South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-02-20
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 20. 1891.
AN ACT OF CHARITY.

day. sat alone 10 the great. bioi
backed pew 10 the old church. d;vid,
ing my attention equally betueen tn,
sermon and the swallows dipping II
and out OF the open window at M,
SIDE, trying TO drown with their shril
chirp'ng the sonorous voice OF tbs
clergyman drouing away in the quee,
little pulpi.. And / smiled inyoIun.
tarily, Tor Charity is the old fashioned
cosnomen which my sponsors la bap
tlsm sa" fit to bestow upon me, Ch ar
ity Wayne being my full name. My
smile was repeated as Eric Perth's
dark eyes, full Of mischief, met my
own from his seat across the aisle.
The Per.h pew was quite full that
day. remembered that gay part,
OF guests bad arrived at The Perth
mansion, the grandest house in all
Allaudale. And there was Nellie,
sole daughter of the house OF Perth.
arrayed like The lilies OF the field. in
the midst ofthe gay party. Atwinge
of something like envy touched nv
heart Tor m Instant as | thought of
the great house and the merry COM
pany. Then, quite ashamed of nv
momentary weakness, turned my
attention once more TO the sermon.
just in time to hear the clerymsn
droning forth, monotonously:
Charity envieth not; charity yauu.
teth not itself, beareth all things. be.
lieveth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
TIE ser non came to au end at last.
There was duttsring of drapery and
suhdued hustle as tue congregation
filed out of the church, pausing in the
broad porch to greet friends and
neighbo!s, according TO country Gus.
tom. In moment Eric was at my
side.
Charity he began, n his usual
quizzing way, you have been thor
oughly expounded lhis morn M
Ny dear child, you look as solemn as
an owl. And here is Nell, who wants
10 invite you to join our party next
thursday. We are going 10 have q
charity ball, preceded by grand con.
cert. and We want you TO sing
You must not refuse interposed
Nellie, quickly. We will not take
NO for al answer
But Ia my heart I fell an iune-
consciousness that it was my Singing
rather thar my society which this
young belle and beauty desired.
nodded acquiescence. neve,
could refuse Neil anything; besides
was just dying to 60.
Alone in the d.fashioned church.
yard little ls.er wandered about
among the sunken graves aud mos.
grown headstones, when. turning al
abrupt corner at length. came upor
an unexpected appRrition. Beside 8
loaely grave man had thrown him.
sell down upon the soft, green grass
and had fallen asleep. / paused in
voluntarily. A man of some so ear
tho very hand.omest man 1 hac
ever seen.
Something in his altitude az be la,
there touched my sympathy. He wal
evidently no tramp or common wav-
farer, for he was handsomely atIired
and there Was a magnificent diamond
solitaire upon one of his slender
white hngers-a ring which epnrklet
like imprisoned sunbeams-asI paus
ed irresolutely near.
The heat was intense such a dan
as only odr southern climate car
bring forth. The sunshine gIiuted il
between the green pine boughs over
head, and steamed across The pale
delicate features of the sleeping man
a strange impulse prompted me.
bent a little closer over the rscum.
bent figure and then started back will
feeling OF repulsion.
Tue man lie Intoxicated 1 ex-
claimed aloud in disgust.
IL was evident that be had beer
wandering through the graveyard, anc
overcome by the influence OF tht
dfowsy god was taking q siesta anon,
the tombs.
Footsteps fell upon nv ears.
| knew that the old clergyman Mr.
Lynne. was coming. An odd feeliuc
OF pity touched my heart, FOLLOWED
by al inexplicsble desire TO conces
the strangers evident condition from
Cue stern old pastor. IL would be Of
act of charity, I argued. So / has.
lily drew my handkerchief from NJ,
pockets dainty web Of cambria
With Charity embroidered with In
les OF the valley Ia one corner, an,
hu0g II over the face cf The sleepin,
man. As | did so fell back with !
groan OF horror at Ihe sight whicl
met my eyes.
Not three feet from the unconscious
sleeper a huge ratllesnake lay cuilso
ready for the fatal spring. A brie
space and the man sleeping so peace
fully before me would be fatally in
jursd,
! turned swiftly end few 20 NJ
Lynne, while With breathIess haste
painted forth the situstiou.
lie mOtioned 10 me 10 stand aside
while, calm and determined. be lin
ed the heavy cane which be carried
1 never knew how he did Il, but ID,
, snake ives soon disabled, and then
. pale and half fainting, I dragged my
self away homsward, leaving Mr.
! Lynne With the stranger, who ha,
been uncsremoniously aroused fron
bis slumber.
All that ueab -. f,,,,,...a &,