The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-03

DrleI Conversation. Inc instant the name of
Holiday was pronounced, felt the pulse under
my fingers fiutter, stop, 90 on suddenly with a
bound, and beat afterward, for a minute or two.
at she fever rate.
How did you come here?" asked the
stranger, quickly, excitedly, passionately al
most.
Arthur related briefly what had happened.
from the time of his first taking his bed at the
Inn.
am indebted to Mr.. Holidays son. then.
for the help that has saved my life," said the
medical student, speaking to himself, with a
Singular sarcasm in his voice. "Come here A"
he held out, as he spoke, his long, white,
bony right hand.
With all my heart" said Arthur, taking
the hand cordially. al may confess It now. ["
he continued, laughing. upon nv honor. Won
almost frightened me out of my wits"
The stranger did not seem to listen. His
wild black eyes were fixed with look of earar
interest on Arthur's face, and his long bow
fingers kept tight hold on Arthur's hand. YounC,
hothday, on his side, returned the gaze, amazed
and puzzled by the medical students odd Ian.
guage aud manners. The two faces were close
together; | looked at them; and, to NV aston
ishment, was suddenly impressed by the sense
vi nKehess between them-not in features or
compieAion, but solely in expression. 1t must
nave Deen strong likeness, or l should not
nave FOUND 1t out, for | am naturally slow at
detecting resemblances between faces.
"You have saved my life," said the stror,o
man, still looking hard in Arthur. face .,;H
holding tightly by his hand. al Won had been
my own brother, you could not have done more
for me than that" '-'''e
lie laid singularly strong emphasis ON tbose
three words, my own brother" and a change
passed over his face as he pronounced them
tent TO describe. 0O''o-
nope have not done being Of service IN
you ye' sad Arthur. "rll speak to nv father.
al soon as get home" ''''"'''
-, 1on seem to be fond and proud Of your
father" said the medical student. al snnposa
In return, he is fond and proud Of YOU"
"Ot course he lie" answered Arthur. lauob.
ing: Is there anything wonderful IN tbat2
Isn't your father fond -
Inc stranger suddenly dropped Young HoI6.
days hand, and turned bis face away.
L Deg your pardon" said Arthur. Ihope
! nave not unIntentionslly panied you. l hope
you have not lost your father ?"
can't well lose what never tadrro
.ofted the medical student, with a harsh mock-
ing laugh. -''0H ino'A-
Ho' you nave never had +"
Inc strange man suddenly caupb, Artbnr,s
his face '0 "iofe haru III
Yes" he said, with a rendition n ,hob;.
ter laugh. "You have brapabt gu Vi ,ne Dl!,
back into the world, who has no bnspess 49, Ses
DO astonish you? WE'LL have a fancv of
my own in telling you what men in NV aiir -
ton generally keep secret. | have No nor,a
ana no father. Tho merciful law of society
Iee,i s me sm nobody's son Ask your father
y u, ne viii be my father, too, and help me on in
lie with the family name"
arthur looked at me more puzzled than ava-
signed 10 him to say nothing, and then laid
my myers again on the mans wrist. mol In
'P'e Vi the extraordinary speech that be had
h"ue, ne was not, as | had been DISPOSED tn
suspect, beginning to be Hght-headed. His
Pulse, oy this time, hal fallen back IN a ouiat
gs''$. heai. and has skin WAS moist end cool
Finding that neither of us answered him, he
.urneo TO me, and began talking of the extra
ordinary nature OF his case, and asking my
AuVice about the future course of medical treat
meat TO which he ought to subject himself |
SAID the matter required careful thinking over,
and suggested that | should submit certain ORE
scnptIons to him the next morning. He told
me TO write Them at once "a he would, most
likely, De leaving Doncaster in the morning,
before / was up.
1t was quite uselessso represent to him the
Jolly and danger OF suih proceeding "a this.
lie heard me politely and patiently, but held 10
MS resolution, without Offering any reasons OF
any explanations, and repeated 10 me, that if
wished to give him chance of seeing my pre-
scripnon, L must write it at once. Hearing
this, Arthur volunteered the loan of his travel
nh. oh l., I'll l. Ii -
him and, bringing it to the bed. shook the
note'paper out of the pocket of The case forth
with, In his usual careless way. With the paper,
there tell out on the counterpane Of the bed
small packet of sticking plaster and little
water-coor drawing Of a landscape
The medical student took up the drawiro. and
looked at 1t. His eye fell on some initials. neat.
ly written i'll cipher, in one corner. He stnrt-
ed, and trembled his pale face Prev whittier
than ever; his wild black eyes turned on Ar.
thur, and looked through app. through him.
A pretty drawing" he said, in a remark
ably quiet tone of voice.
All and done by such pretty GIRL" said
Arthur. "Oh, such pretty girl | wish it
was not landscaPe-l wish it was a portrait
of herl"
" lou admire her very much ?"
Arthur half in jest, half in earnest, kissed
his hand for answer
Love at first sightl" he said, putting the
drawing away again. " But the course of it
doesn't run smooth. It's the old story. She's
monopolized, as usual. Trammeled by a rash
engagement TO some poor man, who is never
likely to get money enough to marry her. 1t
was lucky L heard Of it in time, or | should GER
tainly have risked declaration when she gave
me that drawing. Here, Doctor here is pen,
INK, and paper, all ready for you"
When she gave you that drawing2 Gave
1t. Gave it." He repeated the words slowly
10 himself, and suddenly closed his ewes. A
momentary distortion passed across his face,
and L saw one of his hands clutch ND the bed
clothes and squeeze them hard. thought he
was going to be i'll again, and begged that there
might be no more talking. He opened his
eyes when spoke, fixed them once more search
lngly on Arthur, and said, slowly and distinct
ly, " You like her, and she likes you. The poor
man may die out of your way. Who can tell
that she may not give you herself as well as
her drawing, after ALP"
Before young Holiday could answer, he
turned to me, and said, in whisper, "Now,
for the prescription" From that time, though
he spoke to Arthur again, he never looked at
him more.
When had written the prescription, ne ex-
>uiheu IL, appro'eu OF IL, anu theh dstonished
US both by abruptly wishing rs Sood night. L
offered to sit up with him; ont he shook his
head. Arthur offered to BIT up with him, and
he said, shortly, with his face turned away.
" No." insisted or having somebody left to
watch hiG,, de gave way when be found /
was determined, and said he would accept the
services of the waiter of the inn.
"Thank you, both," ne said, as we rose to
90. al have one last favor to ask-not of Won.
Doctor, for leave you to exercise your profes.
sional diseretion-but of Mr.. Holiday. His
eyes, while he spoke, still rested steadily ON me.
and never once turned toward Arthur aIba