The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-12
A Lawyers Story,

A client of the law firm with which was
connected in Lincoln, Neb., had died, leav-
ing very large property, worth nearly
half million dollars, to be held in trust
until the heir or heirs could be dis
covererd.
l was anxious to find the heirs, not only
for pecunisry motives, but because was
made deeply interested in them by the re-
cital of story which the client, Marvin
Grey, had told to me on the day of his
death. His breath was almost spent when
stood by his bedside and listened attentively
to catch the low sound of his voice as he
whispered the sad tale of an erring son
whom he had driven from his home in
England. He had sent him from his home
one dark night, twelve years before, be-
cause of his drunken habits, and he had
never seen him since. He had heard from
him but once in all these long years; then
he was an officer aboard a ship plying be-
tween Liverpool and New York. Though
he had searched the world over he could
get no trace of his son, and, finally, worn
out by incessant grief and travelling, he laid
down to die in the far West among stran-
gers, without having accomplished the one
great desire of his aching heart.
As the death dew was gathering on his
brow, he finished the story, and, with
an indescribable look of agony, asked
me to swear to take up the work where he
had left it, and devote my life, if need be,
to the finding of his son, if living. I
should receive twenty thousand dollars
when he was found. Young and romantic
my sympathies were fully aroused; SO,
with my hand clasped in the nervous grasp
of the dying man, I promised never to
give up the search until the lost one was
found
Mr.. Grey had made such disposition Of
his property that could draw my travel
ing expenses; SO I commenced the i'm
5 portant task the day after his untimely
, death.
I took the cars at Lincoln, and was ,soor
, in Crete a small station in Central Ne.
braska. Here I changed to the stage
= coach bound for Hoblers rancho, ffteer
: miles to the north. As we were travelling
along at rate of speed for which Western
a stage-coaches are renowned, tried to shape
a some definite course to pursue, and had
: almost decided to retrace my journey te
. Lincoln and start for the Eastern States
a when my thoughts were diverted from tht
= subject by the sudden upsetting of the lum
: bering vehicle. We had been threading
O our way around the edge of gulch
IS when the shying of one of the horses sen
a the coach and contents into heap at th,
bottom. was conscious of falling, ant
II then all was blank
k When l recovered my consciousness
! was in pleasant though plainly Furnished
; room, through the door of which coule
d see pale-faced woman sewing near table
. . At the same time she was sweetly hum
d ming baby song and rocking an old
fashioned cradle with her foot. 1t was al
6 interesting picture, and made me think o.
y my own childhood with mother singing
r baby Nell to sleep tried to think how
Q came to be there, and wondered if I ha,
4 died and was in heaven
a As my thoughts turned to myself triet
: to rise, when an acute pain in my sid
+ made me cry out in agony. Then th
d sweet face of the woman was over my pil
low, and tender eyes looked pityingly int
= mine as she asked me if felt much pain
e Her voice so low and sweet, made me for
: get my suffering, and l asked where wa
:. and how came there.
: Don't you remember your fariae int
: the gulch with the stage-coach yesterday i!
she asked.
a ooh, now remember" l replied. "
G was going to Hobler's rancho whel
i we were all tipped into that gulch an,
killed"
mo, not killed." she said, smiling a
e my serious tone; 'but badly bruised; ont
, Marvin brought you here for me to nurs
> back to life; for you were almost gon
r when he got you out of the wreck"
- was going to ask who Marvin was, bu
r she said must not talk any more until th
: fever left me-
. . The following week was period o
+ great suffering for me, but my faithful
t n1rse did all that could be done to max
y my surroundings pleasant for my rationn
o moments. 1 was conscious of the presenc
Of a young man at my bedside. and knev