The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-09

three birds with one stone. es the sayin
is, fur I've give somethin' 10 the church
helped the Lords poor an cleaned out
my attic all at the same time"
Sllas Holbrook walked into the store
and glanced about him curiously,
Looks like an auction of the town
poori' he muttered to himself, then as
Lucinda Peters came toward him he ask
ed eagerly:
Have We sold that old ulster o mine
that Alvira gin we, Mis- Peters? Cause
eff We haint I'd jest es soon buy 1t pack
IS not!'
why, Mr.. Holbrook that's too bad,
for l sold it only two hours ago, an
swered Lucinda.
Silas' hands trembled visiby, as he but
toned up his coat, and pulled his cap down
over his ears: Who bought 1t, Mis- Pc
ters?" asked he, a little huskily
THE man was a stranger to me, but
someone said he came from Woodstock,
said Lucinda. cycling him curiously. was
you particularly attached to that coat,
Mr.. Horbrook?"
"W'u yes, was a leetle sot ont. Used
to wear it when went trampin' you,
know" answered Silas, making an effort
to smile as he turned away.
Once more in his sleigh. he drove slow
ly homeward, muttering dejectedy as he
went
'"Tain't no use In trapesein over to
Woodstock after man you don't know
who an I don't suppose III ever see that
coat, or what's in the pockets again. Land
knows what I'm goin' to do nor what
Alvra IL do either when she finds 1t
out" and the old man sighed heavily.
For a week or more, Silas went about
locking so woe begone and desolate, eat
ing scarcely anything, and saying so lit
tie that Alvira began to grow alarmed.
For the lands sake, Silas, what ever
DOES all ye?" she exclaimed one morn
ing as -Silas sat curled over the fire, his
head buried in his hands. Eye amt sick,
be YEP
a SILVER swept over the old man as
he answered slowly:
Il guess that's jest what I be, Alvira,
sort O. sick" said he without looking up.
"'Taint like es if ye was comm down
with anything, is it?" questioned his wife
anXiously.
Seems If I was, Alvira. an do wish
that Ezra was to home" The last words
were said in so mournful a tone, that AL
Nira flushed as she answered quickly:
IF Ezra wasn't an ungrateful and sell
fish boy, he'd be to home now," said she.
There, AlviraP' said silas, lifting his
head and looking at his wife a little
Ezra. You know he'd never a gone
away eff we hadn't a been so sot agin'
him an Matilda a getin' fond O. one an
other"
Matilda was too young to think o.
getin married, Silas, an you know IT.
said she hastily, avoiding his eye as she
spoke.
She's better off a learnin' the MILL
ner's trade, down to Boston, than get
tin married at her age"
"Mebbe so, Alvira mebbe so, though I
alius thought she favored Ezra consid-
cradle, too" answered Silas with a lit
tie sigh.
Ezra was Silas Holbrook's son by his
first wife and Matilda was the daughteS
of Alvira, by a former husband. Their
parents having married when the chill
dren were quite young, they had been
happy playmates for several years. But
when Ezra was q, and Matilda IS, they
discovered that their affection for each
other was stronger than that of brother
and sister When Alviras eyes were
opened to this fact, she decided to end
the matter then and there, and with
mothers tact she aroused the girls am
btion for new scenes.
Having a cousin living in Boston, AL
vra had placed the girl under her pro-
lection and for two years Matilda had
parently contented and happy.
Understanding his steDmother's motive
in thus separating them, Ezra, like
young man in love, became suiky and
moody, until after several stormy scenes
between them he, too, left his childhoods
home For time Ezra had written his
father frequent letters but now there
was a silence OF many months. and the
old man yearned silently for his only
son.
The next day, Silas was too i'll to leave
his bed, and Alvira, leaving a neighbor
to sit with him, drove down to Pineville
for the doctor. AS she entered the little
village, she noticed an unusual stir and
excitement, while groups of men were
standing about talking earnestly.
Pausing before the village bank, she
felt her heart leap to her throat as she
read the placard that was nailed upon the
closed door:
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