The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-01-29

ly as TO attract her attention, and for
an instant she looked fixedly in his
face. A strange expression passed
over her features, but it seemed scarce
ly that OF fear. She, hesitated q mo-
ment. and then laid the tips OF her
fingers upon his arm.
1--WE been waiting for you" she
said ''get into the carriage, please"
Wondering at the meaning of her
words, and scarcely knowing or car
ing what be did, DR.. Cotton did as he
was requested.
"Drive home" said the lady TO the
driver, and away they were borne up
a fashionable avenue.
'Sbe has mistaken me for some
body else" he thought, "and / must
unde ceiye her"
Then be said aloud
"YOu have doubtless made some
mistake-at least l have forgotten
you, if L have ever had the honor
of an acquaintance"
''No, SIR" was the RELY, 81 have
made no mistake; but the expIana-
ton is too long to be made here. Will
you not wait till reach my home ~
DR.. Cotton sssented, wondering IL
the whole adventure was not \ crea-
tion of his fevered brain.
They arrived after q short drive at q
brown stone mansion OF considerable
size and beauty. The carriage stop
ped, and the lady led the way up the
stairs and into the hail. Here the
weakened strength OF the doctor gave
way and be sank into q chair half
fainting.
"Why, what is the matter ~ asked
the lady, il great concern. Are you
III 81
"Only starving" was the bitter con-
fession. 81 have eaten nothing for
two days"
The lady hastily summoned the ser
wants and had him assisted to an easy
chair. Tempting viands and gener-
Gus wine were placed before him, OF
which he partOok with good effect,
feeling stronger and better immedi-
ateIy after the meal.
The lady had absented herself dur
ing his repast, but now she returned,
divested OF her street dress, and wear
ing q rich robe. For the first time
DR.. Cotton studied her face, he
thought, the most perfect in lOvili-
ness that he had ever seen.
care you prepared for an eXplana-
ton of my rather strange conduct >"
she said.
DR.. Cotton bowed.
"Do you not remember me ," she
asked.
He looked at her face again, but
could not recall it.
"Do you remember" she continued,
sin Baxter street, years ago, of talk
ing with dirty, ragged little giri--of
telling her that she was too pretty to
live there, and of sending her to the
Girls Refuge ?''
Yes, after thinking a moment, lie
lem rendered the circumstance.
'I am the same girl," }" and she smi!-
ed merrily at ColtOn's look Of amaze
ment. ~ went to the Refuge as you
told me to do, and was kindly reeeiv-
ed. proved an apt scholar, and at
the age OF seventeen was able tn get
as teacher in one OF the pub
lie schools. had thus been employ
ed but few months, when wealthy
retired merchant, named Arthur Raj
stOn formed my acquaintance, and
asked me TO marry him. L had no
friends, and his honorable conduct
won my esteem. I married him, on
ly to become, within year, q widow
with q fortune. All this time I have
never forgotten the author of my sue.
cess, and have always Ionged to re-
ward him in some way for the advice
which proved SO valuable. And l
fear" she added kindly, "that my as
sistance was badly needed"
"Indeed it was" and Cotton related
his career.
DR.. Cotton slept sOundly that
night under the roof OF Rosa Ralston.
The next day he returned 10 his Office
his prOtege, as she called herself, in
sisted upon furnishing him with
money to pay his rent ard redeem his
pawned Instruments and clothing.
And her bounty was so skillfully be-
slowed that it did not seem like chari-
ty, "only interest on an old debt,n as
she expressed it.
They were married on R0sa's tWen-
tieth birthday, and now DR.. Cotton,
happy in the possession OF a lovely
and loving wife, 4 fortune and large
practice, can complaeently contem-
plate his darker days of starvation
and despair.