The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-07-27

at did not fail exactly said the stranger,
with a smile, sit suspended. 1t has gone
into operation again. My ate me to
Try and hunt you up. He is in want of a
faithful, competent man to act as foreman.
Would You like the place 2"
Mr.. Irwin felt a choking sensation in
his throat, and his voice was n little husky.
as he said:
al should very much. ! ave n depend
ent family, and have been out of steady
work for some month";
Those keen eyes took n rapid survey of
the speakers worn and shabby garments.
1t was a long time since Mr.. Irwin had
had a sum like this at his disposal, and lie
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 how glad
she will be to know of thisp he said to
himself as he went down the steps into
die street, putting MS hand IN his breast
pocket to make sure hat it was not a myth,
the money he had placed there, as well as
the bright prospects that had 30 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 n dense cloud of smoke
in the quarter where he lived. AS he drew
nearer he saw a crowd of people following
some CHASTITY thing that was being borne
past him to the station.
"What is Ii Pr he inquired of n b%ystander.
"A woman burnt to death in a tenement
house on Front street,
Front street! That was where he lived,
and with quickened step and sinking heart
he rushed on. His worst fears were real
lied. The building he had left a few hours
before was a mass of smoking ruins, whose
uar 1rrlIlA1 anf fH.anf
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 wife2D
Putting down the child she was holding,
the woman arose and stared wildly around.
~ 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 moth
er wouldn't know her.
For a moment Mr.. Irwin stood notion
less, struggling with the sickening horror
that palsied limb and brain. Then, as he
remembered the CHASTITY spectacle he had
met, pushing through tue crowd, he turn
ed his tottering steps in the direction IL
which he had seen it borne.
In the shadow of such a terrible bereaye-
ment how light seemed every other trial
how black the ingratitude that had made
him unthankful for the the rich treasure
of love that had been hisl What cared he
for the opportunities thrown open to him
How poor and empty seemed all that ht
had hopedt to do and win now she was gone
whose presence had made his lowly abode
such n heaven of peace and rest!
"Merciful Father! take all else, but SPAR
my wife and child" was the cry tina
went up from his tortured soul, as the ofic
or turned the key of the room where thu
dead lay.
Upon a rude table, their faces charreC
and blackened beyond all recognition, wer'
the unfortunate mother and child await
ing Identification.
"Ohl Mary oh my boyl-can this b.
you ~ groaned the wretched man, as IL
turned his s%huddering gaze upon them.
Here Mr.. Irwin felt n light touch upol
his arm.
"Richard!n
Turning he saw his wife with their chill,
in her arms, standing just back of him.
The revulsion, from the extremes o
grief and despair to this blessed reality
was too strong, and had it not been for tn
officer who was standing by, he woul'
have fallen to the floor.
1t seems that Mrs. Irwin, who had bare
ly time to escape with her life, had take
refuge in n house opposite. She had seeI
her husband rush past on his way to tn
station, and divining his errand, followe'
as quickly as possible.
The following day was truly Thanks
giving day. to both and not alone for th
material blessings that surrounded then
And through all the prosperous year
that followed, years that whitened thei
hair and knit their hearts more closely to
gether, never did Mr.. Irwin omit, on tina
day, to refer to this eventful season of hi
life, and fail to render most hearty thank
to the Giver of all good, for this crownin
proof of His goodness, that they wer
spared to each other"