Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-03-04

nish-looking baby perched on the low
top bar that helped to ill gap In the
| wirc fence, and wanted to see the little
fellow smile dimes WORTH" as he ex /.
pressed it.
jackson had tumbled from the bar
with shout, picked up the two nickcls
and put them into tho gourd bank with
the penny which had been the banks
sole capital for many day before that.
Often, thereafter, he might have been
4 seen, in fine weather, perched on the
| same bar, hopefully waiting for tho drop-
\ ping of more money.
! 1t was little more than week after
tho time of the banks great increase in
\ capital when Conway and Nickerson
!! drew rein before the weather beaten lit.
\ tie house.
Jackson had been perchcd u2on tho
bar until within quarter of an hour of
their arrival. He had been startled from
his perch by cry of alarm from Lyddy
in the house. Poor, weak, worn, hope
less Mrs. Bascom had fallen in something
| very like faint.
When, little later, Conway and Nick
erson rode up to the bar-way, the cloud
wall that had risen from the west was
halfway across the sky, and dusk WAS
falling.
"kaln in ten minutes" said Conway,
laconcally.
They tied their horses to the posts.
swung themselves over the low bars, and
advanced to the house.
The door was open, and the mon saw
the children gathered about the faintinp
woman. There was Lyddy-an old
faced, misunderstanding girl of twelve or
thirteen; Jimmy and Johnny, grave lit
tile fellows of about ten and eight; and
Jackson, the capitalist.
Lyddy had bathcd her mothers won
face with cool water, and Jimmy and
Johnny were tanning her with their tat
tered straw hats. Jackson stood back
and looked solcmnly on; and his dis
tress was none tho less great because he
was not crying.
"Can we do anything1" asked Con-
way, as the two looked in at tho door.
81 am better now," said Mrs. Bascom,
weakly but gratefully, raising her head
from the shabby old lounge where the
children had placed her. at will soon
pass away; it always does"
eff we can do anything" began
Nickcrson, slowly.
"Won't you come int" invited Mrs.
Bascom, with n feeble attempt to be
hospitable. 'Lyddy, set chairs for the
gentlemen"
Tho dusk was fast deepening. The
cloud wall had spread across the sky,
and few great drops of the coming
storm were plashing down.
"Much obliged to you, mom," re-
turned Conway, shut if wo can't be of
any help, we'll ride on. Is there any
place near hear where we can git accom-
modations for the night2n
"The nearest house is two miles
away" said Mrs. Bascom. "You can't
ride on in the storm. You arc welcome
to put your horses in the barn aud stop
here"
The men made a show of remon-
STRANGE.
eve needn't cat much," Niczcrson
whispered to his comradc, can we can
pay for what we git"
The horses were hardly under shelter
before the rain increased to n downpour.
''Whcrc-" began Conway, "that is,
is your husband comm home soon7"
'He is dead" answered Mrs. Bascom.
BY this time she was able to sit up on
the rude lounge.
''Lyddy," she said, "set out n bite for
for the gentlemen to eat. We haven't
much, but you're welcome to what there
is"
"Thanlz yc, mom," returned Conway,
awkwardly.
"We'll pay for it, JIM" whispered
Nickcrson 70 him.
The children were shy at first, but
when the frugal meal was over, and the
men were sitting back from the table
while Lydia cleared it off, little Jackson
advanced gravely and climbed on Con.
ways knee.
"W'erc you dom, mistor7" he asked.
''Hush, Jacksonl" said his mother.
"Oh, jest rs lives tell rs not, MON p
said Conway. ''Mc an Nickerson are
on our way back to the old Indiana
home we left twenty-five years ago"
"What part of Indiana?" asked the
widow, with pitiful cagerness.
"'sS" NouhIy-opencerVlllc
The woman's eager look faded away.
"We are from Burtis," she said.
AN were doin' back dere pretty
SOON! spoke up Jackson, chccrfully.
"That so, mom?' asked CONWAY.
heartily: That's good"
"l-l-wc' began the widow, weak
ly.
She glanced at the children, and
there was an undcrcurrent of hopeless.
ness in Ecr low voice that told the men
that, though She did not wish to DESTROY
the hope OF the children, she felt little
for herself
Yes; mom,' interrupted Conway, uu-
derstanding. ''It costs hcap of
money. fright heavy rain falin',
| haint it7"
81 dot money" Jackson uttered. tri.
umph"ntly. Sin my bank" We dom
pretty soon"
He scrambled down from Conway's
knee. =
'Dit my bank, Lyddy!" he com.