The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-07-12

feel q great anxiety again. In o few
moments matters would be brought to
the test. Was it al o creation Of his
fancy, or had that terrible old man really
performed thea acti Then came the pic
ture OF tho grief-stricken lady. Max
well steeled his heart against all doubts,
for her sake.
All OF once, while he was anguidly
pushing on, pale and half exhausted
with his exertions, the three great pines
burst upon;his view, standing against the
broad red sky. His heart gave leap.
He had at Inst arrived on the ground. He
ran on slowly, barely moving the crank,
and began to search the ground with his
eyes. .
partly covered with bushes. He went
on for n hundred yards. Hesaw nothing.
Then he stopped and sat down, and,
burying his face in his hands, tried to
recall his impressions, First the group.
Then the old man with the handkerchief.
Then the unbuttoniDg Of the. coat. Then
the. pocketbook with its nickel clasps.
Then the throw from the wind Then
the oranges flying in the air. Them
then-then, yes, the pine trees. Then
nothing. All, how much like 0
mystery It all eeemedl
But yet, here he was. He had nothing
to do butto search well, ,-and toput oil
his doubts at rest by actual labor. BE
went on hundred yards. Here, he
was certain, vas the limit Of the dis
tance that was passed over after the
wallet was thrown, and before the pine
trees we're reached. He descended from
his car, taking with him. o small tin
lantern with candle that he found in
the, box, Then. he began. his TASK in
earnest. He walked up and down in the
twilight, bending nearer and nearer to
the earth as the light grew les and less.
It was o strange situation: No one was
near. Thesfrogsbe began 10 croak in the
pools near by, the owls began to hoot in
the black trees, and the bats began to
whirl to and fro in the, damp air. Still
the STOPPING figure q the boy went plod-
ding here. and there, now stoopias 70
feel Of -sonsething beneath its feet, and
now atraightening itself up for little
rest. 1na little while he lit his lantern.
Then he went on, up and down, now
around this tree and now around that,
but seeing nothing. He despaired a
score Of times, but twenty timeS too, he
plucked up courage and renewed his
earch. Nine o'clock came. His candle
as burned low, and it was growing
Sld. What a wild.goose chaseL What
silly task. ,'..'s-l 4 : -
AHe heard arumbling in the distance.
'4h," said he, "another traini I wish
tin I were upon itl" His feet were
We and he was exhausted with hunger
ant labor. His, lantern hung carclessly
frok his hand. Suddenly, like two nays
froina star, two flashes came out Of the
earth The boy gave aleap and o shout.
He hd found the wallet The clasps
had bstrayed i'll His heart was in o
tumu thousand things shot through
his u bin. The portraits wero thercI !
THE, autiful lady would be filled with
happiikssl 80 go {v
THAI tSas enough for his kindly heart.
He wal Acontent. AL that he had done,
all his troubles md NIL his work, sank
out OF light under tho knowledge that
he was hSlecto convey q little Joy. 1T
was atrlmph OF q quick wit and ton
der heart over the sluggish bJy-nat,re.
II had bc 4 q battle OF the head and the
sympathi against natural selashness,
against q aiural impulse to let affairs
take their q m course. dc had sprung
ont Of the ms Of people in the car upon
q mere hint and had done an act that
tho .stronges man there would have
been proud Of Maxwell stood up twice
q man.
But the road If tho train canic nearer
and nearer. An once he gayc cry Of
dismay. Tho nd.car was still upon
tho track! IN abort, sharp shriels
from the whistle on instant more-then
n fearful ctash kd smashing OF the
trees by the road1 Be /! The train rushed
into sight. II vi safe, but IL was still
shrieking as il it d gone crazy. The
speed lessened.
,"Hallo!r cried MAXWELL; ats nv
chance for q ride home.i noHarrahlh
And heran for the balm as fast as his
legs could carry hind 1t was dark, and
as the people came a. to see what the
matter was, he climbR in unseen, and
took seat in an obscte corner. Five
minutes later the car went on. Five
minutes later still, tlia stowaway was
found by the still dAFy conductor.
Maxwell told his story am aprovet il. The
conductor, at first iurioi grew inte.-
estcd, and then he laugh4 heartily.
!" Good goodp he cfAd, and ho
struck his fat knee with aisat approval
Of the whole matter. eappose You
telegraph at the. next statsn that you
haye found the pocketbook, Telegraph
to the conductor OF that trdh-train AZ
and send il to Hillsboro, w;ch is the
Inst stopping place before H. He
will read tho message to thes sady, and
she will be at tho depot to r(piive you
when we arrive"
!" Capital | capital |" cried Naxwell.
"Lct US do III"
.l3s2s go. sl-aa a. -
AT eleven o'clock that night Maxwell
stepped from the train, and he aund
himself instantly caught in the ar OF
tho lady. She was wild with joy. NEhe
gnlsped the pocketbook with q Cd OF
intense delight and kissed the bluSlf lfag
boy time and again, to the great asi b.
ishment Of Maxwell's father, who std
near by. ,Theluncle, too came up, lod
Ing. acknowledgements, and he thankd
the boy in the most earnest manner.
It was, indeed, true that. the eldeA
gentleman was insane. Thus the finding
Of the wallet was tloubly fortunate, and
double gratitude fell to MaxWelis lot.
I'M. = ~. -. 4. II - l..