Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-12-11

reeled. He felt strangely bewildercd.
All at once he heard piteous voice. Ii
came from rude hut a few feet distant.
There he discovered dying man-a
wan, cmaciated creature in patched gar.
ments
''Give me little water!" he gasped.
Warren gave him water from a Jug near
him.
"Have you no friend, no relative, that |
can so to and bring here?" inquired War
rem.
II do not think have relative living" "
gasped the man. II was dying here alone
before you came, Win you do me favor?
Lift up those bricks in the fireplace and
bring me my keg."
Warren removing the bricks, which were
roose, discovered paint key, and brought
ito the man.
1t was filled to the brim with silver half
dollars.
IL have been miser," groaned the suf-
ferer, ''but you can see for yourself have
not saved much. viii you take this keg
to"
Before he could finish he gave a shudder
and his eyes became glazed.
He was dead,
Warren looked at him awhile; then his
gaze wandered to the keg of coins!
The whirling sensation was still in his
head. His mind seemed TO have become
weak, He continued to stare at the silver
heap.
The man had owned he was a miscr-
probably he had no relative. In that case
there was no heir to the money.
How much good that amount would do
little Flora and his wife! They were hun.
gry--almost starving.
His gaze was caught by slip of paper
among the silver pieces.
He took il out and read il:
This keg of money to be taken to
Roger Barmont, merchant, No.
street, San francisco in case of my death" "
Roger Barmonti Warren had seen the
name over the wholesale store of this
wealthy merchant.
A few days before he had unsuccessfully
applied there for employment there
were probably about one hundred dollars in
the keg.
To BarmOnt, the rich wholesale dealer,
this would be mere trile-to Warren it
would be food and shelter-perhaps life IT.
self"
Why should this trife go to the golden
boards of the merchant when Warren
needed 1t so much more2
The poor man glared at the coins he
looked at them long and wistfully.
Then at last, he flung his arms into the |
air, as if to hurl the temptation from him.
To take that money would be to steal
''My God! No" he cried. al cannot do |
q l feel ashamed of myself for even
thinking of such thing. Had my brain |
Deen right, | would not have thought of |
I! My mind is strangely weakened"
TTc plCneQ up IEp key aslC- IOoH II StralGnL
O Roger Barmont.
The merchant read it through his gold
lpectacles. .
s'It's all right" he said quickly after
Warren had explained. 81 am much |
obliged to you. | will have the bo1y de-
Gently buried"
Warren looked around him, wistfully. |
Stalwart men were moving hither and |
Ihither handling bales, boxes and casks. A
legion of clerks were making their pens fly |
over the pages of the ledgers.
There was one cask, half full of sugar,
outside, partly open. A drizzling rain was
falling, wetting this sugar.
would you not like to have that cask
moved into the store?' he inquired family.
Mr.. Barmont looked up.
seOhl / believe | have not rewarded
you for bringing nae these silver pieces, he
said.
He took quarter from his pocket and
put il on the counter.
mo, thank you,7 said Warren; ''but l
viii take. it for moving the cask, II you
like 49, Ny
Every WELL" said Barmont more gently.
'9Iove 1t as soon as soon as you can"
Warren tugged at the heavy cask. 1t
was too much for his strength, in his pres
enl weakened condition
But he got It in the store. Then he stag
gered against it nearly fainting.
ga glass of wine, here, called Mr.. Bar
mont.
One of the clerks brought it. 1t revived
the sufferer, although he still look bewil-
dered SO
'"What makes you 50 weak2 Have you
been illf" inquired the merchant
The others gaze, as If by a sort of fas-
cfnation, against which he vainly strug-
gled, was fixed, with a greedy look, upon
q box of damaged biscuit, which one of the
men was about to throw into refuse cask!
Mr.. Barmont drew Warren to one side.
s'What is your name, and where do you
hyef" he inquired.
Thomas Warren | live at No. -
street.
''Have you familyH"
GA wife and child Would that Mary
Marston had never married poor wretch
like me!''
MARY Marston! Was that your wife's
naxneP" cried Barnont starting
sYes, sir. "a
''And had a brother. What was his
name2"
Thomas Marston. Hewent away years
ago, and has not been heard of since"
+ 'sYour wife was in -Boylston, Massachu-
setts-was she not?'' @
''Yes, sir"
| ~''Very good; and so you did not know
that the -miser who just died was Tom
Marston, her brother2" ..-..
Good heaven MOI" -.
rIt is the fact-he was. Here is half q
dollar for moving the cask. l will ca
upon you to night"
Warren went home with some provision
bought with the half dollar.
To his astonished wife he told his story
Not long after, the old merchant, Mr.
Barmont came. So
He made few inquiries of Mrs. Warrer
which fully satisfied him of her identity
| 4hot eha xr-o g raoIly Mary Marat0n