Year: 1878

ha died, leaving a very large proper
", worth half million dollars, to be
held in tiust until the heir or heirs
could be discovered.


Twas anxious 10 find the heirs, not
only for pecuniary motives. but be-
cause I was made deeply interested In
them by the recital Of a story which
the client. Marvin Gray, had told me
on the day of bis death. His breath
was almost spent " hen I stood by his
bedside and listened attentively to
catch the low sound Of his voice as
he whispered the sad tale of an erring
son whom he had driven from his
home in England He had sent him
from his home one dark night, twelve
years before, because Of his drunken
habits, and be never saw him since.
He had head from him but enee in all
these long years; then he was an officer
on . ship plying between Liverpool
aud New York. Though he had search.
ed the world over he could get no trace
of his son. aud, finally. worn out by
incessant grief and travelling, he had
lain down to die in tie far West among
strangers, with out having accomplish.
ed the one great desire of his aching
heart.


As the death dew was gathering on
his brow, he finished the story, aud,
with an undescribabls look of agony,
asked me to swear TO take up the work
where he had left it. and devote my
life. if need be. to the finding of his
son, if living. ! should receive twenty
thousand dollars when he was found.
Young and romantic, my sympsthies
were fully aroused; SO, with my hand
clasped in the nervous grasp Of the dy-
ing man, / promised never to give up
the search until the lost one was found.


Mr. Grey had made such dlsposi-
tion of his property that I could draw
my travelling expenses; 30 commenced
my important task the day after his
untimely death.


took the cars at Lincoln. and was
soon in Crete. Q small station in Cen
tral Nebraska. Here / changed to
the stage coach bound for Hobler's
rancho, fifteen miles to the north. As
we were travelling along at the rate Of
speed for which Western stage coaches
are renowned. ] tried to shape some def
mite course TO pursue. and had almost
decided To retrace my journey to Lin
coin and start for the Eastern States.
when my thoughts were diverted from
the subject by the sudden upsetting OF
the lumber vehicle. We had been
threading our way around the edge OF
a gulch. when the shying of one of the
horses sent the coach aud contents into
a heap at the bottom. ] was con-
scious Of falling. and then all was
blank


When recovered my consciou business
i was in a pleasant though plainly fur
nshed room. through the door I could
see a pale. faced woman sewing near "a
table. At the same time she was
sweetly humming u baby song aud
rocking an ld.fashioned cradle with
her foot. 1t was an interesting picture.
and made me think of my own child
hood. with mother singing baby Nell
to sleep. tried to think how | came
to be there, and wondered il had died
and was in heaven.


As my thoughts turned to myself l
tried to rise, when an acute pain in my
sidc made me CRY out in agony. Then
the sweet faced woman was over my
pillow, and tender eyes looked plying
ly into mine as she asked me If | felt
much pain. Her voice. So low aud
sweet, made me forget my suffering,
and asked where | was and how
came there.


Don't you remember falling into the
gulch with the stage-coach Yesterday
she asked.


oh. now ! remember replied Il
was going to Hobler's rancho when we
were all tipped into that gulch and
killed


No. not killed. she said, smiling at
my serious tone; but sadly bruised; and
Marvin brought you here for me TO
nurse back to life: for ysu were almost
gone when he got you out ofthe wreck.


was going TO ask who Marvin was.
but she said must not talk any more
until the fever left me.


The following week was period of
great suffering for me. but my faithful
nurse did all that could be done to
make my surroundings pleasant for my
rational moments. was conscious of
the presence of young mau at my
bedside. and knew that was the
Marvin. who had brought me from the
gulch.


Near the end of the second week
after the accident the fever left me. and
began TO recover. Up to that time l
with great pain. but on tins after.
noon, when the fever was all ou. of my
system, could talk as we'll as usual.
NV recovery was slow. and for msny
days was compelled to keep TO nv bed.
but a, last ] was permitted to sit up.
braced by pillows. 10 the big arm
chair.


One day. while sitting thus watch
ing Mrs, Warde, my nurse. at her
work, asked her how she and her
husband came To settle IN such wild
country, She replied that it was a
long story. and might tire me too much:
but assured her that il would not, So
she paused for a moment. AM then
said


When / promised to b. Msrvln's
wife he was a sailo. on q short vac1
ton. He was not rich. bat we loved
each other. and were full Of hope for
the future. Marvin WAS To make one
more trip to Liverpool. and then re-
turn and make me his wife. We part
ed, both vowins to remain true to our
love vows. But he had not been
awsy a week before mother was taken