The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-10-20

fectly clear--nOt entirely honest The pro-
liability was that this William Acton was
Phillips child, and it was not impossible
that Philip had married Betsy Totwood. 1t
struck me that Ltban SlrIurt was a vilalin,
and that he lancied he had young Acton so
far in his power that lie could eject him
from the title But what had particularly
| to do with that? fl accepted Il client, /
| must serve him. had no business but to
serve his interest. ! finally told Mr.. Sar-
furt that would think the matter over. |
should probably have business in Shireton
during the session of the court, and | would
call on him there and examine more fully.
| could not take his retainer until had fur
ther light"
"But," said he, "will you promise not to
take up the other side?" ......
81 told him would do nothing without
further consultation with him."
"Because," he added, "if you are for me
am sure to win. Acton can't find lawyer
that can hold Il candle TO you. / know them
ALL"
"No matter whether believed him or not,
I did not feel fattered."
1.-TWO weeks later received a letter from
Sarfurt, promising me $4,000 if 1 won."
"The five thousand dollars was strong
argument. Was not law really game of
chance, in which the strongest hand and
longest purse must win? told myself yes,
Yes-and sat down and wrote a reply, say
ing that would take the case. But did
not mail it at once. That night l put it
under my pillow, and slept over it; and on
the following morning 1 threw it into the
fire. | would not make up my mind until
| had seen other parties-until / had been
on the grounds. And wrote to Laban Sar.
furt to wait" D.
"Two weeks later harnessed my horse to
the wagon, and, with my wife and child,
started for Shireton. | had been married
two years, and our little babe, a girl was a
year old, our pride, our pet and our darling.
Shireton was distance of about thirty
miles. We had been having rainy weather
for week or so and it had now cleared of
bright aud beautiful. We stopped and took
dinner at an inn, four miles beyond which
was aistream which must be forded. The;nn-
keeper told me that the stream was some
what swollen from the late rains, but that il
my horse was trusty there could be nc
danger" ..'"...
"Arrived at the stream, the Wampatuck
river, found the water indeed risen, and
the current strong but | saw that others hac
recently gone over and I resolved to ven
ture. knew my horse, and had faith ii
him. My wife was anxious and she trusted
my judgment A third of the way across
the water was over the hub ofthe wheels. A
little more and it would have reached til,
body of the wagon. / began to be alarmed
feared had left the true track. Presently
my horse stumbled and staggered having
evidently stepped on moving stone. The
wagon swayed and tipped, and in a momen
more we were in the water. With one hant
grasped the harness upon the horse anC
with the other held my wife. / was thu
struggling when 4 wild cry from her lip
startled the air. Our child was washed
away.
"Oh, my soul | cannot tell you wha
suffered during those moments. 1 coul'
not help our darling If left my wife sh
was lost. / clung to the horse and clung t.
my shrieking wife shrieking to Coz
to have mercy for her child. In thu
? distance, upon the bosom of the surgin
, flood, / could see our little one, her whit
dress cleaning in the sun being borne swift
away A moment more and | saw a ma
Q plunge from the bank into the river. say
t this much, and then an intervening poin
of land shut out the scene The horse wa
: now rapidly nearing the shore, and ere Ion
my wife and | were on dry land, with til
r horse and wagon. As soon as | was sur
my wife was safe left her to care for tn
l horse while posted off down the river ban
l in quest of the swimmer and the child.
"You may well understand that all thi
time was frantic; | was machine beini
operated upon by II surging and agcnlzin
emotion. How long or how far WANDERED
| do not know, but at length | met mar
wet and dripping with my darling IN hi
arms. my darling safe and sound. lie toll
me that he Lad caught the child within
few rods of the falls, and that in landing h
had cleared the fatal abyss hy not more thai
two yards. He was young man, not more
than %, handsome and stalwart. lie said h
had seen my wagon tip, and was coming t
my assistance when he saw the child washe'
away 4 threw my life into the balance,
said he with genial smile, 'and thank God
both the lives were saved!
81; asked him how | should ever repa.
him." lie stopped me with an implorinl
gesture
"If you talk of more pay than have al
ready received, he said, 'iiyou can rob M
of the only solid reward | can claim, mercy
, if saving the life Of such a cherub is no
enough of reward in itself, then hard is tn
hear: that Graves And, with moistene,
eyes, he told me that he had a child of hi
: own at home-an only child Of very nearl.
, the same age.
81 asked if he would tell me his name
a With a smile, he answered that bis nam
, did not matter--he was not sure that h'
, had name, then asked him if he kney
me. He noddcd, and said he thought
: might be Mr., darlington. When ! tol'
him he was correct he Immediately turne,
= away. was too deeply moved to stop him
! and when he had disappeared l started Il
y rejoin my wife with dawning impression
. that the,mpn might be slightly derangcd. Blu
4 my darling was saie--her broad, feecy cloa
a had aoat,d out and kept her head aboy
n water and went on my way rejoicing
. resolved that the preseryer of my chill
a should not be forgotten.
~ will not tell you of the emotion of m
c wife when she held her child once more il
!. her arms. We reached Shireton before might
| and found quarters at a comfortable tavern