Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-05-07

contract to work at my trade at Glad.
stone, Michigan, where they were put
ting up buildings for the railroad
and steamboat lines. After a while
wages wer reduced there, and when
the Worlds Fair opened, / went
down to Chicago looking for a job.
L finally went to work helping to
make the big frames they used in
the fireworks, you know, but l was
discouraged, and didn't know how |
was ever going to have my family
with me again. One day, while !
was sitting on the pier, a gentleman
came walking down, little under
the influence of liquor, guess, for
his legs seemed to be tangled. He
was looking toward the city for a
boat, l suppose, when suddenly he
reeled to one side, and went plumb
over into the lake. The water was
ten or fifteen feet deep where he
went in, but twenty-five feet nearer
the shore man could touch the bot
tom. was sitting close to where
he went over, and without q thought
L just slid in, grabbing loose board
on the pier as L went, and when he
came up, pushed the board under
him and towed him into shallow wa.
ter.
1T was all done in two or three
minutes, and didn't attract much at
tentlon from the people, though
maybe hundred gathered round al
he came out. He asked me to ge
him a chair, and hurried up, and
when got it / wheeled him out my
self. Then got him carriage, and
as he got in he asked my name and
address, and handing me ten dollars
told the driver to go to the Audito-
rum Hotel, A few days afterward
a man came and requested me to call
on the gentleman. / went there,
and he asked me lot of questions,
and finally said he would like to
have me go with him to California.
didn't hesitate long. When we
got to San Francisco found he was
big gun-not like Mackay and that
class, you know, but worth a lot of
money. He was preparing to build
row of houses, and put me in
charge. In week he took me of,
and said he was going away for his
health, and l must go with him, and
in three days more we were on our
way to Honolulu. He was a strange
man, and as he got worse he would
have no one but me near him. He
had no family but plenty of other
relatives.
After while we returned to San
Francisco. and few weeks ago he
died. 1 felt blue and lonesome
enough then, but what do you think
when his will was open he had left
me twenty thousand dollars. 1t
couldn't be paid to me just then, and
l was so afraid there might be some
slip about it that never wrote home
word of my good luck, but just
said was coming back. Ten days
ago they paid me the money, clean
stuff, you know--I've got three
drafts for it in my pocket-and then
/ thought. I'll just wait and surprise
her; and so my wife don't know a
thing about it, and won't till / tell
her to-day. But good heavens!" he
exclaimed, wiping the sweat from
his face, cit has seemed as though
we'd never get there! I've been
afraid tho cars would run off the
track and kill me, but then l says,
Well, if think Pm not going to
get through safe, that's a sure sign I
will, and so here l am. got a let
ter from her in Chicago, and tele-
graphed her to meet me-"
"And is she we'll ?" quoried the
lady.
"Oh, yes; but good Lord! you
don't know what she's been through.
She's been darning clothes and
scrimping herself to send the little
girl to school, and taking in washing
to get along. Even the money
sent her she has boarded for fear of
sickness. ! know how it is! She'll
come down to the depot shivering
in clothes made last summer, but
not thinking about that-only thank
ing God that Pm back at last. tell
you what it is, boys" he continued,
" there's nothing on earth like a
faithful wife !" and some of the pas
sengers turned away their heads,
while their lips trembled.
And the train sped on! Newark
was left behind, and then amid clang-
ing bells the train entered the depot
at Jersey City. The stranger was
sitting at the window, silent and
rigid. He was looking for the IA
miliar face, but the train was too far
down the track to recognize people
in the waiting crowd, and he grasped
his bags and bundles and was at the
door when the car stopped. The
passengers who had heard his story
followed him with eager eyes. They
saw him go stalking up the platform
looking right and left. Away up at
the head of the train, as if pushed
and shouIdered back by the we'll
dressed throng, was little woman,
thirty.five or thereabouts, in a we'll
worn black sack, and a dress faded
and poor, but neat. fitting and we'll
brushed. She had a look almost
painful in its intensity, filed with
both hope and fear, and the eagerness
of suppressed excitement.
She was looking half bewildered
at the approaching throng Of passeB-
gers, but did not recognize the broad
8 h uldered man who elbowed
his way toward her. Nor did he see
her until foot away, and then he
just dropped portmanteau, valise,
bundle and everything, and made
rush for her. The little woman gave
utterance to a suppressed "Oh !" as
she saw him, and put her thin hand
nervously to her face, and that was
all; they simply stood holding each
other, while the passengers went by.
The gentleman and his wife who had
talked to him tarried at the ferry en-
trance until the couple came nd, ra-