The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-17
ABriideff0r an Hour,
4 Thrilling Story Of The Johns
town Disaster.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
TOM JHRRoLp's JoY-AN OLD LOVE STORY.
Tom Jerrold was pouring himself cup
of coffee of his own making. He was
standing under a hastily improvised
;shanty on the mountain side, we'll out Of
the way.
! He refused to 60 out to Squire Jepson's
house-there were women and children
enough to fill it. He had for his COM
panion a poor, measly- looking dog that
looked like as if it had lost all its friends.
The dog had learned to look upon Tom as
friend already.
Tom had poured out his cup quite full,
and was standing looking at picture OF
. child that he had torn out of an illus
trated paper, when step near him caused
him to turn around.
Great Scotland! It's Mr.. somers
and Mrs. Somers come back from the
dsad!"
: The picture fell on the ground as Tom
grasped o hand of each, while tears
sprang to his eyes.
Pm not ashamed of them. He found
ye-I told him to keep up-I told him,
Mrs. Somers." =.
I'VE are here all highland you-what
are you doing? Cooking for yourself?"
Il did that many day, Mr.. Somers."
Then he looked from one to the other
keenly. He stopped, bringing his face On
level with Mrs. Somers.
You've message; you've brought me
news, Mrs. Somers. see it in your face.
Out with it; can stand anything-any-
thing but suspense. You have word, I
know" - II
Yes; you- daughter is alive"
L. L. Iok 1N4 hvaI
up to heaven. His lips moved, bat no
5 sound issued from them.
@She is alive and we'll. She would be
here now, but she thought it best to 60
Ito her friends at Blairsville.
God be praised! You saw her-you
talked to her."
Mrs Somers related how they met and
travelled to Pittsburgh. Tom Jerrold lis
tened in silence, muttering word. When
she paused he said simply:
That's enough now. That's worth
cup of coffee. I can recommend it;
made it. Barring the want of milk it's
good"
Mrs. Somers praised the coffee.
! This is wonderful world! Full Of
marvels, My own daughter alive. I've
something to live for yet"
Mr.. Soners motioned to his wife. His
wife frowned and nodded to him. This
was repeated until Tom Jerrold, looking
up suddenly, intercepted the movements.
There's more to tell" He lowered his
voice. II can guess, you found the child
and gave it decent burial. Heaven re-
ward you. I'll never forget you both.
He bowed his head then.
No." said Mrs. Somers, with quivering
lips, "the babe is alive, too"
What's that? My grandchild alivel
it's living? Is there no mistake? Did
Its mother see ii? Tell me oil, all.
As they told him the story he stood like
man without life, like man carved in
stone, until Mrs. Somers described the
departure from Verona, when Tom Jer-
rold suddenly sat down and cried be-
tween his sobs:.
: ALIVE! Alive! The apple OF my eye
alive. It's miracle. A miracle"
When Re became calm he said now he
remembered he had some good news for
Mrs. Somers. One of her wedding pres
ents was recovered. She would never
guess what it was. Had Mr.. Broadhurst
told herr
Nothing, Mr.. Jerrold. What is it?"
1-'Your travelling trunk. And where do
you think I found it? Half mile up
Stony Creek, wedged in tree top-but
The tree came from the Lord knows where.
brought it 10 Mr.. Bloadhurst- and We
opened it. II was in q bad shape outside;
inside it was all right-as dry as bone.
There was paper in it-a paper Mr..
Broadhurst thinks you never saw"
Il never noticed paper in it,, said
Mrs. Somers.
1T was in curious flap under flap"
What was the paper, Mr.. Jertold?"
1T was copy of Mr.. Peters will, with
nay name and John Watrous' where the
witnesses ought to be, and note stating
where the will would be found-in Mr..
Alexander Rutledge's possession"
Mrs. Somers looked at her husband in
quiringly.
WHO did Mr.. Peters give his property
to-" Mr.. Somers asked.
ITO your wife?"
ITO me! I don't understand it at all.
Algernon. Why, Mr.. Jerrold, did Mr..
Peters give his property to me?"
That's story may as we'll tell you
as MIR. Broadhurst. Mr.. Peters liked
your mother, Your mother liked him.
! was one of the few who suspected
the truth. There was q marplot some!
where; anyhow, Mr.. Peters ceased paying
attention to your mother, and wont aw =
TO sea. He went to the East Indies, and
there made the money that was the forma-
tion of his propery here.
I understand he was home yea- be-
fore he found out the truth. Then it was
too late. He had not acted wisely. A
man who was dying Of consumption. as
mean q sneak, judge, as lives and finds
favor-at last let out enough to make Mr..
Peters uneasy. He made inquiries, found
that he had wronged your mother by
listening to stories in which she was rep
resented to say the reverse Of what she
thought. Her people gave her no peace
until she married the man they preferred.
Mr.. Peters told me more than once he
never would forgive himself. And he
said the same to Squire Jepson and
Broadhurst-that if it took all he had in
the world to make amends to his old
sweetheart's daughter, he would make it
right before he died. You are the daugh-
ter"
And no one ever told me. Dear old
man. Now know why always liked
him" said Mrs. Somers.
And who was the lying sneak?" Som
ers asked carelessly.
Mr.. Peters own brother-surely not,
said Mrs. Somers.
His brother-in-la n-law-Giles Brockle,
father of Giles Brockle We all know"
Mro Coynero drar 1opp hreafh and