Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-18

seemed crushed-he had neither ambition
nor energy. The woman went about hel
daily toll in dull, listless manner. Thsi
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 il
the world old acquaintance and relatives
were gone, or had forgotten them. They
made no new ones. Poor, lonely, sad, the,
chung to each other, and shared each 9th
er's sorrows and trials. There was no jo,
to share. Their child would have beer
eighteen years old-aoas if he lived wher
what is called a piece of good luck hap
pened to them. A PARKWAY relative dice
and left them little fortune. He had moi
taken much notice of them during life,
but he had given item a thought on his
death-bed. They were comparatively rich
When they knew il, the same thought
came to each at once. The woman utter.
ed it first.
"Martin.'' 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 ns-I feel sure of it
at last, Martin, at last"
Eyes, it may be SO, Agnes" the man
said. sit may be SO; the time has been
long, the days woeful, but we may be hap
py after all that has gone. Agnes, I be-
lieve it will be 500
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 this small spark
of hope in their hearts. Through all the
proceedings that followed this grew and
grew; and when, at last, they found them
selves undisputed owners of pretty house
and money euough to live on in comfort,
they began to feel sure that their boy would
vet share it with them.
The first evening in their new home was
almost happy.
''Agnes, we must put this cash away in
bank Tomorrow" said the husband,
counting over a roll of notes. ut is not
safe to keep it here, and we must be care
full; we have that to do which must make
us economical
Eyes, Martini 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 moth
ing until he does come"
Afterward in the dark. their heads close
together on the pillow, the elderly couple
talked on, dreaming like children.
'.Martin,'' said Agnes, ''when he does
come, our poor hoy, perhaps he will be
rough and not well-mannered; he has not
had us to teach him; we must be very len
lent
Eyes, ves," said Martin; ''but the boy
will improve. He will improve. Young
as he is, he can 60 to college YETI
'sAway from us 20 said the mother.
mo, no; he shall come home every day."
said the father, "Will he be tall, I wonder?
We are usually tall, but your people are
shorter.n
Something may have happened to hurt
his looks,'' said the mother; "but we would
only love him better for it, if it is so. How
ever he comes, we will be so good, so good
to him. He will come, will he not, Mar
tin he could not be dead; after all 2"
''No, no, feel sure he will come. I've
known all the while he was not dead"
said Martin. 'sI'll advertise all over the
United States-all over Europe. If that
fails, even in India, in some way, you
see he may have been carried to some for
eign country. Men who know all langua-
ges that are spoken shall see that my ad-
vertisement is put into each one. Yes,
we shall have him back.''
clark, said Agnes; "what is that p
They listened. A low, grating sound at
the door below, regular and carefully sub
dCed-a click-a crack.
Some one is trying to break in,'' said
Martin.
They were alone in a lonely house on a
lonely road. They had several thousand
dollars in their possession. Martin was rot
a powerful man, and though he had pis
toll, there night be two OF three against
one, and there was little hope for him.
He rose and took his weapon in his hand
and felt about the dark for matches. And
Agnes heard a creaking of the flooring
and the sound of muffied footsteps, and
also sprang to the floor.
"They are at the safe below ?' cried
Martin. 'Agnes, the money-the money
for our boy Oh if my life IS lost for its
sake, cannot lose that. cannot can
not %
"Martin stay! Do not go What can
you do, one man alone T" screamed Agnes.
But he was gone. She was alone in the
darkness. 1t was all over in moment.
There were shots, oaths-a fall-silence.
She crept down stairs, trembling so that
she could hardly stand. Leaning against
the safe was her husband, blood upon his
sleeve; on the floor lay man in Grape
mask, stiffening in death.
''Martln!'' sobbed the woman Martini
81 have killed him'' cried the man.
"Fasten the door; put up the great bar.
Had not forgotten that, they could not
have entered. Oh, it is horrible. but |
couldn't lose every chance of my boy.
They fired at me, at them. | wounded
both. This one is dying. I am little