Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-21

Of the Conemaugh, and the soft, warm
rays of June sun were flooding the air
and lighting up the scene OF awful devas-
tation.
Already the resolute, unoonqusrable
Americans had grappled with the dread
chaos OF destruction and death which
confronted them, Measures were being
taken TO clothe and feed the living, to
bury the dead and to prevent an cpl
dsmic, aud thousands of workmen were
removing the mountainous drift-heaps
of wreckage, so that the rebuilding of
Johnstown could be commenced forth
with.
In America-and the world beyond
money was being poured out like water
10 aid of the sufferers, and on that sunny
summer day wagons we're abroad every
where in the vicinity of the ruined towns
collecting contributions of clothing, bed
ding and provisions for the survivors =,
and coffins for the dead.
Upon the green slopes on each side Of
the valley, hundreds of white tents had
been erected as temporary dwellings for
the homeless thousands; and as quickly
as the ground was cleared of wreckage =,
new houses were being constructed.
Among the thousands of men who had
willingly volunteered for the work of
clearing away the debris, were Mark
Eliot and Charlie Hesketh; and one
afternoon, nearly a week after the flood ),
as our hero was helping to blow up aud
separate the mighty mass of ruins near
the bridge, he noticed MIR. Paul LinwoOd
approaching.
''Good day, MT. Eliot, - the old
gentleman said affably as he came for
ward and extended his hand. "You're
much too busy here 1 see, TO think of
coming TO see me at Nlneveh. Well,
I've come TO see you. am staying with
an old friend of mine over there, at
Shelton House, and if you can spare me
a few minutes this evening 1 shall be
obliged if you will come over and see
me-
81 will come, Mr.. Linwood, if you
really wish to see me, - Mark replied,
still puzzled as to the motive which
Gctuated the other.
al shall expect you, then. Believe
me, my business is very important-at
least TO me. II may prove of Importance
to you also, if my suspicious are con-
frmed. -
Mark was left TO ponder over his incom-
prehensible words. When evening ar
rived he made his way TO the homestead
indicated, and found Mr.. Linwood
eagerly awaiting his arrival, for just as
he was about TO knock the door of the
house opened, and the old man he had
come to see stood on the threshold.
81 was expecting you. A splendid
evening, is 1t not? Reckon you We had
tea, Ell? Well. suppose we take walk
while we have our talk together?'
"If you prefer it, certainly, - replied
Mark.
81 suppose, Mr.. Eliot, that I am
somew hat of a puzzle to your" the elder
man began. "You cannot understand
why l should wish to see you-what bus
mess l can have with you?'
Frankly, cannot, Mr.. Linwood, D"
was Marks response. "Mav l ask
what you alluded TO the other day when.
on hearing that my name was Eliot, and
Mark Eliot, you SAID it was q strange
Coincidence?' =.
1.-The coincidence was this. For the
past two years have been endeavoring
10 find man named Mark Eliot, and
when l discovered that you bore that
name I was, naturally enough, Consid-
erably surprised. -
"Was the man you sought an Ameri-
can?'' Mark asked, with increasing Won
der.
"He was born in America, and may
be in America yet, for ought l know.
But you say you are an Englishman, and
were born in Lancashire, believe?''
"Oh no. My description of myself the
other night was scarcely an accurate one.
The fact is, sir, that my history is rather
a strange Que, and
"Strange in which way?" Paul Lin
wood broke in eagerly.
"'Well, strange in so far that l never
knew either of my parents, Tor they died
ere l was old enough to remember them.
l never even learned where either of
them came from. All l know is this.
My father appears to have been
an Englishman, my mother an American.
''But were you born in-in England?"
"No; in New York. -
"And the name of your pareuts?"
Paul Liuwood demanded, almost breath
lessly, as he came TO a sudden pause in
the green lane they were treading.
"MY fathers name was Mark Eliot |
nv mothers maiden name Harriet Lin
coin -
Good heavensi" the Id man cried
Mark suddenly by the arm. els /
this another coincidence, and one more /
strange than the other, or Is my presen-
timent on seeing you first TO be |
"What do you meau?'' Eliot asked,
his bewildment intensified by his COM
panion g excited manner.
AFTER your parents died?" LInwood |
asked In the same eager strain, "what |
became of you? where did you go?"
'Into the New York orphanage, - the |
younger man answered. There I re- |
NAMED until 1 was nearly eight years |
Did. Then 1 ran away to Boston, went |
after that TO a place called tort Glen, |
which is not very far from here, and .
hen 1 went to England, and remained .
here until little over year ago. -
"My God 1t Is true then! You must !
,e the man I have been seeking. You, (
Mark Eliot, are my daughter son!
"Your daughters son?" Mark ex-
CHOW car that be, when your
lame is Linwood, and my mothers was
Harriet Lincoin?"
"When she ran away from home she
assumed that name-it was her mothers
maiden names your mother and my
laughter must have been the same per-
ION. There cannot possibly be any mis-
AXE about that now
The old man lsant against the fence
behind him as he spoke, and, drawing