Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-06-12

10uIe pretty ANXIOUS 10 Ee'
through, l imagine returned the
gentleman.
Yes; and the trains so slow; il
seems to me it will never get there.
rve been FIVE days on the road.
Cons through from San Francisco
DO you live therei'
No, l live In New York. he re.
turned, 'but I've been gone two
years, and Pm getting pretty nerv-
ous. Some way it doesn't seem
possible I'm back
Have you family in New
York;
well, | should sayl' he eXclaim-
ed, rubbing his hands and smiling.
There was apluse for mOmet,a t,aud
then be took a photograph from
his pocket and passed 1t over for
examination. That's my wife. 1t
was taken ten years ago, and
looks kind o. old.fashiOned, guess,
but It's all the one I've got.'
They looked at 1t with interest.
1t was a pleasant face, hopeful
face-a face to trust and depend
upon.
Have you children, tOOY queried
the lady. Strange what trivial
things interest anu attract us OH a
railway train.
'One,' he replied; "a girl eight
years of age; We had a little boy,
too, eighteen months old, but be
died year ago.
'Ah.' that was too bad said the
lady.
'Yes,' lie responded; 'and she
had written me so much about him
that ! felt Just az il I'd been with
the little fellow right along. 1
declare, when she wrote he was
dead, some way | had to sit down
and cry over 1t just as if he had
been grown up, you know. ]
couldn't help but think it was
Ton her account more than the
baty's that [ felt bad. She was
so wrapped up in him, and she had
worn herself out trying to save
him. And alone, too, and poor,
you know; it was mighty tough
And you've been gone Two
years. said the lady. wont Sue
be glad to see YOU, though!
Il guess sor he replied, confident
ly. And pve got some good news
for her; tell you" He hesItated
few moments, then said:
1t was hard struggle to live in
New York at best, and when the
times grew worse went West to
contract and worked at my trade
at Gladstone, Michigan, where
they were putting up buildings for
the railroad and steamboat lines.
Alter while wages we're reduced
there, and when the Worlds Fair
opend, l went down to Chicago
looking for a job. l finely 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 sit
ting on the pier, d gentleman came
walking down, a little under the
influence of liquor, | guess, for his
legs seemed to be tangled. He WI S
looking toward the city for a boat.
| suppose, when suddenly he reel
ed 10 one side, aud went plum"
over into the lake. The wa'e "
ten or fifteen leet deep where he
went IN, but twenty five feet
nearer tAe shore man could touch
the bottom. | was sitting close TO
where he went over, and without a
thought 1 just slid in, grabbing a
loose board on the pier as went,
aud when he came up, / pushed
the board under him and tOWed
him into shallow water.
1T was all done in two or three
minutes, aud dldu't attract much
attention from the people. though
maybe hundred gatheied round
as lie came out. He asked me TO
get hin a chair, aud | hurried NJ,
and when l got 1t wheeled him
out myself. Then | got him a
carriage, and as be got in he asked
ny name and address, and hand
ing me ten dollars told the driver
to 60 to the Auditorium Hotel. A
few day afterward man came and
re Quested me to call On the gentle
man. ] went there, and he aske d
a lot OF questions, and finally said
be would like to have me go with
him to California. | didn't htsI
tate long. When we got to Sau