Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-10-13
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BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

The roar and tumnlt of Broadway
rose to the open windows of room
No. 10 in the Nutley buildings like
the hum of a monste. beehive.
Old Jethro Black sat patiently
with his hands on his pepper-and.
salt knees, and the sultry wind lift
ing the few struggling hairs from bis
bald head, his eyes fixed dreamily
OF the floor.
If Keturah Jones were here, them
boards would be secured whiter'n
they are now, l guess" he thought.
Astrea, his granddaughter, was
coiled up in a big leather-office chair
her scared eyes fitting from onesob-
ject to another, while the rows oil
musty law books kept an unwinking
watch from their shelves above and
the little Office boy played marbles
in the hall beyond.
"Grandfather,D murmured Astrea
"I-I think 1 am just little hun.
cry. Is there one Of those chicken
sandwiches left ?"
The old man slowly unfolded s
thrifty brown paper package thai
reposed in one of his coat pockets.
"Just one.' said he, "and cher
ries, but they're sort o. crushed
up"
"But, grandfather, what will yor
eat ?D
"Me? I amt hungry, child.
ate lots o. breakfast"
Are there not some pious fctions
which the recording angel will slul
over when he makes over the debt
and the credit of US poor mortals
Astrea erept close to the old man.
knee, and nibbled eagerly at the re-
mains of the luncheon.
Grandfather" she whispered
''New York's an awful big place
I'm almost sorry we came here. ]
Pm afraid of New York, aim
you 2"
Just then the sound of brisk foot
steps echoed on the stairs, the dool
flew open, and tall, we'll dressed
man entered.
"Hallo ~ he calculated. "Why,'
with penetrating glance, cts Cou.
sin Jethro Black, isn't it And lit.
tie Star Eyes, grown into big girl
The office boy told me some one had
been waiting here for me, but I never
thought of you'll"
We went to your house on Mad
ison avenue" explained Mr.. Black
in subdued way, ''but there wa'n't
nobody to home but cleanin' wo.
man, with her head tied up in a red
hankercher, and she said the folks
had gone to Bar-Bar-some bar.
barous place or other. l can't right
ly recall the name"
The gentleman laughed.
ooh, Bar Harbor |" said he
"Well, she spoke the truth. They
are gone !"-for in Cousin Jethro's
wrinkled face he traced some Inca.
ments of doubt. give only come
back to town tor day or two my.
self. Going back this afternoon
Well, what can do for you ?" sit
ting down with genial smile.
It's about Astrea," said the old
man. "Astrea, she's seventeen now
and there don't seem to be nothin
for her to do in Kidd's Valley. She's
a smart, handy gal, and that year
your little Barbara had the whoopin
cough, and the hull family came out
to stay the summer, your wife took
considerable notice of Astrea."
Yes, l remember that year,
said Mr.. Eldon. "You were very
kind to us. You refused to accept
any compensation, and Mrs. Black
nursed little Barbe back to health
very tenderly."
Betsy's dead and gone now ?
said the old man, swallowing lump
in his throat, "and we never expect.
ed to charge our relations nothin
for breathin' Gods fresh air and
eatin the berries that growed on
every bush. But about Astrea. I've
got to go West to live with my sis
ter's husban La poor paralytic cree
tur. | dunno's I've explained to
you that things have sort o. run
down in Kldd's Valley. We We had
to part with the farm, and now that
Hezekiah Hall needs care, it makes
sort O. home for me. But they
hahn t no room for Astrea, so I've
brought her here. / thought may
be your wife could think up some
way for her to earn living. She's
tall, strong gal, you see, and NICE
lookin', too'-Astrea hung down her
head and blushed-"and she nigh,
help ycur gals with the housework
or mebbe get a place somewhere
where she'd be treated well and moi
put to too hard work"
Mr.. Eldon screwed his mouth into
a whistling shape.
Help his girls-Elaine and Bar,