Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-04-23

saved my POsSesslohsi WHICH, 'uONSA
small, is a great deal to me, since 1t
affords me tie means of saving my
child's life. The doctor says the little
one must have change of climate and
the care of friends, in order to recover
from this dreadful malaria. If You
had not saved my money from the
robber we could never had been able
to leave here for our dear old home,
back East.
jim looked at Joe and nodded to-
ward the door. Joe understood and
remarking something about their
horses, followed Jim out. They walked
a little from the cabin and stopped.
Joe, jim said, that man and
child don't dream that weare robbers,
do they ?"
"Of course not, Joe replied. IF
they did, and knew what we come here
for, they wouldn't feel SO thankful to
US, I reckon"
Hardly" Jim answered.
There was an awkward silence, dur
ing which Jim shifted about in an un-
easy manner Finally he spoke again,
saying:
Joe, that little one is purity bad
of, amt it?"
Reckon tits, Joe replied. Guess
the doctor j, right, and if it don't get
away from here it won't live long.
That's so, agreed jim. AN it
can't get away from here without that
money, canit?"
Pears like it can't" Joe said.
1T was right touchin' to hear It
talk about the old home an the way
it grieved to 90 back there, wasn't 1t,
Joe ?"
"Yes, right touchin, jim"
can it seems like it would be a
great pity iftbe little one couldn' t go,
wben its heart js 40 set on il. don't it?'
Eyes, it does -
"An awful pity" Jim said, musing-
ly; "but." he added, 81 reckon it
can't be helped, because if We take
the money
Jim, Joe interrupted whats the
use O. talkin all over creation? Why
don't you come square out an say
you re opposed to takin the money
81 amt said I was opposed to taxi
in it, Joe"
No; but if you've got sPeck Of
heart in you, you are opposed to it. ~
"Are you opposed to it, Joe2'
"Of course I am I've been OPP
posed to it ever since see that little
one and heerd its weak voice a-beggin
that onery rascal not to take all the
money.
Jim" he said, 81 never felt so
cussed onery in all my life as | did
when l stood thar by that winder an
watched that sneakiD' thief an that
poor leetle sick gal, an remembered
what we had come har for.
Then was jest nov feelin's, Joe, .
Jim replied, 81 felt sneskin'er than a
suckin dog. Somehow the way that
leetle gal pleaded with that scamp
fetched my heart awful deep, and,
her talk bout her old home took me
right back to my boyhood days, when
I was as young an innocent as her
could Just see my old home with it's
shady bluegrass pasture, an its red
clover meaders, an the little branches
of clear water, an all that. But,
palmer than all, Joe, could see an
old couple settin on the long porch
in the shade Of the big locust trees,
one Of EN- a grsy-haired man and the
other a gray-haired woman, but both
of EN- az kind an lovin as a father
an mother could be. An Joe, when
I see my old mothers face. jest as It
used to look, an remembered what |
come here for, Peared like l jest
wanted to sink right down into the
ground an never see daylight ag'ln.
l had good mother, if thar ever was
one, an she never dreamed that l
ever come to be a thief
Jim, I've got long way from my
home an it's early teachin 8, but l amt
got away from my mother. Now I'm
goin to lead different life. We amt
stole nothin yet, an it amt too late
too turn back. I'm goin to be an
honest man, an that little gal has
saved me. God bless her
a moment later they entered the
cabin and asked to remain till morn
ing.
you see" Jim said to the settler,
"the robber might come back an If be
does you'll need somebody to protect
you.