The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1883-08-24
A Western Romance.

A Western Romance.
Those who happened to be al the
union depot tins morning probably no
tieed an old white-haired man who sup
ported his feeble body with q PAIR OF
rustic crutches. A lovely blonde EO-
man, richly attined, assisted the old
man from the train 10 the waiting
room, and her marked respect toward
him attracted unusual attention a
Globe reporter approached the feeble
traveller and asked HIM which way be
was travelling. In the meantime the
lady went 10 an adjoining ticket Ufioe
to ascertain rates, etc, while our re-
porter found the old gentleman a will
ing and fluent eOnveTsaiionalist- Al
ter saying that bis name was Sylvester
e. Abernethy. he WAS asked who the
lady was accompanying him, Was 1t
is long story" he sald. hut If you
have time will relate her history IN
connection with my OWL" TIE Te-
porter readily agreed, and the old man
gave his eniiEe history, which Is briefly
given below:
Sylvester Abernethy was once mod
erately rich man ID a northern Indiana
town, possessed of a family Of three
SONS and an adopted daughter. The
girl was a little waIf whom he had
adopted from founding asylum a. In
dianapolis when but few months O,d
At tins time his yOuI grst son was OF
age and doing for himself. One by one
his sons lift for other fields Of labor,
and III the course Of a few years Nh.
Abernethy found himself alone with
the little girl. whom lie loved as dearly
as if she was his own flesh and blood
When The child was fifteen years Of
age crisis came upon him and. by
failure which heidid not explain he lost
all he had. The girl, who had now
grown 10 be young lady, was con-
stantiy devoted TO his care He frank
ly acknowledged that his sons had
taken the thOrny path, and he could
not call on them for assistance The
adopted girl, whom he called Belle
Abernethy, declared she would 80 out
and earn a living for them both
Finally an opportunity presented II
self whereby Miss Belle was offered a
position in another part Of the state.
The old man thought II lest for her TO
accept If, which she cid.
+ Mr.. Aberneihy. although sixty years
of age, was not eoDienied with his
humble home. and gathering Up ms
scanty means, started vast. Drifting
aLOat from place TO place, and his in
frmities fast approaching, his money
was soon spent In the meantime be
had lost trace Of the girl, who had re-
moved from her former home TO anOth-
er city. For five years the old man
worked about al odd jobs as they pre-
sented themselves in southern Mis-
sOuri, spending most Of that time in ST.
Louis. From there he went 10 Kansas
City, and after remaining there q few
months he came 10 AtchisOn. and Weni
from there TO Topeka. At the latter
place he Was taken violently sick. and
had TO rely on the city authorities fOI
shelter for his decrepit body. They
claimed there that he Wsss not resident,
he could not be kept al public expens-,
and as soon as he was c0nvalesceni
they shipped him of. He was again
thrown upon the mercies Of the world.
and wandered about until he found
( himself in al aims house IN COElEy
county. His lnfiTmIties prevented him
doing any manual labor. and he Was
entirely dependent unOn public charity
During this time Belle AbeTDe1hy the
walf, turned out 10 be an heiTess. The
manner Of her being cast OF Was fully
explained@O her. and she was put IN
possession Of an estate worth SSS.O09-
She still remembered The good man VINO
had adopted her and rais-d her from
childhood. and tined every means
IN her power 10 ascertain his where
abOuts. advertising extensively IN the
leading papers Of the country 4 gen
/ tleman connected with The COElFy
county institution noticed the adver-
tiseIneBt in the Chicago Tribune and
called Mr.. Aberneihy's attention 10 IL
The old gentleman produced The paper.
which WAS dated Nay 2lst. 1SsS. and
allowed she reporter 10 cCgy TIE fol-
E lowing: -Wanied-InfOTmsiion lead
f ing 10 lie whereabouts OF Sylvester g.
Abernethy. seEeItN-sEO years OF zgr.
slight English accent. low slaiuie- Ad-
dress, Mrs II. n Marin. box 2olls