The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-14
an and 4, women Y. lay crushed in the debris

OF the HhAttefed trnins.
twas midnight when the relief train
which had been sent ont 70 the spot
started for the city, and among the
dead laid out in the baggage car lsy the
form OF Dora crushed ont OF all sem.
blance OF beauty. Charity draws the
mantle Of forgetfulness over the sins
OF the dead, yet it is neither uncharita.
BILE nor unkind TO say that II was BAT.
ter for Dora that she passed away
thus, than that she should have lived
to travel TO It's bitter and inevitable end
the road in which she had set her way.
ward feet.
The effect Of the disaster upon old
Biles was terrible. He blamed himself
and vented curses on the day he was
born; he rayed until exhausted nature
gave way In him, and then settled down
into that semi.idiotic condition Of mind
so painful to see In one whom we have
known in brighter times. His sole GO:
cupation now was the adornment and
beauEfying Of the grave Of Dora, in the
shady center Of GreehiAount cemetery ;
and on any afternoon the poor old man
could be found seated by Its side. His
friends, seeing that unless some change
could be effected in him he would soon
sink into hopelessimbecilily, succeeded
in persuading him to sell his farm and
try the effects Of On entire change OF
place and scene. It cost him terrible
struggle to make up his mind to leave
the one green spot on earth TO him
Che grave Of his child, but he had yet
strength OF mind remaining TO SEQ that
unless he made some effort he would
sink hopelessly into despair.
And so, with man y pang, he turned
his blak upon his home. But the
young, vigorous manhood, instead oil
inspiring him with energy and life, was
too much for his grasp, and the money
he brought with him was soon rapidly
melting away in unwise operations, In
which he was made the dupe Of unscru-
pulous or visionary specnlators. The
poor old mans helpless state, and some
little inkling OF his unhappy history
which had gained currency through LET
ters from home among the Baltimore.
ans here, awoke q feeling Of sympathy
for him, and q kindly merchant man.
aged to rescue. before II was all gone,
q sufficient sum TO yield, in the way oi
interest, little stipend amounting to o
few dollars % week, Just sufficient 10
keep body and soul together, which Ia
now paid to him at stated intervals.
During the existence OF the Monumen-
tai Fire Company, principally COM
posed OF former residents Of Baltimore,
Old Biles was always welcome to the
engine house.
He would stand by the old engine,
whose panels were decorated with views
of the City Of Monuments, and caresa
It's sides with loving touch, as though
il were q connecting link binding him
TO the green earth where lay buried his
broken heart in the grave Of his child.
For hours he would sit on the wooden
bench outside the door, gazing into
vacancy, and an occasional look OF
Hhadowy happiness would pass over his
countenance, as though passing angel
had stopped in pity 70 lay the hand Of
sympathy upon his frosted hair.
i had entirely lost sight OF him for
some years, until my meeting with him
as above related the other morning,
and as his life story flashed through
my brain, my quicker footsteps had
overtaken and passed Old Biles with
the same old sad look in his face, and
his bent, decrepit, ainless walk, pass.
ing along among the busy throng Of
men with the air Of one in o dream.