Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-24
q gleasamt Storp,
A LAWYERS STORY.


A client of the law firm with which
| was connected in Lincoln, Nebraska
had died, leaving a very large property
worth nearly 100000, to be held il
trust until the heir or heirs could be
discovered.
was anxious to find the heirs, mol
only for pecuniary motives, but because
| was made deeply interested in them
by the recital of a story which the client
Marvin Gray, had told me on the day Of
his death. His breath was almost spent
when | stood by Lis bedside and listened
attentively to catch the low sound Of
his voice as he whispered the tale of an
erring son whom he had driven from his
home in England. He had sent him
from his home on one dark night, twelve
years before, because of his drunken
habits, and be had never seen him
since. He had heard from him but
once in these long years; then he was
an officer aboard ship plying between
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
lay down in the far West among strang-
ers, TO die without having accomplished
the one great desire of his aching heart.
AS the death dew was gathering on
his brow, he finished his story, and with
an Undesirable 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.
| should receive 800, 900 when he was
found. Young and romantic, my SYM
pathies were fully aroused; so, with my
hand clasped in the nervous grasp of the
dying man, promised never to give W
the search until the lost one was found
Mr.. Gray had made such disposition
of his property that could draw my
travelling expenses; SO | commenced the
important task the day after his untime
ly death
l took the cars at Lincoln and wa
soon in Crete, a small station in Ne
braska. Here | changed to the stag
coach bound for Holders rancho, fiftceI
miles to the north. AS VIC were travel
ing along at rate of speed for which
Western stage coaches are renowned,
tried to shape some definite course t.
pursue, and had almost decided to re
trace my journey to Lincoln and star
for the States, when my thoughts wer,
diverted from the subject by the su1dcr
upsetting Of the numbering vehicle. w
had been threading our way around tn
edge Of gulch, when the shying of on
Of the horses sent the coach and con
tents in heap to the bottom. | wal
conscious of falling, then all was blank
When | recovered my consciousness
! was in pleasant though plainly fur.
nishcd room, through the door Of which
! could see pale faced woman sewing
near a table. At the same time she was
sweetly humming a baby song and rock.
ing an old-fashioned cradle with heI
foot. 1t was an interesting picture, and
made me think Of my own childhood
with my mother singing baby Nell to
sleep. | tried to think how | came Ia
be 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 Of the woman was over
my pillow, and tender eyes looked pity
ing into mine as she asked me il l felt
much pain. Her voice, so low and
sweet, made me forget my suffering. and
! asked where | was and how | came
there.
Don't you remember your falling in
to the gulch with the stage coach ycstcr-
day Z" she asked.
"Oh, now remember" | replied. II
was going 10 Holders rancho when we
wero all tipped into that gulch and
killed."
"No. not killed." she said, smiling
Mt my serious tone "but badly bruised (;
and Marvin brought you hero for me to
nurse 10 life, for you were almost gone
when be got you out Of the wreck.
| was going TO ask who Marvin was. but
she said ] must not talk any moro until
the fever had left me.
The following week was a period Of
great suffering 10 me, but my faithful
nurse did all that could be done 10 make
my surroundings pleasant for my ra-
tional moments. was conscious Of the