Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1893-02-10
snatching the letter from the mantel
she broke tho seal and read as follows,

| cnBtculnH tue ietter from the mante
sho broke the seal and read as follows,
Through my banker send you a thou.
sand pounds. More will follow should it be
connections with the first installmcnt. j
thought you unworthy of trust after you
had brought misfortune and disgrace upon
vito and child by indulging your passion
for gambling. But have the feelings of a
father and have not lost sight OF you.
have heard OF your energy and self-deniaI.
your honesty and pride Work is no dis.
grace. not even the kind that you do. ]
hope you will profit by your experience,
now you see that others must bear tho con.
sequence OF your reckleSsness and extrava-
gance. Your wife and child have hal to
suffer keenly for your folly.
"Too late," sobbed Victoria; uthis
help is OF no use now" Then the thought
came to her, "Robert will now have
means to escape" Ho had not yet been
home. Perhaps he had left the city aud
was wandering about, lonely, hungry,
cold, without shelter or money, and yet
with five thousand dollars at his dis.
posal if he but knew it. The contrast
with their abject poverty made the sum
seem greater.
Once more visitors summons inter.
ruptcd Victoria's thoughts. She opened
the door mechanically, blu. retrcated
when she saw before her the man who
had left that mysterious letter for Robert
few days before.
"Is Bob in2" he inquired.
ENC" answered Victoria, "ho has
gone away. What do you want2"
GLOW is his hand2"
at is better, think"
ooh, well, then he's oil ready for
work again, isn't he2 We are short of
help just now, and the boss told me to
come around and ask how he was"
Grasping the man by the arm, she
said excitely, almost fiercely, "Who is
the boss2 What is he2 Who sent yous"
why, the boss of the sweeping
gangl Bob and me works in the street
cleaning department. Didn't yc know
that7"
"Come in and sit down." Victoria
continued eagerly. "Tell me how all
this happened to my husband"
''Wcll," said the man, seating him
self, 1--WE got one of them ncw-fang led
swcepin' machincs which is drawdcd by
horses. Last night one Of the horses
stumbled, became frightened and jumped
in among the men who sweep and shovel
the kit. Your husband seized the bride,
aud the horse bit him, but he didn't let
go. He's plucky dog. he is. Then
others came up to help manage the
brute. The overseer won't send out that
horse any more. or course Desmond
| gets his allowance for sickness, because
he was hurt while Mt work. Our Super.
intcndent promises that he shall have an
office job. lie must have heap OF
schoolin,' for he writes mighty fine. ]
guess they'll let him boss the job some
day. We boys won't mind his good
luck. We all likes Bob; he's good
fellow, only too proud for us. Well, |
must so now. Good-by, num-"
Victoria offered her hand to the man
in perfect silence, and escorted him to
the door; then she turned to the crib.
She felt impelled to press the child to
her heart But the strain had been too
great. Her limbs failed to support her,
and she fell fainting upon the floor.
When Victoria recovered conscious.
ness she found herself in Roberts arms.
Instinctively he drew her closer to him
as the thought flashed through his mind
that this distress was probably due to
the contents of his fathers letter.
Between her sobs the wife confessed
all her fears, anxietics and wretched
suspicious. Robert in turn explained
his reluctance to inform her of his occu-
patton, hoping it would be but tempo
rary and that work more suited to his
birth and education would soon offer;
but day after day passed and no chance
for better position presented itself.
His clothes grew shabby and his entire
appearance was becoming rcpulsive.
"And yet TO tell you," Robert said, "that
l was street. cleaner would have humili-
ated and distressed me even more than
did the mental occupation itself. This
suffering has taught me many things,
and l value it now that l see my way to
make suitable business connections.
Although iather has forgiven me and Is
so generous ehall not have him support
us. With the money we have now we can
establish some business, and will have
n neat and comfortable home.
''Can you forgive me for doubling
you3" said Victoria, looking up into his
face, ''for being SO wanting in faith as
to you suppose were "A"
''Not another word" he cried, lifting
his baby on his lap and drawing his wife
closer in fervent embrace. Home and
Country.