The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-03-25

proved for the bondholdcr.
"And mother has no claim to any
thing?"
mot an inch of land"
Caroline thought rapidly. "Thcn,
since you know tho law, she is entitled
to pension money. Everybody knows
my father lost his health in the army.n
Did he ever apply for pcnsionP"
''I1c was too independent to do that"
said Mrs. Paine, wcarily.
"Wcll, if there never was anything
doctor livingP"
DIR; Hamilton is dead-hc was our
physician for twenty years"
mo casc," said Brooks
"Is there no Wayne hope in any di-
rcctionp"
l|rooks pondered. 1t was Disagree
able, but the trurh was best in this case.
81 don't sec glimmcr of hope. Miss
Paine only disappointment. Ii your
father had been woundcd-lost an arm
or lcg-but, you see, dying so long after
the war-making no sign-doctorS dead
its Il case dcbarrcd, us l might saw"
Carolne's brows contracted inyol,m
tariy. She looked ut Brooks steadily.
revolving new thoughts in her mind.
'lf Il man lost an arm, and is in good
health and can clerk just as well rs ever
he could"
Brooks anticipated her. IF he has
All income of ten thousand II year, and
only had his big toe hurt, he gets Il pen
SION. know people who draw pensions
for less"
'But man whose health was bro.
ken-who couldn't show any wound
and"
'PreciScly, Miss Paine. A complica-
ton OF diseases carries man of. 1t
don't matter if he went into the army
rs healthy as any man who never had a
pain or ache, or never was in bed Il day
in his lifc-if the doctors were sure the
service ruined his health, there's lots of
cases where its hard to prove it-they
DON'T prove it in such cases, as q rule. II
there was any doctor who could swear
to the facts"
Mrs. Paine and her daughter shook
their heads slowly.
"Thank you, Mr. Brooks.'
How Brooks managed to get out Of
the room he never knew himself. The
picture the mother and daughter pre-
Scntcd at that moment was stamped on
his memory forever. He thought so
much about them that, instead of going
to the theatre, he went to n cigar store
where he was in the habit of meeting
some friends. and, in Il very discreet
manner, set about collecting little
money 'for very worthy object"
The next day, ut noon, q tap sounded
on Paine's door. Caroline opened it on
the instant, and, seeing Mr.. Brooks,
blushed. He spoke quickly, as if he
had great press of business on hand
Miss Paine, Il few friends-of your
fathers, l mcan-thcy knew him very
well, sent me with this and their COM
pliments.
Here he broke down. Carolinc's eyes
seemed to read his very soul. Brooks
wanted to back out Instead he ad-
vanced quickly to small table, where
Mrs. Paine was seated, deposited bank
note ON the table, and, bowling to Caro-,
line, Withdrew so quickly she had not
time to intercept the movement
Mrs. Paine turned to look after him.
Her elbow swept the bank note off the
table. The draught caused by tho
quickly closed door Brooks pulled tc
after him swept the note under the open
CRATE. Caroline sprang forward with q
smothered cry. She was not a moment
too quick. A live coal ignited the note
She had the presence of mind to crush
1t lii her hand, at the risk of Il broad
blister. When she opened her hand
slowly, one-half the note had disap
pcarcd. The half in her hand showed
that it had been a tcn-dollar note. She
burst into tears. Ii seemed as if mis-
fortunes would never end
What is it, Carolinc?"
"He gave us ten dollars, and it is
lost"
She wcpt passionatcly.
1T would have paid what we owe in
the store, months rent, and left Us
two dollars"
"Burncd-Jnrned, Carolinc?"
There was world of anxiety, o.
dread, in Mrs. Painc's voice. Corol;nl
extended her burned palm, on wbicI
lay the half of the note.
''lt is not all lost. | read of wavs I,
get money made right, Pm sure, some.
where. You can get fUe for it, NAV
be-" ''''9
yes; but that would Just paw the
store bill. And then what could we do;
But we'll see" W.
She dried her eyes bravcly, laid tn,
burned note carefully away, and re-
solved to make the most of il the nev,
morning.
She was dressed, and on her way t6
the office OF the "Customs of the Port /,
whittier she had been directed, lone bo
fore the office was opened. After walk.
ing an hour on the street, she returned
to be told that it was legal holiday
so no business would be done that day
As she turned away, she stumbled upon
MIR. Brooks. Would she tell him? MOI
for hersclf-but her mother.
In ten words Brooks had the story
He expressed regret, reflected, bid her
wait at drug store, and fastened to "a
friend,' he said. He was absent fifteen
or twenty minutes. When he returned,
he handed her crisp $5 note, talked
about the weather; everything bu,
money, got the burned note, and bado
her goOd-day in his brisk way.
Caroline returned home, calling AZ =
groccr's on the way. and purchasing a
few necessities enough to keep body
and soul together little longer AS,
from that hour their fortunes Improved,
somehow work came to her, and a