Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-10-21

ne looked down upon the earth.
Aye he muttered, grinding
his heels into the gravel, "Peter
Tindar is taking the kernel, and
leaving to poor Ellen the worth
| less husk--a husk worse than
worthless! land / am helping him
do it, am robbing my wife of
jOy-my children of honor AMI
comfort-robbing myself of love
and life-just that Peter Tindar
may have the kernel and Ellen
the husk Well see.!'
1t was a revelation to the man.
The tavern-keeper's brief speech,
meant not for his ears, had come
upon his senses as fell the voice OF
the Risen One upon Saul of Tar
sus.
"We'll see J" he repeated, setting
his foot firmly upon the ground !;
and then he wendell his way
! hOmeward.
| On the following morning he
said to his wife:
"Ellen, have you any coffee in
the house?"
eyes, Tom" She did not tell
him that her sister had given it
to her. She was glad to hear him
call for coffee Instead of the old,
old cider.
81 wish yon would make me q
cup strong and good
There was really music in Toms
! voice, and the wife set about the
work with strange fiutter at her
heart.
Tom drank two cups of the
strong. fragrant coffee, and thea
went out,-went out with a reso
lu te step, and walked straight t.
the great mandatory, where he
| found Mr.. Scott in the Office.
"Mr. Scott, want to learn my
trade over again.
"Eh, Tom What do you
mean ?"
81 mean that it's Tom Darcy,
come back to the old place, asking
forgiveness for the past aud hop
ing to do better in the fnture.r
"Tom!" cried the manufacturer,
starting forward and grasping his
4 uiC yOu Ill CNt LO ~
really the old Tom ?"
"It's what's left OF him, sir, and
we'll have him whole and strong
very soon if you'll only put him to
work.
"Work ?"-Aye, Tom, and bless
you, too! There's an engine to be
set up and tested; but it Was not
perfect. There were mistakes he
had to correct, and it was late in
the evening when the work was
complete.
CHOW is it, Tom ?" asked Mr..
Scott, as he came into the testing
house, and found the workmen
ready to depart.
"She's all right. sir. You may
give your warrant without fear"
"God bless you, Tom You don't
know how like sweet music the
old voice sounds. Will you take
your old place again?"
"Wait till Monday morning,
sir. you offer it to me then, |
will take it.o
| At the little cottage Ellen Dar-
cy's fiuttering heart was sinking.
That morning, latter Tom had gone
she had found a two-doilar bank
note in the coffee-cup. She knew
he had left it for her. She had been
out and bought ted, and sugar, and
-four, and butter and a bit Of ten
| der steak. and all day long ray
of light had been dancing and
shimmering before her-a ray from
the blessed light of other days.
With prayer and hope she set out
the tea-table,and waited, but the
sun went down,and no Tom came.
Eight o'clock, and almost nine.
Oh was it but false giimmer, af-
| ter all?
| Hank ! The old !-quick, step,
eager for home. Yes-it was Tom.
with the old CRIME upon his hands
and the odor of oil upon his gar
ments.
II have kept you waiting Mel
lie"
"Tom !"
81 didn't mean to, but the work
hung on"
"Tom Tom You've been to
the old shop?'
"Yes-and am to have the old
place. and"
30, rom !"
| And she threw her arms around
his neck and covered his face with
kisses.
"NeIlie, darling, wait a little
while, and you shall have the old
Tom back again"
| "Oh, Tom, I've got him now
bless him! bless him /! My own
Tom my husband my darl-
ing!"
| And then Tom Darcy realized