South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-01-06
LIVING 1T DOWN.

Bernard Reed, lad of about six.
teen, whose coarse, ill-fitting garment.
iil-accorded with the lank, erect bear.
ing and proud, sensitive face, shrank
from the cold, stern eyes directed to.
ward him.
No, sir. She did not know that |
was going TO look for work
Mr.. Burchard looked keenly at the
frank young face.
Il used to know your mother some
years ago; did she never speak of
me?'
Not that I remember Of
A bitter sneer curled the thin lips
How strange, when we used to be
suct. 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
remember now ofhearing mother
once say, you were riding by, that
she used to know you when You
were poor boy; that you were
rich and prosperous now, and she
hoped happy
'lIow very kind in her! Yes, am
rich and prosperous. There has been
quite change in our surroundings
since was poor boy and she the
daughter of a millionaire.
'And 80 you-came on your own re-
| sponsibilityP'
Yes, sir, heard that you wanted
q boy i'll your store. about my age
| should want one a long time be.
fore | should employ a son of Albert
Reed, the defauter .
The blood suddenly recedcd from
the face Of the horror-struck boy, aid
then returning, crimsoned the TEN.
pies.
1T is not true =
Not many men could have gazed
unmoved into those wild, imploring
eyes, which seemed to cntreat denial
OF acharges so terrible, but Mr.. Burch,
ard went pitilessly on.
1T is true as you will find. Albert
Reed, your father, was sent to the
pcnltentiary, and but for an act of ex-
ecutive cIemency in the last month of
his life, would have died there. Do
you know this?'
No. Nor DO ] know now
GO ask your mother. boy; ehe'will
tell you what ! say is true
Bernard hardly knew how he found
hls way out in the strcet amid the busv,
busting 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 ne was n
mere child, but works and circUmstan-
ces rushed upon bis mind, to which
he paid little heed at the time which
aroused fears and suspicious that near
is maddened him.
in 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 long.
weary sigh, she glanced up at the
clock. It WIS considerably past the
time for Bernard to return from school.
What could detain himP
Then she remembered what he had
saId IN the morning, when he hal
kissed her goodbye.
you are working too bard, moth.
err; l must find some thing TO do 80
as TO help you
What good boy he was How
strong, how brave andhopeful 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 30 unlike those she was expect.
ing that she rose. q vague feeling of
alarm at heart as Bernard entered and
advanced directly toward her.
Mother, Mr. Burchard says lhat
my father was-but, no, | cannot
name it. Father-my fathor-he-
J could never be 50 bad as thatr
; Pressing her hands 10 her side, his
, mother sank back IN her chair.
One glance ct bis mothers pale
+ face aud Bernard threw himself on
his knees and buried lis face in hei
lap.
Mrs. Reed laid her trembling hand
upon that bowed head.
MY poor boyp
Bernard lifted bis face wet viii
J tears, to those tender, compassionate,
r eyes.
lie was uniustly accused. mother.
, Oh, surely he was Innocent
More tender and pitful grew tax
+ voice.
My poor, poor boy z
A pang Of compuuciion smote Der
nard's heart az be glanced attue pale
sorrowing face that bent over him
, Forgive me, mother; YOU have suf
fered much / know now, what 10 T.
that has made your life so sorrowrul