South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-02-08
A Lawyers Story.
BIZ =. o. VAN CALDER.


A client OF the laS firm. with which
l was connected In Lincoln. Ncb had
died, leaving large property, worth
nearly half million dollars, to be held
in trust until the heir or heirs could be
discovered.
l was anxious to find the, heirs. not
only for pecuniary motives, but because
was made deeply interested in them
by the recital ola 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 crring son whom he had
driven from his home, in England. He
had sent him from his home ono dark
night twelve years before. because ofhis
drunken habits, and he had never seen
him since. lie had heard from him but
once all these long years; then lie was
an officer aboard a ship plying between
Liverpool and New York. Though hc
had searched the world over he could
get no trace OF his son. and, finally. worn
out; by incessant grief and travelling. he
had lain down to die in the far West
among strangers, without having ac-
complished the one great desire Of his
aching heart.
AS the death-de was gathering on
his brow, he finished :lp story. and,
with an indcscribable look Of agony,
asked me TO swear to take up the work
where he had left it, and devote my
life, il need be, to the finding OF his son.
if living. / should receive $4,000
when the heir was found. Young and
romantic, my sympathies were fully a.,
reused; so. with my hand clasped in
the nervous grasp Of the dying man. l
promised never to give mp the search
until the lost one was found.
Mr.. Grey had made such disposition
OF his property that l coul'l draw my
travelling expenses SO l commenced
the task the day after his death.
l took the cars at Lincoln, and was
soon in Crete. q small station in Central
Nebraska. Here changed to the stage.
coach bound for Holders rancho, fifteen
miles to the north. As we were trav-
cling along at n rate OF speed for which
Western stage-coaches are renowned, l
tried to shape some definite course to
| pursue, & had almost decided to retrace
my journey to Lincoln and start for the
Eastern States. when my thoughts were
diverted from the subjects by The sud
! den upsetting Of tue lumoering vehicle.
! We had been thrca ling our way around
tho edge of u gulch. when the shyino
| OF one of the horses sent the coach and
/ contents into leap at the bottom.
was conscious OF falling. AMI then all
was a blank.
When recovered my consciousness
l was in pleasant though plainly furn-
ished room, through the door OF which
1 could see pale-fa ;cd woman sewing
near q table. At the same time she
was sweetly hu,nming paby song AMI
rocking an o!d-fashioped cradle with
her foot. 1t was an interesting picture
and made me tl.inl: OF my own child
hood, with mother singing baby Nell tc
sleep. ! tried to think how came tc
he there, and wondered if / had died
and was in heaven. As my thoughts
turned to myself tried to rise, when
an acute pain in my side made me cry
out in agony. Then the sweet face oil
the woman was over my pillow, anu
tender eyes looked pityingly into mine
as she asked me IL felt much pain
Her voice, so low and sweet, made n;
forget my suffering. and asked where
1 was ard how came there.
Don't you remember your falling in.
to the gulch with the stage coach yes,
tcriay?' she asked.
'Oh, now / remember reptile IL. i
was going to Holders rancho when VIC
were all tipped into that gulch AMI kill
ed.
no. no. Killed she said. smiling q,
my serious tone: but sadly bruised
and Marvin brought you here for me &c
nurse back to life; for you were almost
gone when he got you out OF tllC
wreck.
was going 70 ask who Mlrvin was
hut she said must not talk any more
until The fever left me.
The following week was n period o.
great suffering for me, but my faithfu
nurse did all that could be done. 10 make
my surroundings pleasant for my ration
al moments. was conscious Of the
presence OF n young man at my bedside
and knew that he was the Marvin who
had brought me from the gulch.
Near the end OF the second week af-
ter the accident the fever left me and
] began 70 recover. Up to that time bad
been unable TO converse except with
great pain, but OF this afternoon. when
the fever was all out OF my system.
coul'l talk rs we'll as usual. Ny recover
was slow. and for many days was com
PEELED TO keep my bed. but at last I was
permitted to sit UP, braced by pillows.
in the big armchair. One day. while
sitting thus, watching Mrs. Warle. my
nurse, at her work, asked how she aud
her husband came 10 settle in such q
wild country. She replied that it was
a long story and might tire me too much
but assured her that it would not. 80
she thought for o momont, and then
! said