Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-04-01

] Ri0NN ~ oiiOthNAf SSe+NS ,
kept fast company; led fast life; and
was fast going to the devil. | had money
and to spare, for | drew heavily on my
account in the home bank. No letters
from home now reached me. In my last
letter had told them that had made
up my mind to rough it in the cattle re-
gion of Texas for year.
Finally wound up in Pueblo. This
was in the spring OF the year, about
year and half after l had left home
One morning, as was sitting, half asleep,
on the porch of the hotel, for had been
up late the night before,-I felt someone
touch me on the arm and call my name.
l looked up lazily,-then sprang from my
chair aud seized the hand which was held
out 10 me in greeting. why, Handy old
man What on earth brings you out
herer Well he answered, that's the
very question | want TO put to you. lie
drew a chair beside me, and we sat there
talking for an hour at least. He was out
with an engineer corps and had ridden
into town after supplies. could give no
satisfactory account of my own occupa.
ton, and Handy said, looking me ear
nestly in the eye, No use Disgusting it,
old chap, eau see for myself that you're
going to the dogs. Now call this a
crime. There's no other name for it
You've got the making Of a good man in
you, Crauston, aud you've left a good
bone and lots of good friends behind you
in the East. Why don't you 90 home? {?
Leave this God.forsaken country. It's a
regular Sodom. A fellow gets into dew
ilment here before he knows it. And /
shouldn't be able to preach but for one
thing, old man, but that one thing keeps
me out of deal of devilment, and that
is,-now congratulate me, old fellow
Pm going to be married this summer
last a trine over three months of, though
believe can tell you the exacttime down
to seconds if you care TO hear | shook
his hand warmly. And you'd coDgratu-
late me still more did you only know the
girl. Here take a look at her picture,
and tell me if she isn't pretty And,
opening his watch, showed me the picture
of young girl looked at it carelessly,
for took little interest in these matters
now, but suddenly something about the
face struck me as familiar looked at
OF it more intenlly. God 1t was Jessie
Marstonl No, not Jessie, for Jessie was
dead, but some one who looked her very
image. When handed it back my hand
was shaking violently, and heavy mist
hung over my eyes. Come, is she not
preity?' asked Handy. Yes, replied,
she is pretty but in such dull, listless
tones that Handy raised his eyes from the
picture and said Heavens, old man,
what's the matter? You look as though
you'd seen a gbosil' And SO | have, !
muttered. Where? whoseY Jessie Mar
ston's- Jessie Marston ! What, do you
know Jessie Marstonl he asked astonish
ed. Yes, did know her once. / was
with her when she died when she died,
I don't understand you. Jessie is not
dead; / saw her alive and well not four
months ago I sprung from my chair
and seized him savagely by the shoulder,
and cried, here, none of that! this is nc
matter for triAingr He looked at me in
wonder; he afterwards confessed that he
thought me mad. Il tell you, he repeat
ed, Jessie Marston is alive and well.
mean the Jessie Marston who is tht
daughter of Col. John II. Marston, anc
who lives near Washington The same,
| cried, sinking back in my chair and
covering my face with my hands. No
dead Not dead l cried, why, man,
saw her die with my own eyes. | hell
her hand, saw the doctor feel for hel
pulse and listen for the heart, and both
were stillr How dull am cried Han
dy; why now l understand the who'll
business. You are speaking Of the iim'
she was thrown from her cart year agc
last fall. Oh yes, and that fool doctor
did say she was dead one morning when
she had only gone off into a swoon.-
Then it is true. cried, walking rapidly
up and down the porch, throwing M
hands aud gesticulating like mad; The
she is alive, and / shall see her agar
Oh God. how | thank thee All miatak
{ of the doctors Said she was dead when sh
had only swooned I'll start for home tC
morrow III start o-day Tll--' The
, I suddenly stood still An awful fear siol
into nv heart. and all became as dark
the grave. She was alive and well ! The
whose picture was that had seen in Han
e dy's watch Handy cried, going over
n n