The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-12-25

employment. The last of these two
days he ate nothing, aud preyions short
allowance had enfeebled him. When
night came he staggered wearily to his
Office, TO find that, after repeated warn
ings, the landlord had taken possession
and locked tho door.
With his brain whirling and his limbs
tottering with weakness, DIR. Cotton
wandered he scarcely knew where.
Hunger aud fatigue were doing their
work. He had walked several blocks,
when his eyes fell upon a carriage stand
ing at the curb. A eoaehman in livery
sat upon the box, and the door stood
open. Just then lady came out of an
adjacent house, and walked toward the
vehicle The furnished man saw that
she carried a pocket-book in her hand.
The demon af hunger suggested robbery
as his eyes fastened upon the well-filled
| treasure. He darted forward so quickly
as to attract her attention, and for an
/ instant she looked fixedly in his face.
A strange expression passed over her
/ features, but il was scarcely that of fear.
/ She hesitated moment, and then laid
the tips of her fingers upon his arms.
'l'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, Dr. Cotton did as he was
requested.
"Dripe home" said the lady TO the
driver, and away they were borne up n
fashionable avenue.
"She has mistaken me for somebody
else" he thought, "and l must unde-
ceive her"
Then he said aloud:
"You have doubtless made some mis-
take-at least, have forgotten you, If
have ever had the honor of an acquaint-
ance."
"No, sir,p was the reply, 'T have
made no mistake, but the explanation is
too long to be made here. Will you not
walt till / reach my home ?n
DR.. Cotton assented, wondering If the
whole adventure was not a creation OF
his fevered brain.
They arrived, after short drive, at
ibrown-stone mansion of considerable
size and beauty. The carriage stopped,
aud the lady led the way up the stairs
and into the hall. Here the weakened
strength of the Doctor gave way, and he
sank into a chair half fainting.
"Why, what is the matter ?" asked
the lady, in great concern. care you
i'll? ?"
"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 generous
wines Were placed before him, of which
he partook with good effect, feeling
stronger and better Immediately after
the meal.
The lady had absented herself during
his repast, but now she returned, d.
vested OF her street dress, and wearing a
rich robe. For the first time Dr. Cotton
studied her face-a face, he thought, the
most perfect in its lOveliness 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 ?" she asked
He 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 tell
ing her that she was too pretty to live
there, and OF sending her to the Girls
Refuge ?"
"Hes," after thinking n moment, he
al am the same girl" and she smiled
merrily at Colton's look of amazement.
81 went to the Refuge, as you told me
to do, and was kindly received. ]
proved an apt scholar, and at the age OF
seventeen was able to get a situation as
teacher in one of the public schools. |
had thus been employed but a few
months, when wealthy retired mer-
chant, named Arthur Ralston, formed
my acquaintance, and asked me 10
marry him. / had no friends, and his
honorable conduct won my esteem. /
married him, only TO become, within a
year, a widow with n fortune. All this
time have never forgotten the author
of my success, and have always lOnged
to reward him i'm some way for the adj
vice which proved so valuable. And l
fear" she added kindly, "that my AS
sistance was badly needed"
Indeed it 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 Office. His
protege, as she called herself, insisted
upon furnishing him with money to
pay his rent aud redeem his pawned
instruments and clothing. And her
bounty was so skillfUlly bestowed that
it did not seem like charity, "only in
terest on an old debt" as she expressed
It.
They were married on Rosa's twen-
tieth birthday, and now DIR. Cotton,
happy in the possession of a lovely and
loving wife, a fortune and a large prac-
tice, can complacently contemplate his
darker days OF starvation and despair.