Burnham Breaker

the men, and wondering looks and abrupt questions from the boys. It had become generally known that he claimed to be Robert Burn

f coal through the chutes was too rapid and constant, and the grinding and crunching of t

s and eyes less vigilant because of the bright future that lay before him. He was so certain of the promised luxuries, the beautiful home, the love of mother and sister, the means for education,-so sure of them all that he felt

eyes, and the thought of his mother's kiss lent inspiration to his labor, and no boy that

lding and over on the hill-side, where they could lie on the clean grass in the warm

hem, feeling very conscious, indeed, of his emba

one else followed it up with a question relating to his expectations for the future, an

oss of your own?"

reply; "that depen's on

am will," said another boy; "she'll give you everyth

an' boss us boys?" came a

is startling and embarrassing

nd out who yo

er told me,"

he fi

a man t

at

goin' to tell you everything. It'd predujuice my

ubting Th

er-for a slate-picker, for w'at I know; but that's all he is; he ain't a Burnham, no m

eply, some one took

ays he is, an' Lawyer Sharpman says he

ing Ralph's claim of a right to participate in the privileges allo

e his voice heard

. I'm a-goin' to stay here an' work in the breaker till the thing's settled, an' I want you boys to use m

uted a dozen boys at a

dded anothe

then the breaker bell rang, and t

slate ten hours a day, just as the other boys did; and though the subject of his coming prosperit

, before it was fairly light, Ralph and Bachelor Billy trudged through the deep snow on their way to their work, or faced the driving storms as they plodded home at night. An

essary; and, though the boy tried to be patient, and was very pati

over to Ralph's guardian a sufficient sum of money to educate and maintain the boy in a manner befitting his proper station in life. An answer had been put in by Mrs. Burnham's attorney, denying that Ralph was the so

the preparations for it grew more acti

advise. Witnesses from distant points had been subpoenaed, and Ralph, himself, had been called on severa

ral topics of conversation in the city, and, as the time for

re district. Lackawanna County had not yet been erected out of

ied before the Burnham case would come on, so that Ralph did not find it

witness, and he was glad to be able to go and to have an o

e springing vegetation, rich and abundant, reflected its bright green in the waters of the river along all the miles of their journey. The spring air was warm and sweet, white clouds were floating in the sky, birds were darting here and there amon

iately preceding it having already taken much more time in the trial than had been expected. But he advised them not to leave the city. So they went out and walked about

g-house, a cottage in the suburbs, kept by a man

charge was a long one, and before it was concluded the noon-hour had come. But it was known, when court adjourned, that the Burnham case would be taken up at two o'clock. Long before that time, however, the benches in the c

d by Mrs. Burnham and her little daughter, and

man at first, there was so marked a change in his appearance. He had on a clean new suit of black broadcloth, his linen was white and well arranged, and he had been freshly shaven. Probably he had not presented so

s he took his seat by the side of his couns

saw that the eyes of all the people in the room were fixed on him as he crossed the open space and dropped into a chair by the side of Craft. But he had passed Mrs. Burnham on his way, and she had reached out her gloved hand a

they took their places. Then Sharpman examined, carefully, the list of jurors that was handed to him, and drew his pen through one of

list to Goodlaw, who also struck a name f

challenged men were excused, and t

wn parents, and, later, for the boy himself; of his final success, of his constant effort in Ralph's behalf, and his great desire, now, to help him into the family and fortune to which his birth entitled him. "We shall show to you all of these facts,

ents looking over his papers, and then said,

e, to call Mrs. Burnham for the

ilege under the la

ed Sharpman, "will you

," replied

all who saw her. She gave her name, the date of her marriage to Robert Burnham, the fact of his death, and the names and ages of her children. In the course of the e

e me that recital

, but the whole future of this fatherless boy is hanging upon this examination, and

moment before; now she raised it, palli

said, "I will

d your husband, accompanied by your child Ralph and his nurse, leave your home in Scr

di

hich you were rid

not; n

were in that car

ly

b

s,

t how

's age, I sh

was he tr

entleman whom he c

er Cherry Creek give way and precipitate the car in

d; yes

e that occurred wh

his nurse in the seco

er child, wh

ross the

t other child af

nly know that h

you kn

leman and little child went on to the city in t

ere both injured in the

we

urse lost

s,

accident before you began

rd before we were sufficiently re

ind any tr

what

thing or

kets in the ashe

that Ralph perished

; yes,

evidence to convince

nk it

pman, turning to t

lad

re?" continued the lawyer, a

eplied, "on sev

th his face, his exp

at extent

nize him as y

, into the boy's face, and then repli

all, Mrs.

ad not been to him, before, within the range of possibility. His brightness and enthusiasm were quenched in a moment, and a chill crept up to his heart, as he saw the lady come down from the witness-stand, throw her widow's veil across her face, and resume her seat at the table. The case had taken

eel that it would be almost better to go back at once to the not unpleasant home with Bach

son called another witness to the stand. This was a heavily built man, with close-cropped beard, bronzed face, and one sleeve empty of its arm. He gav

night," asked Sharpman, "the witn

"but, to the best of my recollection, t

was she t

was her husband, a little boy some two or

other children

e age, riding in the same car in

of these children

one o

ch o

hat it was the one who acco

you sup

wreck riding in the car which carried the rescued passenge

an whom you saw with the c

d to him before the accident; but I supposed he was th

gnize the man whom you saw wit

ook especial not

," said Sharpman, waving his hand toward C

Old Simon, and looked at hi

he one. He has grown older and thinne

mildly in assent, an

ou saw it after the accident; could you recognize, at this t

nk I c

used as if

or a moment with Craft,

Mr. Merrick." Then he turned to

you may take

his nose, consulted briefly with his clie

tory of the witness, he went with him into

y he a

obert Burnham i

on me a week after the accident

t time, that the child must

I did;

you base yo

seat to have escaped instant death, since the other car struck and rested at just that point. Again, there were but two children on the train. It to

of seeing this old man and

; yes,

at they were the same persons who were sitting toget

be tha

d who went to the city, on the train that

I felt quite positive

in that matter c

may have taken too much for granted at that tim

le to form an opinion,-one week after this

any tendency to do so, I have here a constant reminder," holding up his empty sleeve as he spoke. "My judgment is better, to-day, than it was ten years ago. I have

e stand, and the judge, looking up at the clock o

ourn court. Mr. Sharpman, can you cl

e impossible

rn the court until to-morro

Ralph, on his way out, again passed by Mrs. Burnham, and she had for him a smile and a kind word. Bachelor Billy stood waiting at the door, and th