South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-03-03

Charlie"
But Charlie shoek his head and
covered his face with his hands.
ssAIothsr," said he, at don't
know whether Rob Hadaway is
alive or dead to day. While 1 was
still in the ranks. hs was taken
hprisoner. I'd give my right hand
to be able to do him any good but
/ can find no trace of him. Aud
he has q mother, too, and she is
fond OF him. She lives at Green
bank, poor old lady. My dear,
good, noble Rob, tho preserver of
my lifel" Aud / saw Charlie was
nearly crying.
Not to let US sec his tears. he got
up and went to the mantel piece. /
did not look around until l heard
a cry:
"Great heavens, what is it?'
And turned and Charlie had
the tobacco pouch tho man had
dropped in his hand.
"Where did this come fromy'
said he. 81 feel as though l had
seen a ghost. l gave this to Rob
Hadaway the day he saved me. We
soldiers had not much to give, you
know, and he vowed never to part
with il while he lived. How did it
come here, mother?"
And l fell back in my chair,
white and cold, and I said, GA
wandering tramp left it here. New
err your Rob, my dear; never your
Rob. lie must have been an i'm
poster. l wouldn't haYe turnsd
away a person really in want. OIL
no, no; It's another pouch, child;
not that, or he stole it. A tall
fellow with blue eyes and yellow
brown hair; wounded, he said, and
going to his mother at Greenbank.
Not your Rob-"
And Charlie stood staring at me
with cleoOhed hands; and said he,
cit was my Rob. it was my dear
old Rob, who saved my life, and
you have driven him out in such
; night as this, mother. My mother
to use Rob sol"
"Curse me, Charlie" said /,
course me if you like; I'm afraid
God will. Three times he came
back, three times asked only for
crust and place to lie, and / drove
him away. l, land he lays on
the road now. Oh!if had knownl
oh! if had known"
| And Charlie caught up his hat.
"I'll fiud him if he is alive" said
he. ooh Robl my dear friend"
And them never saw the girl
in such taking-1own went Dru-
sills on her knees, as If she were
, saying her prayers, and says she,
'"Thank God, dared to do itl'
Aud says she again to me: "0h,
auntl I've been trembling with
fright, not knowing what you'd
say to me. / took him in the kitch-
en- way. ! copldu see him 60
faint and hungry and woun1e land
l put him in the spare chamber ov-
or the parlor, and I've been so
frightened all the WHILE"
Lord bless you, Drusilla," said
Charlie, and "Amen," says /.
And she, getting holder, went
on : 'And took him up hos cakes
and apple sass and tea" says she,
"and took him a candle and
hot brick for his feet, and | told
him TO eat and go to bed in the
best chamber, Aunt Fairfax, with
the white countsrpane and all, aud
/ locked him in and put the koy in
my pocket and / told him that he
should have one nights rest, and
that no one should turn him out
unless they walked over my dead
body"
And DrusiIla said it like an &C.
tress in a tragedy and won't of into
Mysteries the moment the words
wero out OF her mouth. She had
been expecting to be half murdered |
for doing It, you know, and the girl |
was but sixteen, aud always before 4
had minded me as il I was her I
mother.
Never was any old sinner 50 hap 4
py as I was that night, so thsakful
TO the good Lord and IL would
have done your heart good il you
had gone to sec the two meet in
the morning Charlie and his
friend Rob. AID Charlie, who had