Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1878-10-24

the years followed. Theirs was a
hard case. II death had taken the
boy it would have been far easier to
bear; but they did not believe him
dead, and where was he? In whose
hands? Had he mourned for them
and for home? Had he been i'll used
beaten? They knew nothing, and
the suspense wore their lives away.
1t was an old story to others very
soon; it was always terribly new to
them. At any moment it seemed to
them that the door might open and
their child enter, and the patter of
little feet upon the stones set their
hearts beating wildly Thus when
ten years had passed, and the child of
four would be a child no longer, but
youth taller, doubtless, than his
mother.
No other child came to these peo-
pie, and they were very miserable.
The man seemed crushed-he had
neither ambition nor energy. The
woman went about her daily toll in a
dull, listless manner Their hair
grew gray, and their brows wrinkled
very early. Friends were pitiful; but
grief does not invite-it rather repels.
At last they seemed to stand alone
in the world; old acquaintances and
relatives were gone, or had forgotten
them. They made no new ones.
Poor, lonely, sad, they clung TO each
other. and shared each others sor-
rows and trials. Their child would
have been eighteen years old-tods,
il he lived-when what is called a
piece Of good luck happened to them.
A far-away relative died and left them
little fortune. He had not taken
much notice OF them during life, but
he had given them a thought on his
death bed They were comparatively
rich. When they knew it, the same
thought came to each at once. The
woman uttered it first.
Martini" said she, perhaps we
can find our boy after all. When once
we have the money we will advertise
him all over the length and breadth
OF the land. He may not remember,
but the blessed mark you put upon
his foot, that he will know OF. He
will come to us-I feel sure OF it--at
last, Martin, at last"
yes. 1t may be so. Agnes" the man
said. 1T may be SO; the time has
been long, the days woful, but we may
be happy after all that has gone.
Agnes, believe 1t iUiU be So"
They kissed each other. and made
ready for the journey which they must
take to enter upon their Inheritance.
And they travelled together over the
road, with eyes that grew brighter
for the small spark OF hope in their
hearts. Through all the proceedings
that followed, this grew; and. when
at last they found themselves undis-
puted owners OF pretty house and
money enough to live on in comfort,
they began to feel sure that their boy
would yet share 1t with them.
The first evening in their new home
was almost happy.
agnes, we must put this cash away
In bank Tomorrow" said the hus-
band, counting over a roll Of notes.
ut is not safe to keep it here, and we
must be careful; we have that to do
which must make US economical"
"Yes, Martin" said his wife, as she
held the light for him and he locked
the small, old fashioned safe. "You
see. when the boy comes to US. we
will want to do all we can for him,
and home must be a pretty place.
We can live on almost nothing until
he does come"
Afterward. Ia the dark, their heads
close together on the pillow, the ell
derly couple talked on, dreaming like
children.
Martin, said Agnes, when he does
come, our poor boyl perhaps he will
be rough and not we'll hammered; he
has not had US to teach him; we must
be very lenient."
"Yes. yes," said Martin; "but the
boy will improve. He will improve.
He will improve. Young as he Is, he
can go to college yet"
Away from us?" said the mother.
mo, no, he shall come home every
day." said the father. will he be
tall. wonder? We are usually tall.
but your people are shorter"
Something may have happened to
hurt his looks" said the mother; "but
we would only love him better for 1t
il it is so. However he comes we will
be so good, so good to him. He will
come, will he not, Martin? he cannot
be dead, after all?"
mo, no; / feel sure that he will
come. I've known all the. while he
was not dead" said Martin. "I'll ad-
vertise all over the United States
all over Europe. II that fails, even
In India. in some way. You see, he
may have been carried to some for
eign country. Men who know all
languages that are spoken shall see
that my advertisement is put into
each one. Yes. we shall have him
back"
"Hark," said Agnes; what is that?"
They listened. A low, grating
sound at the door below. regular and
carefully subdued-a click-a crack.
"Some one is irving to break in, "