Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-06-16

| called, OeSAn 10 De nOleu lot MS HhllOIIu
success. Finally he turned his attention
TO cattle, and purchased large tract of
land, stocked It and became rancher.
He placed the "kid' at school as soon as
he was old enough to 60, and after giving
him a good education, brought him home
to live on the ranch and learn TO manage
1t for him.
"Father," said Bob SANDY lever called
| him '"kid" unless they were by theul-
selves, "there's party down there on
the road and the stage has broken down.
l told them I'd ride up here and send n
wagon down TO bring them up. l said
you'd be glad to have them US leng as
they'd stay"
That's right, my boy; of course we're
glad to have 'cm. Hero you, Pedro, har-
ness up an go down TO tho road. Bring
up all the passengers Oh the coach. How
| many OF them is there, Bob?"
Five in all. There's the prettiest girl,
father, you ever saw, an old lady who
kept looking at me, and three gentlemen"
well, my boy, we'll try and make 'em
comfortable. You better go an see bout
rooms being got ready for 'cm, and III
ride down to bring 'em up"
Bob dismounted, and, throwing the
bridle-rein over the hitching-poSt, walked
! into the house.
! Sandy looked after him, and muttering
to himself, II declar' that boy gets better
every day." prepared to ride down to tho
rescue OF the passengers. twas not long
! before the " hole party reached the house,
| glad enough for tho chance OF staying
there until they could go on with their
Journey Itconsisted Of Mrs. Barnston and
Mr.. Barnston, his niece, Mss Edith
Hovee, and two friends Of theirs, MessrS.
James and Flynn. Sandy's welcome was
! so cordial shat all ideas of formality van
! ishcd, and before supper time the whole
! party had become as familiar as old
| friends. Bob seemed to get along very
we'll with Miss Edith, and while Sandy
and the other gentlemcn chatted together
| the young people talked about anything
| and everything that could furnish topic
OF conversation. Both Sandy and Bob
noticed that Mrs. Barnston was very ST.
! lent, and that she did not seem to be able
to keep her eyes of the young mans face.
| She would look ut him with half puz-
zled and most anxious expression until
she saw that she was noticed by the 9TH
| ers, when, with an effort, sho would join
| III tho general conversation.
After supper tho whole party went out
upon the plaza, when the men lit their
! cigars and talked. At length Sandy, who
never missed chance of showing his boy
Off, called up Bob to sing, and he at once
| began, in a beautiful tenor voice, some
simple melody. Az he sang Mrs. Barnston
became more nervous, until suddenly
starting up, she hastily left the piazza.
Her husband followed her and after
short absence he returned. Turning to
Sandy he said:
"You must excuse my wife, Mr.. Nc
Govern; but she lost her first husband
and her boy many years ago under pecu-
liarly distressing circumstances, and your
sons singing has reminded her SO Of her
first husbands voice that she was unable
to stay with u.s."
Sandy paused for minute before reply
ing, and then in deep tone said:
"Bob amt my son."
"Not your sonl Why, thought-but
beg your pardon" said Mr.. Barnston.
"Pardon's granted" said Sandy, SEN
tentiously. "What I mean ia, L aint
Bob's real father. Hos my SON In alice
tion and in love, but he amt my natural
son."
"Well, il you'll excuse my curiosity,
where did you get himf"
s'It's sixteen year ago now, " said Sandy
slowly, "that was riding along the
South Plat. One cay / came across
place whar the red fiends had been fight
jng a train. When l come thar ther'
weren't no man alive nor no horses nor
nothin'. rode along an heard kind
o. wall, feeble like. stopped an listen
ed, an then l looked whar the sound
come from, and found Bob thar, nothin'
but kid he werc then, in "a"
''You found him in the wagon box
Oh, for Gods sake, say you found him
therc." and Mrs. Barnston fairly ran
from the door in which she was standing
and threw her arms about Bob's neck,
turning her hoad toward Sandy as she
spoke.
Sandy started, and half rose from his
chair. Then looking at Bob with an eye
full of affection for moment, he allowed
his gaze to rest upon the eager face Of tho
woman. Then he said, slowly:
"Thar wer' somethin' as found along
side O. the little one"
"I know" said Mrs. Barnston, "the
half of bracelet"
Sandy nodded, and IN wild, inarticu-
late cry of delight Mrs. Barnston fell
fainting on the floor. The spectators Of
this intensely dramatic scene fastened to
her assistance, and when she recovered il
was to find the arms OF her son around
her. She hugged him, kissed him, laughed
and cried at the same time over him. She
called him her boy, her Willie, her dsr-
ling-every term Of endearment ever
heard she lavished upon him. Bob, or
Willie Thorndyke, as his name really
was, behaved very well. While 1t was
impossible for him to realize that he had
found a new name and mother, he yet
showed great deal of affection. lie was
hat Sandy