Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-07-04

have left of me. look rough, don't
u"
Ambrose Leroy was shocked, but
he could do no less than invite his
cousin in out of the evening air, though
he did it with a grimace.
81 heard of your mishap, Thomas.
I read it in the paper this morning. l
trust you have suffered no bodily IN
jury ?"
Not bit, old fellow"
"Then you will find work enough, l
presume. Are you hungry
81 have had no supper"
"My cook will give you some. You
must excuse me, am engaged"
"Say, Am" cried the castaway, as
his cousin turned to depart, "can't you
find something for me to do2'
Ambrose shut his hands like one
who is taking the bull by the horns.
"No, Thomas, | cannot. Our lines
are cast in different places. You can
rest here for the night, and if you
need money for pressing emergency
shall not refuse you; but may as
well inform you that cannot give you
a home.
"All right, old fellow. Small favors
thankfully received. I'll be right side
up in few days.
Ambrose directed his cook to give
the man food, and to show him to a
bed when he wished to retire; and
then he left. But the wayfarer did
not stop to test the viands of his
cousins larder
Benjamin Leroy and family had Just
sat down to the tea-table when a peal
of the door-bell called Molly from her
chair. She kept no servant, and she
thought she could answer the summons
better in the gathering gloom than
could her little daughter.
Benjamin heard the voice of his wife
in the tones of glad surprise, and ne
started up from the table, and went
out into the hall
"What-Tom, old fellow lis it
you?"
"Aye, Ben, its what there is left of
me.
you're safe and sound p
Sound as a nut. -"
"And you're just in time, too. Come
and eat, and we'll do the talking after
ward"
And he dragged Tom into the sup
per room; and when he had viewed
him in the light he exclaimed:
"Bless me, old chap. you're look
ing as hearty as buck-a little
draggled but we'll soon smothe that
out. Zounds when | read, this morn
ing, that you were on board the Do
med, it gave Molly and me a start )
but when we knew you were safe 1t
was all right.
And Tom sat down to the well-hlled
board, with Ben warm pressure thrill
ing upon his hand, and the sisterly
kiss of Molly still upon his lips, and
he was at home.
Later in the evening, after the chill
dren had been put to bed, and after
Tom had donned a pair Of Ben slip
pers, and one of Ben's easy coats, they
sat and talked. Tom told of the storm
and the wreck and he also told of adj
ventures which had befallen him in
Cuba, where he had been spending
several years in setting up and run
ming steam engines upon large sugar
plantations. Finally he asked Ben OF
his own business. How was the world
using him."
"It's all right, old fellow, " was Ben S
CHEEKY response. 81 amt doing SO well
as some, but an aboveboard, and l
have faith in myself At all events, l
have a good home, good wife, and
room at my board for friend. So
make yourself easy, my boy, and dream
pleasant dreams.
Tom made further inquiries, and al
length it came out that Ben just at
the present was debarred from a grand
bit of fortune for the want of money.
"Why, here it is" said he, when
pressed for an explanation: "YOu re-
member the old Belknap farm? Well
the railroad is going to put up de-
pot there and make regular station
for all the accommodation trains.
have the contract for the building
The Belknap heirs will sell for forty
thousand dollars and of their farm O.
almost two hundred acres full hun
dred acres lie handy to the road, anc
the land is simply magnificent fol