Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-10-19

beueath his pillow u piece OF paper that
proved to be will, very short but to the
point.
Nv illnesses he whispered,
hoarsely.
/ turned quickly toward his wife, but
he seized my arm and said: Don't friga 1t
enAher. Let me die in peace"
/ excused myself for a moment to Mrs.
I Marston. who was reading the evening
paper, and hurried downstairs for witness
es, returning almost at once with grocer
from the nearest corner. and policeman
whom persuaded to leave his beat. Then
Mrs. Marston was alarmed. but stood
helplessly in the background as the dying
man signed his will and the two men
affixed their signatures.
When the witnesses had departed, Mrs.
Marston asked me what was the matter,
4 ind when told her that her husband bad
thought it only proper to make will, as
he should have done before falling sick,
she calculated ''Oh !" in treasured tone,
and said that the scene had reminded her
of one that she had seen in some play.
resumed my position at the bedside,
kneeling to catch the words that Marston
found hard to utter. The boy, ON return
ing, knelt also and took his fathers hand.
1.-The stock--and--good will of-the
shop-ought-to give-her enough to
bury me and-get her back-to-her fami-
ly. Advise her-to go-to them. Shells
a good woman-but New York 's-no
place for-her. My boy"
just here Marston's voice failed him,
he struggled, thrust one arm toward a
chair near the bed and took small bottle.
| took it from him, saw Brandy" on the
label, poured its entire contents into a
glass and helped him to raise his head so
as to drink it. As soon as his head touch
ed the pillow again, he whispered:
my boyle is noble fellow. What
will become-of him, God-God only
knows. His mother knows nothing
about boys-and she can't seem to learn.
Would you watch him-a little, and save
him if you-can? He's worth all that
can be done for him.
| l did not know what could do in the flu
ture. but looked into Marston's eyes,
and then into the boys, and put one arm
around the little fellow. and drew him
close to my side; his father seemed to I'M
derstand, and the look he gave me was
| FIJI onvf in, Auo oil hov
done or can do for the child.
| Mrs. Marston could not have heard any
of our conversation, for her husband could
hardly whisper; besides, she was deeply in
terested in whatever she was reading.
Marston put forth both hands, taking one
of mine. and laying the other upon his
boys head.
| There was q moment of silence, in
which he looked earnestly at me and press
cd my hand. very hard. Suddenly he start
ed, raised himself on one elbow and almost
shouted:
"Flora!''
zone moment" replied his wife, still
reading, as the boy and regained our feet
and made room for her. Again, Marston
exclaimed. extending an arm as he did.
! ''Flora ~
Goodness How impatient you are!'
replied the lady, crumpllng her newspaper
| in her hand and turning toward the bed.
But her son sprang quickly in front of
his father. Marston's arm encircled him,
and the boy, with quick embrace. scream
ed:
"Papal"
Mrs. Marston had by this time reached
the bedside, saying icily:
s'Mr. Marston, allow me to suggest"
| Excuse me, madame" said I, shut he
cannot hear you. He is in another world
uow."
Then Mrs. Marston broke into tears and
pitiful EXPLANATIONS, for although her
| heart was very small it was not bad. For
| almost FIVE minutes { was compelled to
to respect her; after that, however, her
lamentations were all for herself, so after
| promising to arrange the details of the
funeral, and saying few words to the
boy, with the hope that he would under
stand that I would always try to be
father to him, departed.
A day or two after, Mrs. Marston gave
nae sealed envelope, addressed to me.
that she found under her husband pillow.
1t contained number of pawn tickets
and note, written day or two before
Marston s death, asking me if would re-
;olo nd fNr 10
son; they had all been pawned for money
that his wife wanted when be could not
take penny out of his business without
running himself.
Among them found watch, an opera
glass, two meerschaum pipes, some club
badges, silver cup with an inscription
that showed it had been given Marston
when he was a. baby, handsome copy of
shakespeare, velvet dressing gown, a
sword that its owner had worn during the
war, gold-headed cane and many small
articles of jewelry, including the dead
man s wedding ring.
Mrs. Marston became resigned to the
will of Providence when told her that the
goodwill and stock Of the shop would
bring thousand dollars. Her mourning !
garments became her peculiar style of !
beauty so we'll that she found great COM
fort in them, but soon put them off at the
solicitation of a dashing young broker,
who, hope, will marry her, for she has
fully as much heart as a man of his kind |
will appreciate, and will relieve him of any
anxiety as to what to do with his money.
Her son promises to become = fine fellow,
and has friend who will see that be never
repeats his fathers tlunder of marrying a
girl merely for her beauty.-John Hab6er-
ton.