The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-17

tor had sometimes employed him in do
ing odd jobs about it, he was accOsted
by pleasant-looking elderly man, who
addressed him thus:
SIS your name Irwln?"
"Yes, SIR"
"You worked, at one time, for the
Waterville Sewing Machine Company %
Eyes, sir. I worked for the company
until they failed, about a year ago."
"It did not fail exactly" said the
stranger, with u smile; sit suspended.
1t has gone into operation again. My
son is one of the firm. He wrote me to
try to hunt you up. He is in want of q
faithful, competent man to act as fore
man. Would you like the placer"
Mr.. Irwin felt choking sensation in
his throat, and his voice was a little
husky as he said:
II should, very much. l have de-
pendent family; and have been out of
| steady work for some months"
Those keen eyes took rapid survey Of
the speakers worn and shabby garments.
my son writes you that there is some
thing due you on the old account. Let
me see"
Here the speaker referred to letter
which he took from his pocket.
"Seventy-five dollars. I think have
the amount with me, and if you will give
me receipt, I will make it square with
you now"
It was long time since Mr.. Irwin had
had sum like this at his disposal, and
he could hardly realize his good fortune,
even when the roll of bills was in his
hand.
His first collected thought was Of his
DEAR patient wife. "Poor Mary! bow
glad she will be to know this!' he said
to himself as he went down the steps into
the street, putting his hand in his breast
pocket to make sure that it was not a
myth, the money he had placed there, as
well as the bright prospects that had so
suddenly opened before him.
As he hurried along, eager to tell her
the good news, and impatient at every
obstacle in his way, he saw dense cloud
of smoke in the quarter where he lived.
As he drew nearer he saw crowd of
people following some CHASTITY thing
that was being borne past him to the
station.
"What is it," he inquired of by
stander.
"a woman and child burned to death
Ill u tcuculcut uOuoc vi l. lOhu AOCp'
Front street, There was where he
lived and with quickened step and sink
ing heart he pushed on. His worst fears
were realized. The building he had left
few hours before was mass of smoking
ruins, whose numerous tenants were
huddled out upon the sidewalk before
the few things they were able to snatch
from the flames, but among whom his
eyes sought vainly for those that he most
wished to see.
Rushing up to one of the women, he
seized her almost rudely by the arm.
Mrs. Allen, where is my wife, he
cried.
Putting down the child she was hold
ing, the woman arose and stared around
wildly.
81 haven't seen her. The Lord be
good to us! it couldn't be her they took
away so burned and blackened that her
own own mother wouldn't know who she
was!'
For moment Mr.. Irwin stood motion
less, struggling with the sickening hor-
ror that palsied limb and brain. Then,
as he remembered the CHASTITY spectacle
he had met, pushing through the crowd,
he turned his tottering steps in the di-
rection in which he had seen it borne
moment before.
In the shadow of such terrible be-
reavement, how light seemed every other
trial, how black the ingratitude that had
made him so thankful for the rich treas
ure of love that had been his! What
cared he now for the opportunities thrown
open to him! How poor and empty
seemed all that he had hoped to do and
win now she was gone whose presence
had made his lonely abode such q haven
OF peace and rest.
"Merciful Father! take all else, but
spare my wife and child" was the cry
that went up from his tortured soul, as
the officer in charge turned the key OF
the room where the dead lay.
Upon. rude table, their faces charred
and blackened beyond all recognition,
were the unfortunate mother and child
awaiting identification.
"Oh, Mary!-oh, my boy!-can this be
you?" groaned the wretched man, as he
turned his shuddering gaze upon them.
Here Mr.. Irwin felt light touch on
his arm.
"Richardr
Turning, he saw his wife, with their
child in her arms, standing Just back OF
him.
The revulsion, from the extremes of
grief and despair to this blessed reality,
was too strong, and had it not been for
the officer who was standing by, he
would have fallen to the floor.
1t seems that Mrs. Irwin, who had