Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-08-25
you at his address in Hull"

He looked at me sharply, and did
not answer for minute.
"Yes," he said, slowly, "the man
who owned that was there when l
was,'' and he turned round, as if I'M
willing to say more.
/ had learned all / wished, and re-
peated the information to DR.. Fres-
ton.
"Thank you very much" he said,
simply, aGood night. sister,; | may
not see you far a few days" He
was already on the landing.
"Good night, DIR. Freston," but |
doubt il he heard me. He was half
way downstairs.
Next day DR.. Freston's work was
done by the junior surgeon, and the
ward routine went on as usual.
I could find out nothing more of
No. rs history, except that his real
age was twenty-eight. lie looked at
least ten years older. He was knock
ed about a good deal in the world,
he told some of his fellow patients.
His injuries proved to be very
slight and on the evening of the Sec
ond day he was allowed to sit up for
short time.
On the day following, when it was
growing dusk, the door of the ward
opened, and DIR. Preston came quiet
ly in.
l saw at a glance that he had not
been successful in his search. There
was nothing more to be learned at
that address, he told me. The people
there remembered quite well a man
who gave the name of George Thomas
sleeping there for one night a week
ago, but they were sure they had NO
other lodger at the time. They knew
nothing whatever about the man.
He was evidently very poor, but had
paid for what he had got.
81 ought not to have bailt Sc
many hopes upon SO slight a foun-
dation," he replied, with poor at
tempt at smile, and tone Of weary
sorrow 10 his voice. 81 have waited
so long that | ventured to think
that perhaps at last he'-then check.
ing himself, and with an effort turn
ing his thoughts elsewhere-"but
am late, sister. must catch up my
work. Have You an, thing for me
to night"
will you sign No. rs paperi
The wound was very superficial, and
Mr.. Jones discharged him this morn.
ing. He is anxious to get on"
81 must speak to him first; he
may be able to tell me something
more" and he turned towards No. I
sitting by the fire. and for the frs
time be looked him in the face-tht
first time for five years rather; for
saw DR.. Preston pause as if trans6x
ed, and the next moment he was al
his brothers side.
"Jack" he said, "Jackp and could
not say another word.
But that was all he had to say
Jack had been the thought of bis
life, night and day, for five years
And now Jack was there, and he
held him fast, what should he say
but repeat "Jack!' again and again
until he could realize that this was
no dream, but rather the awakening
to better and happier life than ht
had known before. Jack said moth
ing at all. For one moment he had
looked around as if wishing to es
cape; but if he would he could not
Aud where in the world that he had
found so hard and merciless could
he hope to meet the warm welcom,
which strove TO find utterances il
his brothers happy eyes, which
gazed on the ragged figure before
him as if he could never look enoughI
| That is all the tale. 1t gaVe the
patients something to talk about fol
a day or two, and was then forgot
TENN .he ward, at least.
| But there are three people from
whose memories no word or act re
corded here can ever be effaced
Need | name them? They are DR.
Preston, Jack, his brother, and my
self, Tom Freston's wife.