The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-04-26

pitying glances OF dozen surrounding
men. and heard the surprised murmurs
from dozens more at the door beyond,
then the motionless form by his side:
With a start he raised himself from
the counter on which he was lying, and
ATTEMPTED to fling himself upon the
hreast of his sister. But the pain was
too much for him, and he fell back
again, his right arm lying limp and
powerless by his side.
There was movement and convul-
siye sob. on the part of the girl. Then,
as Johnny whispered, "Mary," she whis-
pered in response:
"Here, brother, 1 am here"
"Pm 80 glad, Mary, Pm 80 glad and
oh, Mary the three cents"
"Have you lost it, brotherG"
eyes, Mary, it is gone.,and' on
dle2"
Laughable was that! Something tor
merriment-that two children rignt
from the jaws of death, only hairs
breadth escape from the worms and the
mold of the graveyards should, with
their very second breath, moan for lit
tie. petty, pitiful three-cent piece: MY
friend. let me tell you. in the teeth OF
your smile, that in the cities, and in the
towns. and even in the hig ghways and
he'd oerows there are thousands to whom
the loss of 30 poor thing as a three-cent
niece meaus misery-and the gain OF
dollar almost utter happiness.
And this was the story that Bachelor
Toe Willis heard from a 'kind-hearted
man. who was accompanying the little
procession bearing the two children
homeward. The stranger felt strong
enough to force it all upon MIR. Willis,
when that worthy asked, in casual way,
what all this meant.
ii Willis heard rather impatientlyo OF the
Ntwo children and the runaway horse, the
supposed corpses, and their subsequent
viyication; but when he heard of the
wall of the child over the lost three
cents. his heart softened. The story came
home to him-for had he not passed that
very three cent piece, not half square
back?
He turned and walked with the man,
"And the name of these children, y
suggested he. "Perhaps you could tell
me thatY'
"Pm not sure, but l think they live
in that large building over there, and
their neither is rather y0ungish widow
bv the name of johnson, Rachel, by tht
way, as l happen to have the chance O.
knowing"
Rachel johnson.
That name was sufficient to bring up
food of recollections to the mind OF Viii
liza He stopped and allowed the mai
to mass on. Then he turned and strod
r slowly in another direction.
r Rachel johnson! Oh, of course not
t He never knew the mother of those poo
children. But then he once knew
Y Rachel-yes, before her name becam
Q johnson.
= In a twinkling ho saw a rapidly NOV
ing panorama pass before him, and every
!, where through it he saw one falr, pal
s face that he found now he remembers.
(: only to we'll. He remembered too, nj
own mad doubts and suspicious folly
d that, fostered by designers, had separate
Il him from her whom he half suspecte
now, he had been unworthy to possess
It Rachel. ,.. II
e could not help it; that tenement DIRE
v him like loadstone. He turned ont
more and began to retrace his steps.
" It had grown dark now, and LAM
d were lit. From a neighboring windo
e, a thread of light shot out and fell upt
W a little white something that glimmert
er and glowed, and seem to sparkle as
caupht the eve of Bachelor Joe w
ut lis once more. 1t was the despjsed thre
y, cent piece.
ne He was in a different humOr no
ne That cellar which his agent had told nj
about and dragged him to see should
in fixed.
ed He held the three-cent piece in
&C. hand and wandered on. He looked
the innocent little coin, and somehow
er. drew him nearer and nearer 10
nd Rachel. ,ou
.g- Pshaw! What was he thinking gof? i
he was not his Rachel, of course. she m
he ried Rich johnson, and went to st. Lor
or No doubt she was one of the et.te the
lu- whilst he was still Bachelor Joe "
at lis.
He paused in front of the HOT
or From a poorly dressed man who ca
to out he received some directions, in a
nd pressed. sympathetic tone. He ente
en-, the house and wandered up the stairs
ed the darkness. Around and about
ity were no loud noises only subdued b
ely that must be wherever life houris
thickly. =,
rto Strange" thought he, how tt
rk- Door people feel for one another.
of should think there would be no hi
vho left in them. / know my agent
ing they are wearying, worrying set.
leir after all, they have souls"
fore There was light peeping out thro
gh- the cracks of the door of Mrs: Johns
the room. That touching little inciden
igh- the boys misery for the lost trifie
,ive not passed unnoticed. She would
lose had light if all the paupers in
mi Williss tenement had to pawn t
rags into one grand cooperative h
hey So up to the door Mr.. Willis walked,
,ads holding in one hand the three-centp pi
,ing with the other he gave gentle tap.
The door was opened.
all Cased in that dull framework "
he'd fairfaced, golden-haired little woI
ovid shading her eyes and looking out
ince the darkness.
poor Why-yes 1t vast was ms Ia
erty Johnson after all.
ond, '' You want me to tell you all abou1
courtship, do you, and the wedding
med No sir, will not. You have 10
who ten all about those blessed children,
rity; 30 l shall disappoint you. But
ohr children recovered, and grew up,
Its prospered, and were well and happy
WI! called Joe Willis father, so you
imagine, II you choose, that he ma
ie OF the widow and was happy all thr
3 the the remainder of his liie-all of "
oorer can be attributed to the despised Il
q MS cent piece.
,ft as THE Modoc Indians, now numb
the ffty.four males and sixty-three fen
n the ,..A.J %, a -,arv fertile traC