The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-05-09

stairs and tapped at the door. |
thought the response "Come in"
was not quite in his usual cheerful
key. He was binding up bruised
arm, looked pale, But he forgot
the bruises, and gave me such
greeting as does away with
fatigue. "But what's the matter,
Tom?" touching his arm chow did
this happen?"
"All in good time thereby hangs
tale which you shall have present
ly, meantime Pm not much hurt,
rely upon that, old fellow. That you
should get here just now, of all the
nights in the year,
l shall try to give his story as he
gave it, for | remember it well. A
memorable night it was to me, for
there | first knew, and took the
knowledge, bitter as it was, into my
heart, that l was to lose, yea, that
had already, in degree, lost my
Jonathan.
1.-TWO days ago | went to Niles. !
had engaged to meet a man there
on a reference case ; we finished our
business in the evening, and | in
tended to return on the early ex-
press train, but | slept too long, and
was obliged to wait for the next one.
l found the cars full, and, as l
always do, | met several acquaint-
ances who whiled the time away,
ana we were within an hour of
home, when there was a dreadful
crash, most awful sensation of
being scattered in fragments, and |
knew nothing more until found
myself lying on the embankment. l
cannot describe, and wish might
never again think of the scene
around me. | fear | shall see it for
many a day. l rose as quickly as
possible, and tried to help my fell
low sufferers. All but one were
found alive, though some, l fear,
were MORALLY injured. | had al
ready assisted several unfortunate
creatures, when l saw a lady max
ing a great effort to rise she had a
little child in her arms" (Tom put
his hand in mine). "She was dress
ed in black. Her face | did not see.
| went to her and offered my assist
ance. ALI, it was Agnes Inman.
She knew me at once. oh, Mr..
Grey, how thankful am to see you
If you could get me a little water,
my little Agnes has tainted One
glance showed me that the little
spirit was too far on its way to the
still waters for recall. l can't tell
you all. l took the poor lady, Mrs,
Rutledgc, to n hotel sent for doc
tor, and we did all that could be
done to satisfy her mothers heart
at last she gave it up" Tom GOV,
cred his lace.) "The shock was toe
much for her; for a long time
doubted if she would breathe again
At last her eyes opened, and tc
please us she tried to swallow some
thing After all was done for hel
comfort ! proposed to telegraph t.
her friends. When she could trus
herself to speak, she said: 4 have
no friends that can be summoned
my little girl has gone to meet he
father whom she never saw.
Alfred, cannot tell you how | felt
all the old feeling that hardl.
knew existed, and that buried il
the little pond at home that da.
when found it did exist-all rush
ed upon me. | could not speak.
sat know not how long; how coli
and hard she must have though
me. When ! could push mysel
out of myself, | learned that sh
had only an old and feeble father t
whom she was journeying-her hu;
band had been dead for two years.
Here he pulled out out his watcl
Dear old fellow, you'll excuse mC
must 90 and inquire after her be
fore it is any later"
Nay, Tom" said |, you go nc
alone; your burden is mine; G
too" We set off together. Silcnc
is deeper than all speech Not
word was spoken, and we parted {
the door of the hotel with a gras
of the hand. | paced up and dow
and very soon Tom rcioined me.
"Shc is far too much worn out
talk; she only put out her hanc
and said: i cannot do otherwise
may trouble you, and trust yo1
Alfred, the touch of the little han
would put life into clod."
1t is really nobility of soul whic
knows how to trust. In all my lif
long love for Tom, nothing WI
more delightful to me, even while
rebellcd against it, than the rar
ard could almost say divine fran
ness (so little is it human), Wi
1 I. l...u4 a.. 500.