The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-11-29
NO. 26


he staggered agains. it nearly
fainting.
"a glass Of wine here" called
Mr.. Barmont.
One of the clerks brought it. 1t
revived him, although ho still look
ed bcwildcred.
"What makes YOU so weak?
Have you been ill.," inquired the
merchant.
Tho other gazed, as if by fasci-
nation against which ho struggled,
with u hungry look, at box Of
damaged crackers, which one Of
the clerks was about to throw into
n refuse cask Mr.. Barmont drew
Warren to one side.
"What is your name, and where
do you live?' he inquired.
"Tltomas Warren. | live at
No.- street."
"IIave you family?'
"a wife and child. Would that
Mary Murston had never married
n poor wretch like mel"
"Mary Marston! Was that
your wifo's name?" cried Barmont,
starting.
"ics, sir"
"Shc had brother. What was
his name?"
"Thomas Marston. Hc went
away years ago and has not been
heard of siucc."
"Your wife was in Boylston,
Observation-Disclosures she not?"
"ies, sir"
"Vory good and so you did not
know that the miser who just died
was Tom Marston, her brother?'
Good heavens No"
at is q fact-he was. Here is
half n dollar for moving the cask.
l will call upon you tonight"
Warren went home with some
provisions bought with tho half
dollar.
To his astonishcd wife he told
his story.
Not long after, tho old merchant,
Mr.. Barmont came.
lie made Il few inquiries Of Mrs.
Warren which fully satisfied him
of her identity-that she was real
~ Mary Marston.
He unlocked u small satchcl he
had brought with him, and exhibit
cd tho contents-ffty thousand
dollars in crisp bank notes.
"What does this mean?" cried
tho bcwildercd Warren and his
wife simultaneously.
1T MEANS" said Mr.. Barmont,
"that .ycur brother, Thomas Mars.
ton, who was q miser, looked upon
mo us his only friend. Every
penny which he boarded, except
just enough to supply his few
wants, he placed in my keeping,
for, he was afraid of being robbed.
l kept all his money locked up in
my safe for him.
With him he always had a keg full
of counterfeit half dollars SO that in
case robbers should steal from him
they would obtain only those
worthless coins. He has been
away for many years, and must
have but just returned. Before he
went, ho informed me that, in
case Of his death he would send
me the keg Of counterfeits, as he
would rather they should not be
found about his premises. He was
afraid it would make people think
he had been q counterfeitcr. After
his death was to advertise for his
sister. He did not know whether
she was living or not, but il
| found her, l was to give
her his money which 1 had
in charge. This was the re-
quest he made to me, and which
1 promised to comply with. 1t
was also arranged, that, if l did
not hear from him, or hear of his
death within twenty years after his
departure, l was to keep his money
for my own use, and not trouble
myself to make any inquiries about
his sister. l expostulated with
him on this point, but he had al-
ways been eccentric, and he would
now have his own way. Had !
not heard of his death to-day, by
tomorrow the twenty years would
have expired, and | should have
kept my agreement BY retaining
the money. l hope you will be-
licyc me when l say that I am re-
ally glad Of the change which has
been afforded Inc OF giving 1t TO the
riehtful heir.
When he was gone Warren said
to his wife:
allow fortunate I did not yield
to tho temptation to retain
that key of coins. Had l done 50
I would probably socn have been
arrested for passing counterfeit
money, besides which you would
never have heard of your fortune
or have received a penny Of it"
"Truc," said Mary. "And oh!
husband !" she added, embracing
him, II would sooner have starved
than have known that you kept