Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-12-26

see neT look ar nef mana upon WHICH
glitters the rare diamond. Tender
~ the father slips the ring from the
hand. ties it on slender blue ribbon
and hangs it on the neck of his child,
and then holds the tiny one before
the fast glazing eyes of its mother
One instant smile plays over her
still features. the glorious eyes then
close again, never to open more upon
earth That was twenty years ago.
That babe was herself That ring had
been worn around her neck till she
was sixteen, and four years upon her
hand, and how fondly she had cher
ished it! Now, where could it be?
All these sad thoughts were crowding
in upon her like shadows that left a
gloom upon her lovely countenance.
The father. watching her and per-
haps saddened. too, still more by
these very memories clinging to the
Christmas time OF long ago, and his
grief freshened and made keener by
every days approach to the time that
brings JOY to most, but agonizing sor-
row to his lonely breast. The lines
slacken, the horses, startled by pass
ing bicycle, jump, rear, plunge,
kick and run at mad gallop. The
reins are beyond reach now, and on
the horses dash. the vehicle bound
ing, rocking, rolling from side to side,
is ready to overturn and to hurl its
occupants to the ground at any in
stant Father and daughter cling to
one another in their terror, and look
ing ahead behold new danger men
acing. A few yards in front is four
horse team. The driver takes in the
situation and urges his horses quick
ly to the side Of the road. but the
great hind wheel OF the broad tread
wagon lies right in the way, and a
horrid crash follows. The vehicle is
crushed and father and daughter are
hurled flying in the air. They fall
several yards from each other and lie
as If dead.
The driver OF the four-horse team
springs quickly from his horse and
rms, kneeling before the PROSTATE
man who is nearest the wagon. He
finds him stunned, but he soon re
wives and asks for Beula. The stranger
helps the old gentleman to his feet
and both approach the PROSTATE form
of Beula.
Great Cod is my child dead, ex-
claimed the agonized father as he
catches sight of her face SO deathlike
in pallor, and so like the face of the
gloriously beautiful woman who had
been taken from earth just twenty
years ago.
II hope not" replies the farmer,
as he stoops and lifts the PROSTATE
form in his arms. There, few rods
from the road, is house, and to it
Beula was carried.
The farmer proves to be an intelli-
gent man, and his knowledge serves
him we'll in this accident. No woman's
touch could be more tender no
mother eye more watchful for effects
OF restoratives applied, but his efforts
are as yet unrewarded. How he re-
grets that he gave up the study of
medicine and went back to the free
and independent life of farmer.
Had he known more, just for this
once! He starts for his team, leaving
the father to watch. but e'er he has
mounted his saddle horse to gallop
back to the city, the father calls to
him. He returns to the house and
finds Beula sitting up. Their eyes
meet, Beula's full of gratitude and the
farmers full of admiration and joy.
A slender, shapely hand is extended,
which he holds in his big broad palm
caressingly-for few minutes-while
she tells him in answer to his queries,
II m not hurt much. nor father either.
We must devise some means to get
home"
Leave that to me-, said Farmer
b, ''and wait as patiently as you
can for my return"
In an hour he returned with aspank-
ing team and father and daughter
were taken home, where they found
their horses standing, quietly enough
now, at the gate, with few pieces OF
the broken harness hanging to their
reeking bodies.
The kind Mr.. B., as he drove
with his load of wheat on toward the
city, felt, he could hardly tell how,