Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-26

|
f [ must economic, he concluded / must
give up my boarding to begin with +, Ia.
After that the lounge in his Office was
his bed, and the cheap restaurant got MS
patronage. Still these measures only
checked the drain upon his store. The lew
professional calls that he had were mainly
those too poor OF too dishonest to pay, ana
his income did not one-haf meet his close
| ly curtailed expenses. He grew down
hearted and discouraged. Month after
month passed, and at last his money was
all gone. What should he do? The idea
Of giving up his profession was distasteful,
and he chung to hope until actual want
came in the shape of iunappeased hunger.
Then one by one his fine surgical instru-
ments getting but a. small fraction Of
|their real value. Articles Of clothing fol-
lowed until he found himself utterly lun-
provided to meet the cold weather that
was coming on. ~. ,...' ag;d n.q,.g !,
Finally, convinced that he):must, zban-
don his profession, he studied the want
columns of the newspapers, and spent. two
entire days in trying in vain to get en-
ployment. The last Of these two days he
ate nothing, and previous short allowance
had enfeebled him., When night came he
staggered YEARLY to his Office to find that,
after repeated warnings, the landlord had
taken possession and locked the door.
With his brain whirling and his limbs
l. ~ nr Gn!fnn H.
dered he scarcely knew where Hunger
and fatigue were doing their work. He
had walked several blocks when his eyes
fell upon a carriage standing at the curb.
A coachman in livery sat upon the box,
and the door stood open. Just then lady
came out of an adjacent house, and walk
ed towards the vehicle. The famlshed
man saw that she carried a pocket-book In
her hand The demon OF hunger suggest
ed robbery as his eyes Toasted upon the
well filled treasure. He darted forward SO
quickly as to attract her attention and for
an instant she looked fxedly in his face.
A strange expression passed over her fea-.
lures, but it was scarcely that of fear
Die u6SlUdUtU d ttIiu uilOlA 1eblo@o
tips of her fingers upon his arms. q 4
''I've been waiting for you, osshe 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 request
ed. .-r ,,.45,a..t .-.s.s
ssDrive home," said the lady to; the dri-
yer, and away they were borne up fash
ionable avenue. ae. t.,,,,s a4t
She has mistaken me for somebody
else, he thought, and [ must undeceive
her. jT 4h4
Then he said aloud sifs.I .u.
ssYou have doubtless made some mis-
take-at least, / have forgotten you, if I
have ever had the honor of your ac-
quaintan ce.'' lNlfa.t .r ssi
s:No sir,'' was the reply, ''I have made
no mistake, but the explanation Is too long
to be made here. Will you not wait till I
reach my home ~ a#
DR.. Cotton assented, wondering if the
whole adventure was not creation of his
fevered brain.
They arrived, after short drive, at a
brown-stone mansion of considerable size
and beauty. The carriage stopped and 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
chair half fainting.
&c Why, what is the matter ?" asked
the lady, in great concern. Ct Are you
ill ?" .fb 4a5 d
s'Only starving" was the bitter confess
sion, II have eaten nothing for two days. )"
The lady hastily summoned the servants
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 bet
ter Immediately after the meal.
The lady had absented herself during
his repast, but now she returned, divest-
ed of her street dress, and wearing rich
robe. For the first time DR.. Cotton stu
died her face-a face, he thought, the
most perfect in it's loneliness that he had
ever seen. .ftrt -f j..
care you prepared for an explanation
of my rather strange conduct = she
said.
DR.. Cotton bowed. e
"Do you remember me ?'' she asked.
He looked at her face again, but could
not recall it.
edo YOU remember" she continued, lin
Baxter street, years ago, of talking with
dirty ragged little girl-of telling her she
was too pretty to live there, and of send
ing her to the Girls Refuge %
| Yes, after thinking h moment, he re-
membered the circumstance. H
II am the same girl, and she smiled mer
rily at Colton's look of amazement.
II went to the Refuge, as you told me te
do. and was kindly received: | proved al
apt scholar, and >at the age of seventeen
was able to get situation as teacher il
one of the public schools. had thus
been employed but few months, when {
wealthy retired merchant, named Arthur
Ralston, formed my acquaintance, ant
asked me to marry him. | had no friends
and his honorable conduct won my esteem
1 married him, only to become, within ;
wear, widow with fortune. All thi
time have never forgotten the author 0
my success, and have always logged to re
ward him in some way for the advice whicl
proved so valuable. And [ fear, she add
ed kindly that my assistance was badl
needed"
Indeed it was" and Cotton narrate
his career.