The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-30


entirely honest. The probability was that
this William Acton was Philips child
and it was not impossible that Philip had
married Betsy Totwood. 1t struck me
that Laban Sarfurt was a villain, and
that he fancied that he had young Acton
so far in his power that he could eject
him from the title. But what had
particularly to do with that? If | &C
cepted a client, l must serve him. had
no business but to serve his interest
finally told Mr.. Sarfurt that l would
think the matter over. / should probably
have business in Shireton during the
sessions of the Court, and / would call
on him then and examine more fully.
could not take his retainer until | had
further light.
But said he, will you promise not
to take up for the other side?
al 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 a
lawyer that can hold a candle to you.
know them ALL
"No matter whether believed him or
not, / did not feel fattered.
Two weeks later / received letter
from Sarfurt, promising five thousand
dollars if / won.
The five thousand dollars was strong
argument. Was not law really game
of chance, which the strongest hand and
longest purse must win? / told myself
yes. Yes-and sat down and wrote re-
ply, saying 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 threw
it into the fire. l would not make up
my mind until had seen other parties
until l had been on the grounds. And
wrote to Laban Sarfurt to wait.
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, girl, was a year old, our pride,
our pet aud 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 and
beautiful. We stopped and took dinner
at a wayside inn, four miles beyond
which was stream which must be forded.
The innkeeper told me that the stream
was somewhat swollen from the late
rains, but that if my horse was trusty
there could be no danger.
Arriving at the stream, the Wampa-
tuck River, l found the water indeed
risen and the current strong, but / saw
that others had recently gone over, and
l resolved to venture. KNEW my horse
and had faith in him. My wife was
anxious, but she trusted to my judg-
ment. A third of the way across the
water was over the hub of the wheels.
A little more and it would have reached
the body of the wagon. l began to be
alarmed; l feared l had left the true
track. Presently my horse stumbled
and staggered, having evidently stepped
on moving stone. The wagon swayed
and tipped, and the food poured in upon
us. My wife slipped, and in a moment
more we were in the water. With one
hand / grasped the harness upon the
horse, and with the other held my wife.
l was thus struggling when wild cry
from her lips startled the air. Our child
was washed away.
ooh, my soul ! | cannot tell you what
l suffered during those moments. could
not help our darling. If l left my wife
she was lost. l chung to the horse and
chung to my shrieking wife-shrieking to
God for mercy for her child. In the dis
lance, upon the bosom of the surging
food, l could see our little one, her white
dress cleaning in the sun, being borne
swiftly away. A moment more and saw
a man plunge from the bank into the
river. saw this much, and then an in
tervening point of land shut out the
scene. The horse was now rapidly near
ing the shore, and ere long my wife and
1 were on dry land with the horse and
wagon. As soon as l was sure my wife
was safe, l left her to care for the horse,
while l posted down the river in quest
OF the swimmer and the child.
"You may well understand that all
this time was frantic. l was machine
being operated upon by q surging and
agonizing emotion. How long or how
far wandered 1 do not know, but at
length met man, wet and dripping,
with my darling in his arms-my dar-
ling, safe and sound. He told me that
he had caught the child within few
rods of the falls:and that in landing he
had cleared the fatal abyss by not more
than two yards. He was young man,
not more than twenty-five, handsome
and stalwart. He said he had seen my
wagon tip, and was coming to my assist
ance when he saw the child washed away.
1 threw my life into the balance said
he, with genial smile, and, thank God
both the lives were saved
81 asked him how ! could ever repay
him. He stopped me with an imploring
gesture:
0sTf Won tolL IF ,,oro INV, +bor Jbovo