Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26

IL, 4 nDpt. Sne paused mere iOI bitoAh, |
but before the Sheriff. who had been
stung TO the quick--if he had ariy--by
her burning words OF truth and whose
hard. ugly face was distorted with rage, |
could speak, she continued: you act |
tho lie. too, you say here that Mr.. |
Thornton is making you rob my home OF |
what Is necessary for life itself. and
even rob me of my child's own life, and
that you only buy them from him for |
mementOes. as you are friend OF |
ours ] do not believe Mr.. Thornton |
knows thing OF your inhuman doings,
and | swear that you shall walk over my
dead body before you shall touch my
child's death-bed." The noble, brave
woman rose at this, and the harsh officer
gritted HIS teeth ard started towards
her as II he meant TO do it-"and mine.
too" said the husband and father, as he
lifted his poor skeleton hard 10 defend
his true-hearted wife-"and mine, too"
said stern. deep voice. and the power
full form OF young Thornton came with
one great bound between them. Take
that, you miserable wsstch OF a man,
and with one great Effort he hurled the
clumsy officer OF the law TO the other
side OF the room.
SENT TO BEFE lend THEM.
This was the first IniImation 10 the
three OF the presence ~ the fourth. and
his treatment OF the sAwiH by way OF
introducing himself into I'M dialogue was
sufficient TO open the hearts u Mr.. ana
Mrs. Clayton as nothing else cou,r Fear
ing, however, because he was a stranger,
| that they would not understand his In
| trusion upon them, he turned to the
| brave little woman. who was fast giving
way under the terrible strain, ana said
RAPIDLY but In quiet, reassuring tone:
you are right, Mann, that Mr.. Thorn
ton. my uncle. knows nothing OF this In
! human officers conduct, and only TINS
morning he told me OF your misfortunes,
| and asked me to come in his place, as he
continues unwell, and see IL you wanted
| anything. had lost the way and came
| here by accident / assure you that he
! has given positive orders TO this officer
not to modest you. for he said so much
| TO him In my presence not later than yes
terday. He said other things OF you.
too. but that later. Now, man." and
he turned suddenly upon the officer now
| orouching almost at young Thorntons
feet, "you put every piece OF this furnl-
| ture hack into this room In less time
| than IL takes me TO tell you, or you'll
| ba very sorry for II. l have notion
you'll need no mementoes OF this day s
work. soon" The Sheriff would nave
made a reply, but he saw on the counte-
nance of the nephew look he had once
| seen on the countenance OF the uncle
and he feared not to be silent and obey.
He skunk out, and presently returned
with the two chairs. and again, as before,
for the bed, but Thornton's stern voice
| called him back. Bring me some WOOD
and klndling here; get 1t anywhere, put
on your life, get it quickly" He set tne
remaining furniture back himself while
the Sheriff was gone for the wood, and
then made the fire. Mrs. Clayton tainted
when she saw the old. familiar chairs
returned. and placed in their accustomed
! nositIons on the broad hearth. Her nus
| hand caught her as she fell and laid her
beside the burning little creature on the
| cot. When she was revived hoiy
| change. though only slight one, mao
| taken place in her surroundings. n roar
ing fire burned on the hearth as not be-
fore during the whole winter, and the
room was beginning TO be comfortable.
Rut the reaction had been great, and
when Mr.. Clayton steadIed her TO chair
before the cracking fire, she seemed 70
be dazed yet, and not to understand tne
change. She linked Thornton 10 IL all
though. and watched his quick and de-
| cfciV9
upon a being from another sphere. The
child notionless till now, looked into hi:
face from the cot with infinite pleading
in her great dark eyes.
THINGS PUT TO RIGHTS.
He started towards her, but turned sud
denly upon the Sheriff, like man VINO
had forgotten something, and told tha'
dignitary to "go," and remarked by way
of sympathy and encouragement that NJ
would see him later. Another moment
when he had seen the surly othcer ana ms
mule drive off, he was assuring MT. Clay
, tor that he would be gone but httl'
while. and before that good man coulS
find words to thank him he was turning
the corner half block away. The warn
room and the soothing words OF her nus
hand were such good medicine Tor Mrs
| Claytor that when Thornton saw them
, an hour later, they both seemed IKE new
; creatures in a new place The dust ant
straw which had been scattered every
where in moving the bed and scanty FUR
. nfture and the unholy mud from th
! Sheriff's boots had disappeared. Neat
, ness and warmth had succeeded TO TN
{ Sheriffs presence and the cold. VIII
} thornton came a physician. and he wa
Q presently bending thoughtfully above tn
. couch chatting the hands OF the little SUI
, ferer. But why make the story SO long
I Thornton had told his uncle OF IN
4 Sheriff's harsh treatment OF the unfortu
T nate family, and that good gentleman
indignation knew no bounds
3 He did not spare the Sheriff nor hlmseli
, that he had allowed the man to deceiv
\ him. He said he would make amends
{ such a thing were possible now, and nj
q nephew knew that he would. Thornto
{ left Manchester that afternoon, ana say
$ his new-found friends no more. A lette
. was handed him that evening from hi
, | northern home. which said that one c
: his wealthiest clients would not live, an
, wanted to talk with him about the dis
, | position of his property before the en-
: came. He left Christmas morning, Whll
r the little town. always quiet, was sleel
= Ing. He heard from his uncle occasiona
!, lv and learned from his letters, thoug
: not from the words themselves, that n
Q mad heen q good as his word. Clayton ha
5 recovered almost his old vigor, had take
nm his successful business life, almost
0 seemed. where sickness had forced nil
4 IN Law II down. The child had gotten wei
Z too and every wind seemed to blow favor
s able TO the merchant and his little family
i VISITED MANCHESTER AGAIN.
: Like a great many others who are cor
: stantlv on the lookout for the grill
7 reaper, Mr.. Thornton was iateo 10
= Accommodated. During this time Sidne
3 Tbornton had not visited Mancheste
!, AGAIN. so engrossed was no In his profe'
!, sion. His ambition, not at ali saushe'
= linked with the earnestness with wnic
: he did everything he undertook, ha
: served him well, and his name was a.
| Ity,er 0rtr