The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-11-29

The woman hands dropped to her
lap as she gazed at him in surprise.
"You did, Silas p cried she "and
what have you done with it? Put it
in the bank down to Woodstock ?"
"That's what I was thinking of
doing, Alvira, and then I lost it, "
said Silas, in a desperate tone.
Alvira's ruddy face grew pale with
horror and amazement, and she
sprang to her feet.
Lost it p she almost screamed.
eff you amt the most shiftless man
on the face of this earth, Silas Hol-
brook y and she began to cry Bit
terly.
81 know be, Alvira, an I'd jest
es lieve die es not" murmured the
sick man, turning his face to the wall
with long sigh.
When the doctor arrived little
later, he found Silas in high fever,
while Alvira, with remorseful ankle
ty, was attending to his wants.
81 should think there was some
thing on your husbands mind that
was troubling him. said the doctor,
as he was about to depart.
II shouldn't wonder if there was"
answered Alvira, grimly.
For few days it almost seemed as
though Silas' respondent wish would
be realized, but at last the fever went
down and he began slowly to recover.
Not once had Alvira spoken of the
lost money, yet the thought of it
weighed heavily upon her heart night
and day. In her husbands weak
condition she dared not reproach him
again for his careiessness, yet she
struggled constantly with the bitter
words that rose to her lips.
One day in the midst of her anx-
ious thoughts she heard the sound of
sleigh bells, that paused with merry
flourish before the door. Starting to
her feet, she was about to open it,
when, like whirlwind, there flew
into the room young girl, rosy and
smiling. Throwing her arms about
Alvira's neck, she exclaimed
ooh, mother please don't scold
us, but Ezra and I have gone and got
married. You see, Ezra's got fine
position down to Boston, and 1 got so
tired trying to be milliner, when 1
couldn't make a stylish bow to save
my life, so Ezra thought I'd better
give it up and get married. Now,
mother, do say you forgive us, be-
cause if you don't Ezra says he'll
take me straight back to Boston to-
night"
Alvira's face had grown pale with
anger and disappointment, as she lis
tened to her daughters words, yet
she kissed the girl fondly.
Turning to the young nIan who
had just walked into the room, she
said reproachfully:
ezra Holbrook, how could you
persuade Matilda to take such step,
when you knew"
eyes, mother, I knew that you
didn't like me, but" began Ezra.
Gas long as I did, mother, he
couldn't do any different, you see.
Aud really 1 don't think needed so
very much persuading 1, Ezra ?"
Before Alvira could answer, they
heard Silas' voice calling his sons
name.
CTS father sick?" questioned Ezra,
starting up.
eyes, Ezra, and he wants to see ye
powerful bad," answered Alvira.
Ezra Holbrook wore new and
stylish overcoat, yet over his arm was
flung a heavy ulster, faded and worn.
Walking into his fathers room, he
threw it across chair, saying as he
shook hands with his father:
"There, father, you'll never guess
where found your old ulster !''
AS he heard these words, Silas rose
up in his bed and held out his trem-
bling hands eagerly.
"Gi'n it to me, Ezra, gin it to
me I' he cried.
Ezra threw the old coat over the
foot of the bed, and watched his father
wonderingly, as he thrust his hands
eagerly into the pockets. A groan
burst from his lips at their emptiness,
then suddenly feeling through a slit
in one pocket, he drew from between
the Innings long fiat package. With
a sigh of utter relief, he fell back
upon his pillow, the package clutched
tightly in his hands.
"Alvira Alvira the money is
found p he called loudly to his wife.
For little while all was hustle and
excitement, as they gathered about
the sick man, whose trembling fingers
opened the package, and counted the
bills. Fifteen hundred dollars in
crisp, new bank notes. Not one was
missing.
can it's Ezra that's brought it
back to us, Alvira, don't ye forget
that p exclaimed Silas.
II don't, Silas, an if he only takes
good care O. Matilda, 1 won't say no
more agin the marriage" answered
Alvira, with a grim smile. But for
the lands sake, do tell us how your
fathers old ulster came into your
hands, after I'd given it to Lucinda
Peters for the rummage sale?"
"That's the queerest part of it,
mother" said Ezra with a laugh,
"for 1 never dreamed that there was
anything valuable in the pockets when
I was sent by the firm I am working
for to transact a little business in
Woodstock. While standing about
waiting for car, I saw man, who
looked so familiar that 1 thought it
must be father, wearing his old ulster.
He went into a pawnbroker's shop
and I watched for him to come out.
Several men passed out as watched,
but no one wearing that old coat
Something's don't know what
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