South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-08-10
Romney. Hampshire County, West Va, August TO- 1883.

bring the woman and children up 10
the camp.
Skinner will get back about eight
o'clock. ] guess the sick boy only
wants little feeding upto make him
al right, remarked Flynn as they ap.
preached the hut
They found the woman seated on
a rough floor with the boy on her lap.
and Maggie. their late visitor, Mt her
side sound asleep. With fearless sobs
she related her sad story. About five
years before, or when Freddie was
only n few weeks old, her husband left
to join party of prospectors who were
going to the Sierra Nevada region,
aud she had never heard from or sGen
him since. She waited until her funds
were nearly exhausted. then made her
way TO Sacramento. While support.
ing her children - best she c0uld,sh
learned that the party had broken
camp; her husband had been brought
to Sacramento aud placed in q hose
pitat, where he remained long
time seriously i'll with brain fever
She traced him to the hospital ouly to
hud that he had gone away again, no
one could tell whittier. Recently she
learned that man answering his de-
scrlption and bearing the same name
was working in the Kiwanna mines.
and she was on her way there. He
had always been fond husband and
father, and she believed he had search
ed 10: her also, but they had missed
each other.
The two men were deeply moved
as they listened to the story of her
sutterlngs, and after much persuasion,
induced her To return 10 camp with
them, promising that one Of the min,
ers wonId go the following day to
hiwanna, about ten miles distant,
and make inquiries concerning the
person she supposed was her husband.
Without further ceremony Flynn
wrapped the boy in the blanket he
had brought for the purpose. Bag,
ley tradged along with Maggie in hie
arms
When the party reached the camp
1t was past the time for SINNERS re,
turn, but he had not arrived. 4 bed Of
brushwo0d covered with blanket was
arranged for the guests, and after they
had laid down the men lighted their
pipes and gathered around the fire,
conversing in low whispers and listen.
ing eagerly for the sound OF the hor-
se's footsteps
lie oughter been here long fore This. ,
sad Bagiey, rousing himself from q
brown study. Boys. he's scooted.
The Suggestion fell like . b1mbshcll F.;
no one spoke for moment, then Bag
ley resumed:
Hes got your watch, FLYNN, my
pistol AMI Fleetwood. Hes g3ao
sure as shutn'. | saw tile devil slim.
ing in his eyes when he drew tue
Slip
The others were loath t. accept thair
comrades suggestions. but all cropt to
their resting places with very heavy
hearts.
we kin live on beans. mlttorol
Bagley, but what in thunder will be-
come OF the woman an the kids?'
Ia the morning there was consiIcr.
able excitement in Eureka Camp
Two OF the men, Blglcy and Reed,
were missing After protraots!
search, the latter was found near a
F clnmp Of bushes some distance away
in an unconscious state, having ap.
parcntly fallen in fit. They carried
him back to camp, laid the limp form
on bramJlc bed and gazcd az each
other ia blank dismay.
Call the woman; p'raps sao'll
know what to do advised Tom
Knowles.
The woman did not wait 90 be call
ed. Seeing that something was amjys,
she approached the group. The next
moment heartrendiug cry burst
from her lips. Failing upon her
knees, she threw her arms around the
sick man anil kissed the still, white
face in wild, distracted way. A
slight tremor passed over Reeds face.
He opened his eyes, looked wistfully
at the woman bending over him
Then n CLEAN of Intelligence illumin-
cd his cOuntcnancc ho recognized
the faithful wife from whom lac had
long been separated by n Singular
FREAK OF fate. For one brief moment
sou met soul. lie raised his band
heavenward. murmureI family, 'Up
there, Maggie then earned hs con-.
brlquet OF silent Reed.
a solemn stiffness prevailed around
Eureka camp when FLYNN and his
comrades returned from their uusle-
cessfnl search for Bagley The re.
mainder of the party were sitting a..
round in respondent attitudes, while
Mrs Reed, with the sic's chll on Der
knees and one band fcndly resting oa
the dead mans face, looked the very
embodiment OF inconsola5'a grief.
Flynn tender-heartcd Tim Flynn
how bis bury frame shook with s05s
as the touching death scene ~a5 de-
scribed TO him.
BOYS he said hus';ilv 'wa ui~rt