Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1855-08-09

old man-a very old man-si.ting in chair,
with his knees advanced towards the rem
nant Of FIRE, which he was watching in
,en,ly with lack-lustre eye. His garments
were scsnty and thresdbare, but it was not
difficult for q prac'ised eve TO see that he
had formerly lived smids. wealth snd ease.
He rose when the doctor entered, made q
graceful bow, and then sank back into his
chair as il exhausted with fatigue.
girl Of about seventeen sat by the bed.
side Of the sick person, IN whose hand her
hand was cIasped She wes evidently the
sister Of the youth who had disturbed Doc.
tor Dubois from his comfortable dessert
The invalid was deadly pale and fearfully
thin !; but traces both of beauty end intelli-
gence remained on her countensnce al least {;
so though. The doctor, whilst at The same
time he was de,aching, as i, were, from
those sickly features the expression which
formed their chief characteristics, and which
indicated TO him the s,ste Of her mind
Combining " hat he already heard with whsI
he saw, he easily came TO the conclusion
that one ct least Of the mental facilities Of
his new patient was in allegiance. He sal,
down in chair W which the youth had placed
for him, fel. the lady's Fulse, pu, on his US
usl wise look. and after having received an
swers TO q variety Of questions, seemed to
fill the spsr'men. with life and joy by an
nouncing tha, there was no immediate dam
ger The old man near the fire. place, who
had been ling eagerly over his shoulder,
clasped his hands and cast up rapid lsnce
H., ,h~ no<
in the room, mu,ered a prayer Of thanks
giving and the two young people absolute
Iy sprung into each others arms, embrac-
ing. laughing, and crying. The person who
seemed least interested in this good news
was the sick lady herself.
'Wha. is the mailer p she inquired at
length, in tone Of ming led tenderness and
pride. why are you so pleased with what
this good man says? You will make me
believe have really been in danger. But
ibis csnno, be, or else The Duchess of No.
Countess Of Malmont aud The dowsger Of
Mon,sorrel. They would not let me be in
danger of dying wi.hou, paying me one vis-
it. By the way, wha, cards have been left
to-day, Valerie p
These words, most Of which were rather
murmured then spoken, were greed,lyx
caught by the observant doctor, who began
dimly to perceive The ,rue stale Of the case.
He received further enlightenment from the
answer Of Valerie, who glancing furllvely
a. him and becoming very red, reciled a..
random list OF names; ; some OF them be
longing to persons whom he knew 10 be in
the country or dead.
i wish TO write prescription said Doc
tor Dubois.
will you step this way p replied the
young man who had brought him to tina,
place, and who now conducted him 10 q lit.
lie room furnished with only one chair and
a table covered with books. Other books
and a variety of papers were scattered abou,
the floor.
"A student, see' Dr.. Dubois smiled.
He wished to intimate ,hs, he attributed The
disorder and nudity he could no. bu, per-
ccive TO eccentricity rather Than to poverty.
'We must do what We cam eagerly re-
piled the youth, Us if delighted q, the OPP
portuuily Of sudden confession. We are
too poor TO be otherwise than you see.'
Doctor Dubois tried 10 look pompous
and concei,ed: MADAME de-de-'
'Jarsnle.'
! MADAME de Jarante,' he coutinued, 'ha.
been undermined by slow fever, the re-
sui. of-wba, shall say ?-sn insuffic'en,
supply of those necessaries of life which
humble people call luxuries. You need
no. hang your head my young friend
These things happen every day, and the
proudes. Of US have passed through the
same ordeal. How long has This state Of
things lasted p
sTwo years.
"A long time. 1t seems to me that your
mother has been KEEP, in u state Of delusion
as to her position. She believes herself 10
be still wealthy, still TO form par, of ihe
world of fashion, in spite Of the acciden,
which removed her from it,
you know our history, then?'
'One incident ! know, in common with
ell Paris. Every one read in The papers the
report of the trial by which your family los.
its immense fortune. thought you had
Quilted Paris, and never dreamed that after
that Disaster .. ..
You mean disgrace,' pu! in the youth,
bitterly.
'Tha. after that disaster you continued TO
inhabit your old hotel in the Faubourg ST.
German. Whenever pass ! see the shut
,ers closed. | see no one come in or 90 out,
! am not inquisi.Ive. Indeed have noticed
these symptoms without oven rehecsing up.
on them. had forgotten your name. now
understand ths. you have remained here ev.
er since, living on the ruins of your fortune,
and keeping your poor mother in the ilu-
sion tha. nothing bad been changed ,ha,
she is still rich, honored, and happy
,sAl This is true,' exclaimed the youth,
seizing the hand Of The Doctor; 'bu. you do
no. know all.'