Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-01-05

kind thought-oh. ever so mueh. dear
Mr.. Jacques"
She gave little gasp, almost a sob.
II was trying thing to see right be-
fore her eyes what would put her fa-
Their on his feet and restore PEI q and
happiness to the whole household,
Mr.. Jacques regarded her more In
tentiy than before IL possible. but re-
| peated like spoiled child:
Fifty thousand dollars for you No
body shall touch. Tied up fast For
you. This''--he put hts small. claw like
hand on the symmetrical block Of notes
this fer you too"
He was as stolidly inperturbabie as
when he sold her salmon, but his eyes
had more sparkling ticker.
Good. spry little woman"
Whenever he apostrophized her thus.
| II was like the sudden, vclyety COO Of 4
dove
zone hundred thousand here"-he
tapped II again-"for you, but no tied
up. Fifty thousand more. fixed tight
fast. for you. In trust. You have only
income. Nobody touch him. Not enc
ever This for you what you wish"
He made curt gesture with bis
hand, like an awkward sower flinging
seed broadcast
"0h. you must not You must not
tell me such things Her lips witch
ed. her fingers moved In nervous ex-
element as she strove to he calm and
smile. you must keep your money
for yourself"
'sIIave plenty more for old Jack. This
for you. What you please. Fifty thou
sand dollars, tied for you. You sole.
Nobody single one touch cent OF 1t.
This show how tight fixed OPP for you"
He scratched round In the bag and
pulled ont a letter, which he gravely
handed TO her Her full nnme was
written on It and In the corner she rec
ognized the style OF leading law firm
of Seattle. Then he gently deposited
the prim, solid block OF tightly pressed
together notes III her lap and stiffly
rose, his eyes fixed on her with UNI
blinking. penetrating usefulness.
go now" he said softly Go back
Alaska. See you again some time meb-
be-"
"And why did you return now, Mr..
Jacques, n you are going right back
there again" she asked TREMENDOUSLY.
did you think | was In troube7 Oh.
] ought not to take this money Why
do you tempt me7 j do not care so
much for myself But this Will ave
my fathers honor. his business reputa-
ton, aud will give him a new hold on
life. DO you know that you seem like
an angel from heaven And this IL
Christmas eve"
GOOD little woman. BE spry again.
Spry all the time now. Always $4,000.
Treated old Jack nice. Think him
nothin but old fish man, Mr.. jacques
all same. Sick. help. Scarf you make
for him. Like see him always Good
by"
1t was an outpour for the reserved
man, dreamy In Its reminiscent sweet
ness. He uttered the "goodby" with !.
hardly any pause aud In the same plac-
idly monotonons tone, but he stretched
forth bis hand
"Oh. MIR. Jacqucsw she cried. clasp
ing II with her shaking fingers. while
she looked up at his set face and be-
nign. glitterng. steadfast eyes. II
cant thank you. You are too good |
don't deserve It."
She broke down In happy food OF
tears, bending forward her elbows on
her knees. her face buried In her hands.
She was not ''spry" bit. just pure
womanly. as she luxuriously sobbcd In
her JOY and gratitude and confusion
and pity. But Mr.. Jacques would I'M
derstand. Soothed at last by letting
herself utterly 20 and by the silent
sympathy OF the odd figure standing
above her IN such tactful. voiceless pa
thence, she raised her head, smile
breaking through her tear washed face.
Mr., Jacques was cone.
Cutting from Seattle paper Of Dec.
&c. lS9. pasted In the scrapbook OF
spry little woman OF the city:
Seattle may not be aware that IL has
had distinguished visitor lately.
Those who may have seen the magnit-
gentleman from Alaska probably did
not recognize In him the sullen fish ped
dler who used to sell them very excel
lent sea food three or four years ago.
French Jack as every one calls him
up Alaska way. played In better luck
than most OF those who strike the trail
for the Kiondike. Some years ago he
discovered the Golightly mine, one Of
the richest yet found In TINT land OF
the yellow metal. Some sharpers got
him full of whisky and bought 1t Of
him before II was developed for $500.
From Its yield up to now this would
mean about 1000 per cent profit on
their investment tD. and II has not
panned out yet. French Jack started
In to drink himself to death when he
had his eyes opened TO what he had
done. But bis iron system weathered
the ID. It's successfully, and he came
here downcast. friendless beggar