The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-09-27

If she's on Il begging Grand shed
better save her breath"
Martha easily found the marble
building. and her heart began 70 hutteI
little when she saw a shining brass
plate at the side Of the doors with the
name Austin ID. eye on It IN black
letters. Below the plate she read.
Rooms "a and 90"
She did not take the elevator, but
climbed the marble stairway, and at
the head Of the first flight she foune
rooms "a and % with eyes name on
both doors.
An almost irresistible impulse to fee
from the place and take the first train !
for Osborne seized Mrrtha. The very
atmosphere OF the place chilled and
depressed her. It's marble splendor
made her realize her shabby appear
ance. Her dusty, worn old shoes
looked out Of place on the marble
floor The cheapness Of her black /
skirt, her worn jacket and faded straw |
hat impressed itself upon her. Her F,
ungloved hand trembled as she laid 1t
on the shining brass door knob.
In the room she entered half
dozen clerks were at their desks and
there were other clerks In n room be-
yond. A boy In livery came forward
and asked her whom she wanted to
see.
"Mr. Gye," replied Martha
"He's busy" was the reply.
81 could wait" said Martha.
"Have you q card to send int"
mo" replied Martha, with a blush.
you'll have to send in your name
first"
"Mv name is Martha Coombs."
The boy motioned toward three OF
four chairs near the door.
"You can sit down and walt, and
I'll take in your name when Mr.. eyes
present caller goes"
Martha waited an hour and half,
during which time she regained her
self-possession. Other persons who
came in and asked 20 see Mr.. eye were
told to wait, and they, too, sat down
in the row Of chairs near the door
At the end Of an hour and a half
the boy came up to Martha and said;
, 'Mr. eye says you can come IN"
She passed into the private room. A
portly. pompous looking man sat at q
] rosewood desk. Els manner was al
!. most harsh, as he said:
2 ''You wanted to see ne?"
e "Yes, sir"
4 81 am extremely busy and can give
you but q few minutes. What do yoJ
t want?"
It 81 came from Osborne, which is sev
Y eral hundred miles from here, to brinj
you this"
n Martha walked forward and hande'
It Mr.. eye the old, faded, outlawed note
o She stood quietly by his desk ant
;e watched him as he read it.
it "There is something written on til
If other side, sir" she said quietly, whe
he had read the note and let 1t fal
le He took it W and read her father
ID words on the back of the note. hi
s. hand trembled and his eyes wer
n, downcast when the note again fell
+. his desk.
he Martha fancied that he looked
s. little pale, and she saw him bite h
st lip under his gray mustache. He p1
one hand over his eyes. His 9TH
as arm fell heavily at his side. The
st was silence in the room for fully
minute: then, with his hand still b
We fore his eyes, he asked, in husl
We voice:
"Where did you get this"
it 81 found it among some old pape
it Of my fathers, sir"
ay "Are you Jared Coombs' daughter
eyes. sir"
he "And he is living yetF
me 'No. sir. He died five days ago, a
( / brought the note to you because
to died so poor that have not dol
Cor the support of my sister and !
one three little brothers, and / want
ar keep them together If can. re
in a paper about how prosperous
us were, sir and although the note
aid outlawed,' l felt that you might
e. willing to pay something on it.
her He took his hand from his eyes
ible offered it to her.
the "You did right to bring 1t to n
tire he said. 'Sit down on this chair
and tell me about yourself and your fat
eral He was q good man."
)oPs ''He was, indeed" said Martha v
be tears In her eyes.
There were tears, too, In the eyes
} go the man as she told him of her faith