The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-03-31

on the soldier, but a big thing it has
proved for the bondholder."
"And mother has no claim to any
thingp"
mot an inch of land"
Caroline thought rapidly. "Theu,
since you know tho law, she is entitled
to pension money. Everybody knows
my father lost his health in the army"
"Dld he ever apply for II penson?"
'Hc was too independent to do that"
said Mrs. Paine, YEARLY
'Wcll, if there never was anything
done about it, it is too late now. Is his
doctor livingP"
"Dr. Hamilton is dcad--he was our
physician for twenty years"
mo casc," said Brooks.
"Is there no way-no hope in any di-
rcctionp"
Brooks pondcrcd. 1t was Disagree
able, but the truth was best in this case.
II don't sec glimmcr of hope. Miss
Painc-only disappointment. If 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 might say
Carolinc's brows contracted inyolun-
tarily. She looked ut Brooks steadily,
revolving new thoughts in her mind.
"1f 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
an income of ten thousand Il year, and
only had his big toe hurt, he gets a pen
sion. | know people who draw pensions
for less
"But man whose health was bro,
ken 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
as healthy as any man who never had
pain or ache, or never was in bed 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--tEey
don't prove it in such cases, rs n rule. If
there was any doctor who could wear
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 cigar store
where he was in the habit of meeting
some friends, and, in very discreet
manner, sot about collecting little
money "for worry worthy object"
The next day, ut noon. n tap sounded
on Paine's door. Caroline opened it on
the instant, and, seeing Mr.. Brooks.
blushcd. He spoke quickly, rs if he
had great press of business on hand.
Miss Paine, II few fricnds-of your
fathers, mcan-they knew him very
plimcnts."
Here he broke down. Carolnc's eyes
seemed to read his very soul. Brooks
wanted to back out. Instead he ad-
vanccd quickly to . email table, where
note on the table, and. bowng 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 the
quickly closed door Brooks pulled to
after him swept the note under the open
CRATE. Caroline sprang forward with
smothcrcd cry. She was not moment
too quick. A live coal ignitcd the note
She had the presence Of mind to crush
it in her hand, at the risk of broad
blister. When she opened her hand
slowly, onc-half the note had disap-
pcarcd. The half in her hand showed
that it had been tcn-dollar note. She
burst into tears 1t seemed as if mis-
fortunes would never end.
.Whut is it, CurOlinron
''Hc gave us ten dollars, and it is
lost"
She wcpt passionatcly.
1T would have paid what we owe in
the store, Il months rent, and left us
two dollars"
Burned -Iurncd. Carolincpn
There was world of anxiety, of
dread. in Mrs Painc's voice. Caroline
eHl"ndcd her burncd palm, on which
lay the half of the note
at is not all lost. read of ways to
get money made right, I'm sure. some
where. You can get fCe for it, may
be-
'1cs; but that would just pay tho
store bill And then what could we do?
But we'll sec"
She dried her eyes bravcly, laid the
burned note carefully away, and re.
solved to make the most OF it the next
morning.
She was dressed, and on her way to
the Office OF the Customs of the Port"
whittier she had been directed, long be-
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