South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-11-16

lis yoai can lrwinI
fYes, sir
1 You worked a, one tina for the
Wa,erville Sewing Machine Conpa.
nyr
Yes. cir. I worked for the com
pany until il failed about yesr ago.
1t did not isll exsct!y,' said the
stranger with n smile, it suspended.
II has gone into operation again
My son wrote me TO try AID hunt you
up. He is in want Of faithful,
competent msn 10 act as foreman.
Would ypu lie the placer
Il should like it very much. Ihave
a dependent fami y. md have been
out OF steady work fer some mouths
Those keen eyes took rapid sur.
vey of the speakers worn aud shah
by garments.
My son writes that there is some
thing due you on your old account.
Let NE sec Here the speaker re.
ferIed 10 letter which he took from
his pocket. Seventy five dollars. /
think have the amount with me,
and II you will give receipt l will
make it square with YOU
1t was long time since Mr. Irwin
had had sum like this at bis d;spo-
sol, and he couli hardly realize his
good fortune, even waen the roll OF
bills Was in his hand.
His FIRST collected thought was Of
his dear, patient wife. Poor Mary
How glad she will be to know this I
he said to himself as he went down
tie steps into the street, putting his
hand into his breast pocket to make
sure that it was not q myth.
As he buried along, eager to tell
tho good news, and impatient at eve
~ obstacle in his way, ne saw a
dense cloud Of smoke in the quarter
where he lived. AS he drew nearer
be saw a crowd Of people following
some CHASTITY thing TIA. was being
| borne pest him to the station.
What Is i:?' he inquire! Of by
stander.
- woman burn. to death in ten,
eipent house on Front street
Front street! That was where he
lived. and with quickened step aud
sinking heart be rushed on. His
worst fears were realized. Tie
building he had left few hours be.
fore was a mas of smok ing ruins,
whose numerous tenants were Lud.
died out upon tie sidewalk before the
few things they were able TO snatch
from the frmcs, but among whom his
eyes sought vainly for ,hyse that lie
most wished TO see.
Rushing up to one OF the women,
lie seized her almost rudely by the
| arm.
Mrs. Allen where ia my wifei'
Putting down The child she was
holding, the woman arose and sared
wildly around
Il havn't seen her. The Lord be
good TO us 1t couldn't be her they
took away so burned and blackened
| that her own mo. her wouldn't know
her.
For a moment Mr.. Irwin stood mo-
,ionless, struggling with tue sickeu-
ing horror that palsied limb aud
brain. Then, as he RENE nbered the
ghastly spectacle he had met, push
ing through the crowd, he turned his
tottering steps in the direction in
which he had seen it borne.
In the shadow of such terrible
bereavement how light seemed every
otLer trial, how black the ingratitude
that bad made him unthankful for
the rich treasure of love that had
been lis What cared lie for the OPP
portunities thrown open to him
How poor and empty seemed all that
he had hoped to do aud win now The
was gone whose presence had made
his lowIy abode such q heaven Of
peace and rest
'Merciiul Father flake all else, bat
spare my wife and child ! was he CRY
that went up fr ON his tortured soul,
as the officer turned the key OF the
room where the dead lay.
Upon a rude table, their faces
chared and biackened beyond oil
recognition, were the unfortunate
mother and child awaiting identifica-
ton.
'Oh Mary l-Oh my boy
this be youp groaned the wretchsd
man, as turned his shuddering gaze
upon them.
Here Dir. Irwin felt q light touch
upon his arm.
Richard =
Turning, lie saw his wife, with
their child IN her arms, standing iust
back Of him.
The revulaion from the extremes of
grief and despair TO- this blessed re-
ali.y was too rong, and rad it not
been for the officer who was standing
by. he would have fallen to the floor.
IL seems that Mrs. Irwin. who bad
barely time TO escape with her life,
had taken refuge In the house oppo-
site. She had seen her husband rush
past on his way TO the station, and,
Owning his GRAND, followed quickly
as possible.
The following day was truly
Thanksgiving Day to both and not
alone for the material blessings tia.
surrounded them.
Aud through oil the prosperous
years that followed-years that viii
tened their hair aad knit their hearts
more closely together-beyer did Mr..
Irwin omit on that day to refer 10