The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-03-31

ly MS be rode up to the house, crossir
the little stream in one easy leap of b
horse. For the sixteen years had brougl
wealth TO Sandy with the gray hairs,
really seemed rs if everything he touohe
prospered after he rescued the baby. II
made more money in trapping that yea
than he bad in any two before! He 60
contracts TO supply the stage liue wit
horses and made money out of them
He bought share in a claim for almos
nothing, and IL turned out to be enorm
ously rich Lucky Sandy" as be wa
called, began to be noted for his uniform
success. Finally he turned his attention
to cattle, and purchasing large tract o
land, stocked it and became a ranchero
He placed the kid" at school as soon n,
be Was old enough to go, aud after givinl
him good education, brought hin
home to live on tine ranch and learn tc
manage it.
Father, said Bob (Sandy never called
him 'kid" unless they were by them
selves), there's q party down there on
the road and the stage has broken down.
l told them I'd ride up here and send a
wagon down to bring them up. 1 said
you'd be glad to have them rs long as
they'd stay"
That's right, my boy; of course we're
glad to have 'em. Here you, Pedro,
harness up an go down to the road.
Bring up all the passengers on the coach.
How many is there of them, Bob?"
Five in all. There's the prettiest
girl, father, you ever saw, an old lady
who kept looking at me, and three gen.
tlemen."
well, my boy, we'll try and make
EN- comfortable. You better go an' see
bout rooms being got ready for en-, an
1 II 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 mutter;ng
to himself, Il declar' that boy gets bet
ter every day." prepared to ride down to
the rescue of the passengers, 1t was not
long before the whole party reached the
house, glad enough for the char ce of
staying there until they could go on
mi hai - nj
Barnston and Mr.. Barnston, bis niece,
Miss Edith Hovee, and two friends of
theirs. Messrs. james and Flynn. San
dy's welcome was so cordial, and he was
so unaffectedly glad to see them, that all
idea of formality vanished, and before
supper time the whole party had become
as familiar as old friends. Bob seemed
to get along very well with Miss Edith,
and while Sandy and the other gentle
men chatted together, the young people
talked about anything and everything
that could furnish topic of corversa-
ton. Both, Sandy and Bob noticed that
Mrs, Barnston was very silent, and that
she did not seem to be able to keep her
eyes of the young mans, She would
look at him with half puzzled and
most anxious expression until she saw
that she was noticed by the others, when,
with an effort. she would join in the
general conversation.
After supper the whole party went ou
upon the piazza. when the men lit theii
cigars and talked. At length Sandy
who never missed a chance of showing
his boy of, called up Bob to sing, ant
he at once began, in beautiful tenoi
voice, some simple melody. As he sang
Mrs. Barnston became more nervous
until suddenly starting up, she hastil.
left the piazza. Her husband followed
her and after short absence returned
Turl lag 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 pc
culiarly distressing circumstances, ant
your sons singing has reminded her 81
of her first husbands voice that she wa
unable to stay With u.s."
Sandy paused for minute before re
plying, and then in deep tone said:
"Bob amt my son."
mot your son! Why, l tbought-bu
I beg your pardon" said Mr.. Barnstor.
"Pardon's granted" said Sandy. sen
tentiously. "What mean is, 1 ain
Bob's real father. He's my son in nffec
tion and in love, but he amt my natu-a
son."
"Well, if you'll excuse my curiosity
where did you get him2'
'Its sixteen years ago now," sait
Sandy, slowly, THAT was riding aloni
the South Platte. One day came acros.
a place whar the red fiends had beel
6ghiin' train. When l come thar ther
weren't no man alive nor no horses mol
nothin' rode along an hearn kind
O. wall, feeble like. stopped an list
ened. an then I looked whar the sound
come from, and found Bob thar, moth
in but kid he were then, in "a"
''You found him in the wagon-box
Oh, for Gods sake, say yoI found hin,
therer and Mrs. B,rnston fairly rar
from the door in which she was standing
and threw her arms about Bob's neck
turning her head toward Sandy as sh,
spoke,
Sandy started. and half rose from hi.
chair, Then looking at Bob with al
eye full of affection for moment, Ii,
allowed his gaze to st upon the cage
face of the woman. Then he said
slowly.
THAR wer' somethin' as found along
sids O. the little one"
Il know" said Mrs. Barnston. "th
half of bracelet"
J Sandy nodded, and in a wild, inartic
I ulate cry of delight Mrs. Barpstou fel
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