cle's home, and found myself, as Ibe-
fore stated, walking up the main street
OF Stanton, looking for the corner of
Elm Avenue. AS few Of the streets had
their names posted up, l was about to
step into store to ask for information,
when q large man, with n heavy red
beard, passed me, then stopped, and
stepping back, put his hand on my
and said: "Your namc is
Barratt ?"
I stopped, utterly astounded. Was
this Bingham? Should I deny the
birthright OF my name, or admit II, and
stand ruined from that moment? But
suppose it was one Of my uuclo's family,
a denial would be q pretty piece OF bus
mess in that case? / must confess that
/ was greatly ytemptedto tell o falsehood;
but, apart from the mcanness OF such
thing, what good would it have doneP
All this, which it takes so long to
write, passed very quickly through my
brain, but still Il caused a hesitation,
very perceptible. 5gf
IWhy, It Is Barrett, said the man.
"of course it is, !" said I, for ] could
no longer refrain from acknowledging
the fact "but I must say, sir, that 1
nm not acquainted with yours"
"Don't tyouremember Jim Coleman?"
said he, taking my hand and shaking it
heartily.
jim Coleman, indeed
jim had been schoolmate OF mine
(much older, however, than me), with
whom / had always been n fayorite, and
who had got me out of many n scrape.
The revulsion Of feeling was SO great,
that for o moment Icolld not speak (;
but, then, Tgave him o much heartier
greeting than I fear he would have re-
ceived under any other circumstances.
"Trying to find DR.. Barrat, eh?-
your uncle. Well, ] never knew that.
ri show you; but you must stop iii at
my place first. It's all on the way.
Turn right around this way"
And taking my arm, he led me of in
the opposite direction to which i had
been going. On the way lie informed
me that he Ind been settled in this place
for about three years as Conyeyancer
and real estate agent, and that he was
doing very we'll, and had q large and
useful acquaintance in the town,
When We were seated in his back
office, talking over old times, 1 happened
TO think that this large acquaintance Of
his might bc Of no use to me II Bingham
was included among them, and he thus
learned my location and condition. 1
therefore told Coleman, as at old friend,
my whole story, and the fears ] had had
in coming to this dangerous town.
."You never saw Bingham, then 2"
said he; "never werein his office|
"No," said I; al never saw him to
know him, and certainly was never in
his ofIice.n ~ - q
"well, "said Coleman, you're in it
now.nb Gg5 s7 se
Ifairly jumped as he said this, and
jim, laughed immoderately.
"Why," he asked !" didn't you see
the sign as you came einp-'J. h. Cole
man, late Samuel Bingham 4 Co."
"Iate ~ I cried. 4slH
aiYes; he's been dead this three years
and / bought out his business. As to
olaxton's note, I paid the heirs twenty
fiSe dollar. for chat among a Q lot q Of