The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-01

friend, and I am sure he has now no NOR
sincere well wisher than
THIs LINZ OF THE LAW.
AWEsT VIRGINIA STORY.
Nn. Rsbecca Harding Davis, In Youth. Companion
The major laid down his book.
'These Irish writer's" he said, "hav
much to say Of the relation between foster
brothers. 1t is feature OF domestic LII
almost unknown in this country, but saw
a curious instance Of 1t once. Did l eve
tell you the story Of '"The o'More?"
mo, no" We all drew our chairs close
to him, and he began, nothing 10th.
"As boy lived, YOU know, in a small
town in West Virginia. We had no slave
and little money among us; but were bit
terly pro.slavery, and were more arrogant
in our petty notions OF aristocracy thar
the great slave-Owners OF the eastern par
OF the State. When l was about II, Imet
one day at the gate Of the front yard 9
ragged, red-headed lad o! my own age.
"Is it by to carry coal, or dig, OF
DROVE the carriage, ye'd be wantin' the
day, zur?" he asked, with laugh and q
bow.
"Now / was not often called sir or ad.
dressed hat in. hand, and Of course l was
conciliated at once. My father wanted a
boy, and / urged him to take this one. He
was pleased with his honest, ugly face.
!" What is your name?' he asked.
"AIiehael, zur.'
"ltooE Michael QUIT to show him the coal.
bins, pump, and his room over the stable,
As ! turned to leave him said, Have you
only one name?
"His face grew red as his hair. T'm the
0'More, zur.7
What? burst into n shout OF laugh.
Ter, but Michael stood grave and anxious.
I'm poor, eur, and l worked my way
acrllst from the old country, But nv
grandfather was the head Of the family;
he's dead, an SOS my father. I'm the
0'More.'
81 suppose your grandfather, like your.
sell, lived in mud hut and ate potatoes
the year round?
"'No, zuri he had big house, and took
tay with the queen every week lied nv
protege, with perfect calmness. I'm the
first Of the name as ever went out to sar.
vice.
Sand what brought you te it? Why
did you leave Ireland"
az followed my ioster-brother, zur.'
"The answer puzzled me, and asked
no further questions, and soon forgot
Mike and his family in the anxiety OF pre-,
pairing for a Christmas party which my
mother was TO give me, and which was 4
be OF unusual brilliancy and pretension
That evening she said to me, have been
10 call on tho family who have bought the
Scroope property. Their name is Lever
idge. There is but one son, a boy OF fl
teen, and Invited him for Christmas Eve. )
Master Leveridge was the first 10 ar
rive on the momentous evening. His step
mother came with him. She was high
featured sharp-eyed woman, with the pc
culiar accent OF the educated classes from
Dublin.
ga child's party Is a new thing to Ar
thur" she said. we keep our boys anG
girls in tho nursery longer than you do
but It will do him good. When marrieC
Mr. Leveridge, found the boy had NJ
companions but the children Of his foster
mother, low creature living in howell OF
the estate. Twas glad for bis sake wher
we came to this country and the connec
ton was broken of. That kind OF people
are, as q rule, irreclaimably vicious.h
"I do not find them so, said my gentl,
mother. Many Of my truest friends AR
among the very poor
"Arthur Leyeridge in the meantime
was talking with my sister, when a wilt
whoop rung through the room, and Mix
rushed into 1t, q scuttle OF Goals in hi
hand. ....
"Faith, Masther Arty, is it yerselfP
follyed ye to Baltimore, an they towld mi
II was here I'd find vel! holding Arthur
gloved hands, kissing and sobbing owe
them, while the Goals were scattered owe
the floor .l
"Arthnr was delicate, girlish.lookint
lad. He pulled his hand back In a rage o
shame, and pushed the boy sayagel,
"'How dare you come hereT he cried
"His mother swept across the room L
his side. Mike cowed hurnbly when h,
saw her.
"'Begone, she said, you insolen
wretch! Followed us here, indeed! Judg,
IIoTox, turning to my father, this bS,
must DO discharged from your service; hi
must leave the town.
"'Gently, gently, madam, said my "a
Their. we do not deal in that fashion Il
this country. Mike is neither a vagran
nor thief, but he has no business here
Leave the room, sir; take your Goals an,
/ your affection where they are wanted"
There was flash in my fathers ey
which showed on which side his sympa
thies lay; The story Of the foster-brother
became the town gossip for week. Every
body paid court to the Leveridges, ba
pitied poor Mike. Alter a month I loun
that Mike was out every night scourin
tho streets with Arthur. Young Lever
idge was ready for all sorts OF mischief
from ringing door.bells to breaking win
dows; but lie was terribly afraid OF bcin
found out.
I Public justice was sharp and swift Il
the town. It had some features, toe
J peculiar to pro.slavery districts. Tn
Board Oh Magistrates were the seven Old
est and wealthiest land.holders. They Of
. pointed their own successors on retiring
they punished offenders By fines, or )
putting them on the chain.gang, q body
men who worked on the street, chaine
BY one foot to q great iron ball.
t Gone night as was coming home iror
} school concert, saw o heap OF wood {
the foot, Of the statute OF Calhoun on tn
square. Now this was only an ordinar
figure, coarse enough, no doubt, but