Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-12-17
LIVINGIT DOWN.

Bernard Reed, a lad of about six
teen, whose coarse, ill-6tting gar
ment, i~ll-accorded with the lank,
erect bearing and proud, sensitive
face, shrank from the cold, stern
eyes directed toward him.
mo, sir. She did not know that 1
was going to look for work"
Mr.. Burchard looked keenly at
the frank young face.
81 used to know your mother some
years ago; did she eve speak of
me ?"
"Not that l remember Of"
A bitter sneer curled the thin lips.
GLOW strange, when we used to
be such good friends.
Bernard looked puzzled evidently
coming to the conclusion that this
strange man was displeased at his
mothers apparent forgetfulness of
their old friendship.
81 remember now of hearing
mother once say, as you were riding
by, that she used to know you when
you were a poor boy; that you were
rich and prosperous now, and she
hoped happy"
"How very kind in her ! Yes, /
am rich and prosperous. There has
been quite a change in our surround
ings since l was a poor boy and she
the daughter of a millionaire.
"And SO you came on your own
responsibility 2"
eyes, sir, 1 heard that you want
ed a boy in your store, about my
age"
I should want one a long time
before I should employ a son of
Albert Reed, the defaulter !"
The blood suddenly receeded from
the face Of the horror-struck boy,
and then returning, crimsoned the
temples.
sit is not true !"
Not many men could have gazed
unmoved into those wild, imploring
eyes, which seemed to entreat a de-
NAL of a charge so terrible, but Mr..
Burchard went pitilessly on.
cit is true as you will find. Albert
Reed, your father, was sent to the
penitentiary, and but for an act of
executive clemency in the last month
of his life, would have died there.
DO you know this ?"
mo. Nor do 1 know now"
go ask your mother, boy; she
will tell you what / say is true"
Bernard hardly knew how he
found his way out in the street amid
the busy ,bustling crowd of the great
city. His brain was on fire, and his
heart that lately beat so high, like
lead in his bosom.
His father had died when he was
a mere child but works and circum-
stances rushed upon his mind, to
which he paid little heed at the time
which aroused fears and suspicious
that nearly maddened him.
In a poor room, in the poorest
part of the city, sat Mrs. Reed,
straining her tired eyes at some fine
sewing. Leaning back in her chair
with a long, weary sigh, she glanced
up at the clock. 1t was considera-
bly, pass the time for Bernard to re-
turn from school. What could de-
tain him ?
Then she remembered what he had
said in the morning, when he had
kissed her goodbye.
"You are working too hard moth
err; l must find some thing to do so
as to help YOU"
What a good boy he was How
strong, how brave and hopeful /!
with all the sorrows and hardships
(which were slowly weighing her
down to the grave, she could not
Feel that her life was utterly devoid
of sunshine while he was left.
AS Mrs. Reed thus unused hurried
footsteps were heard ascending the
stairs, so unlike those she was ex-
oecting that she rose, a vague feel
ng of alarm at heart, as Bernard
entered and advanced directly to-
ward her.
Mother, Mr.. Burchard says that
ny father was-but, no, / cannot
anne it. Father-my father-he-