South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-03-20
winter when Joanna and Susie made

~ "Ouiu TAKE Tic quttc 100 tOuX 10
tell of the pleasures OF the Young folks
during this winter, but Joanna was
Won from Us by n Cuban gentleman.
and Susie became, If possible, dearcr
than ever.
Spring mad come. when one evening
Albert came into my library, where /
Was plodding over . book, having
worker busily all day. lie fused u
bout the book in q ne. vous wav, quite
unlike his usual quiet manner aud
finally said:
Father. YOU have often said Susie
IL as dear to you as one o. your own
children
looked up amazed at this opon-
ing speech.
We'll p l asked.
wills sou make her your. daughter
IN fact by giving her TO me for wi:e?'
Dear dear! To think | had been
80 bind. Susie had III truth become
81 much one of our children that I
was as much aston.shed IA If Albert
bad fallen in love with Joanna.
But ! soon found, when Susie's
blushing face was hidden upon my
breast. that she. too, had given away
her heart, aud | was onl, too well
pleased that no stranger had won the
precious gift
In September they were married,
my so' and the child OF our adoption,
and gave Their house next our
own for home. having old-tashioned
ideas about such matters, and believ-
ing 1t is better for young marie p o.
pie to live by themselves and assume
housekeeping cares.
The new home was a gem of neat
meas under Susie's dainty fingers, and
the spirit of perfect love kept it ever
bright. Having been brother an sis
ter ar so many years, Albert and Su-
sic Thoroughly understood each 9TH
err dlsposi,,lns and l have never
known domestic happiness more per-
feet than theirs.
Susle's first child, named for her
father, John Harmon. was two yeas
old, hen the mail brought me letter
IN an unknown hand from Cincinnati.
| opened it, and upon large sheet of
paper found written. in scrawling,
uneven hand, three lines:
DEAL SIR: Will you come to me at
~ NJ street without letting Susie
know. JOHN HARMON
At iirst l believed it was o hoax
John had written Il bold, clerk like
hand. clear "a print. This was q
scrawl, struggling all over the paper.
uneven as the fret peumanship of
little child.
Put the more l pondered over the
matter the more | was inclined to
obey the summons So pleading
business saying nothing of the letter
to my one, | let home by the night
train for Cincinnati
No. a n street | found to he
boarding house for the poorest
clas es, and III shady room, halt
furnished. | found an aged, worn
nan, perfectly blind, who rose to
greet me, sobbing
Fred, | knew YOU would con e.
why, old friend | said when sur
prise nd emotion would let me speak,
how is this? We tho ght you were
dead
'Does Sus e think so?'
es. &c all gave YOU up.
do not undeceive her, Fred. |
meant to come home to her rich able
to CRAFTY every desi of her girlish
heart. Do not let her know that
only blind, sick wreck Is left for her
TO cal. father Tell m of her, Fred.
Is he well? Is she happy
'Shg Is both, John "a happy wife
and mother
Married! Ny little Snsie?'
Married to Albert, my son. of
whom you may Judge when tell you
folks say be is his father over again
i would ask no more Tor my child
said John
hen, in answer to my anxious
questions, he told me the story Of
the years of silence. He was rep ,r.
ing 20 pay Us his promised visit when
a great fire broke out IN San Fran
cisco. that r. ined his employer for the
time and swept away row Of build
ings uninsured, IN winch John had
invested all his savings. Worst %.
| ll u trying to save the books VI he
firm John VAS injured ON the head ty
a falling beam and lay iOr months IN
hospital. ben he 40 far r, cover
ed as TO he discharged. his mind va.
still impaired, ana be could not per-
form the duties oi clerk or supern
iendent wnIle his LeaIth was too
feeble for manual labor.
i struggled for daily bread alone,
Fred, he told me. 'and when | re-.
celved your ], ing letters and dear
Susie's, would not write. hoping TO
send better tidings IT waited for a
turn OF fortunes whe, J. Ii never
came, Fred / left California three
Years ago and came hare " hpre 7 ~ "a