The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-07-13

" b bsFs .n5 taes ' %s, NJ,
old friend and client,
Slr Douglas Renwood, was dead. an 1
the letter announcing the sad intelli-
Sehce was from his nephew, and ran
thus:
COTTAGE, STAISEs, June l.
DEAR MIR. GEARY-I have to inform you
of the sad death Of my uncle. He passed
away a. 10 O'Clock last night. 1t was all
terribly sudden. He caught a violent-chill
.iast week, which developed into inflammation
OF the lungs. We sent for DIR. Holmes, the
leauihS doctor here, but he could do no
good, and the end came last evening.
II write to You because L think il desir-
aDie that you, rs the family adviser should
come down here n once and arrange for
inc funeral, and also to go into other mat
ters connected with my poor uncle's estate.
Yours faithfully, MARK RExwooD."
ABB" said ] to myself, as I con-
cluded the reading of the letter. "The
other matters which Mr.. Mark refers
to are closely connected with himself.
He is the next of kin. Sir Douglas
dled unmarried. This means e2O, 900
yea for my young friend"
J. then proceeded TO continue nv
work of opening the mornings letters,
;aad finding that there was nothing of
urgent importance therein L deter
mined to act on Mark Renwood's sug-
gestion and go down to Staines with
out delay.
sent to my head clerk and told him
OF my intention, bidding him also to
mud ont when there was a train from
Paddlngton. He soon returned with
the information that [ could catch n
good one at 1870, and / accordingly
drove to Kensington and collected
What L required for my journey, and
an hour later was seated in first class
carriage on my way to Staines.
| had announced my coming by tel
e9raph from Paddington, and [ was.
therefore, not surprised to find young
Renwood waiting for me when /
alighted
He was tall, thin young man, with
strong, aquiliue features and small.
gray eyes. had known him since he
was at Eton, aud he held out his hand
to me with q cordial smile.
L am delighted to see You come so
soon, Mr.. Geary," he said, speaking
In hearty tone, ''but ] wish You had
come on more joyous business. This
is a sad affair indeed"
Sad enough" ] enjoined, "and vet
we must all die some day or other
else where would the young ones come
IMP
The cottage was about hall mile from
tie station, and our journey took us
along the river bank. AS we passed
the penthouse on the slope he said in
q low voice:
This is the spot where my poor
uncle contracted the chill which caused
his end. He and I were walking along
this path one evening. when we heard
cry for help aud the next moment n
childs heal appeared above the water.
!, OF course, would have plunged in,
but as you have perhaps noticed / am
suffering from temporary sprain, and
could moi swim N inch Ny uncle.
knowing this, threw OF his coat, and
swimming TO the spot where the child
was fast sinking, rescued it Just as the
y9ungSter came mp for the third time %
"A heroic act, indeed, considering
his time Of life, said.
1T wac heroic action. but ii cost
him his life. I begged him directly
we reached home to go 60 bed. but he
refused, saying that he would Simply
change his clothes and have bath.
and then he as fit rs possible. Alas.
he was mistaken. Next morning he
said he hal caught n cold and in the
evening he was SO sbaky that went
for the doctor Then followed inAam-
nation of the lungs and then
death
This Dr. Holmes" I meried. els
he n really good man?"
II believe he is the best doctor i'm
these parts Had J known thing
were 80 serious + would have wirod 10
town for our own man, but I never
dreamed that such was the case"
Poor old gentleman I said. "And
he was TO have been married soon. wa
he not?"
Yes. That is the saddesl part Of
the business he looked forward an
nan IN 90 giving mp the state Of ba.hel-
ordOm in which he had lived. aud now
yell, is no use talking Of the past. ID
' followed him into the cottage and
up the stairs until we came 30 the room
where The deal barona lay
{ vent slowly toward the bed ON
which M poor old friend aud client
rested. and drawing aside the sheet