The Democratic advocate., 1874-06-27

taken possession and locked the door.
With his brain whirling and his limbs
tottcring with weakness, DIR. Cotton wan
dered he scarcely knew where. Hunger
and fatigue were doing their work. lie
had walked several blocks when his eyes
fell upon carriage standing at the curb.
A coachman in livery sat upon the box,
and the door stood open just then a
lady came out of an adjacent house, aud
walked toward the vehicle. The famishcd
man saw that she carried pocket-book in
her hand. The demon of hunger suggest.
cd robbery as his eyes feastod upon tho
wcll-iilled treasure. lie darted forward 50
quickly as to attract her attention and for
All instant she looked fxedly in his face
\ strange expression passed over her face
but it was scarcely that of fear She hes.
itated moment, and then laid the tips Of
her fingers upon his arms.
" I've been waiting for you" she said
"get into the carriage, please"
Wondering at the meaning of her words
and scarcely knowing or caring what he
did, DIR. Cotton did as he was requested.
Drive home, said the lady to the dri.
YER aud away they were borne up the
fashionable avenue
She has mistaken me for somebody else;
he thought, aud must undeeeivc her.
Then he said aloud:
" You have doubtless made some mis-
tako-at least, have forgotten you, if !
have ever had the honor of au acquain.
tance,"
No sir, was the reply, Il have made
no mistake, but the explanation is too long
to be made here. viii you not wait till
reach my home?"
DIR. Cotton assented, wondering if the
whole adventure was not creation of hi.
fevercd brain.
They arrived, after short drive, at a
brown stone mansion of considerable size
aud beauty. The carriage stopped and
the lady led the way up the stairs and in
to the hall. Here the weakened strength
of the doctor gave way, and he sank into
chair half faintiug.
Why, what is the matter? p asked the
lady, in great concern. Are you ill2'
Only starving was the bitter confes-
sion, II have eaten nothing for two days u
The lady hastily summoned the servants
and had him assisted to an easy chair.
Tempting viaDds and generous wines were
placed before him, of which he partook
with good effect, feeling stronger and bet.
ter Immediately after the meal
The lady had absented herself during
his rcpast, but now she returned, divcste d
Of her street dress, and wearing rich
robe. For the first time DR.. Cotton stud
led her lace--a face, he though, the most
perfect in lovelincss that he had ever seen.
Are you prepared for an explanation
of my rather strange conduct she said.
DIR. Cotton bowed.
DO you remember me z" she asked.
lie looked at her face again, but could
not recall it.
Do you remember" she continued,
"in Baxter street, years ago, of talking
with dirty ragged little girl--of telling
her that she was too pretty to live there,
and of sending her to the Girls Refuge ?"
Yes, after thinking moment, he re-
mcmbcrcd the circumstance,
Il am the same girl, and she smiled
mcrrily at Colton's look of amazement.
| went to the refuge, as You told me
to do, aud was kindly received. proved
an apt scholar, and at the age of seventeen
was able to get situation as teacher in
one of the public schools. | had thus
been employed but few months, when
wealthy retired merchant, named Arthur
Ralston, formed my acquaintance, and
asked me to marry him hadno friends;
and his honorable conduct won my esteem.
| married him, only to become, within
year, widow with fortune. All this
time | have never forgotten the author
Of my success, and have always longed to
reward him in some way for the advice
which proved so valuable. And l fear,
she added kindly that my assistance was
badly needed"
Indeed II was, and Cotton narrated
his career.
DIR. Cotton slept soundly that night under
the roof of Rosa Ralston. The next day
he returned to his ohice--bis protege, as
she called herself, insisted with furnishing
him with money to pay his rent and re-
deem his pawned Instruments aud cloth
ing And her bounty was 50 skillfully
bestowed that It did not seem like charity,
"ouly interest on an old dob. " as she cx-
pressed Il.
They were married on Rosas twentieth
birthday, and DIR. Cotton, happy in the
possession of a lovely aud loving wife, a
fortune and large practice, eau conpIa-
Gently contemplate his dark days Of star
walton and despair
II is not rank, nor birth, nor state, but