Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-12-12

might have graced any throne.
So | wrote her of his visit, an,
its wonderful results ; how fathe
improved day by day, and how
with health, came hope and cour
age, so that soon the cloud woulC
scatter, and we should have he
home again.
But she answered, begging m,
never to think of her except a.
happy-that in Mrs. Marvin she
had found a second mother, and il
her work, only pleasure. Sh,
rarely mentioned DR.. Melrose',
name, and / could not understand
why she was silent.
SO the winter passed. Two OF
three times the doctor came to re.
lieve the monotony. My parents
grew to welcome him as a friend
and in my heart of hearts as q
brother, for ! felt sure ! had guessed
the secret Of his love for Maud.
He talked of her so constantly,
telling me how bravely she did her
duty, and how her beauty of char
acter excelled even the charm OF
face and form. We looked to him
almost as our dcliverer, for fathers
health and vigor were at last re-
stored but when he asked him for
his bill, he laughinglv replied:
"That was a private matter with
Miss Maud. She is to settle that"
Ny father looked amazed, but l
could appreciate the payment be
would accept, and imagined their
surprise when be demanded it az
their hands.
The summer was rapidly APP
preaching, the time for Maud's
coming home was at hand. With
a glad, happy heart, | decorated
our room with the roses she loved /;
hung fresh muslin curtains from
the windows; Topped them back
with sprays of flowers, all the
while singing aloud in my JOY. /
had reason to be happy, for Maud
was coming to a home over which
been paid. What she had saved
should go toward her trousseau
when she needed one, for father
had prospered beyond expectation
At last ] heard the sound of
wheels. Nearer and nearer they
came. | sprang down stairs to
meet her, caught sight of the car
riage coming rapidly up the drive,
saw her smile of welcome, and saw
that she was not alone.
81 bring you a SURPRISE she had
written, any by her side sat DR..
Melrose. l knew it all. Was it
not as had pictured, fancied,
hoped! l only know that an i'm
pulse wnicn sprang from some cor
ner of my being, caused me to
turn hastily up the stairs, and,
burying my head in my pillow,
sobbed aloud.
ELLIE, darling where are you ?"
questioned a sweet, girlish voice
and sprang up, ashamed of mo-
mentary weakness, to find myself
claspcd in my sisters warm, loving
embrace.
She had come back lovelier than
ever. All, l could guess what had
deepened the flush upon her check,
the radiance to her eye.
/ smoothed my dirordered hair,
listening the while to her merry
talk, though not q word did she say
Of him whose deep, manly tones l
could hear, now and then, as he sat
talking.
look your best" she said, with
aroguish twinkle--"your very, very
best THERE am satisfied !"
And, taking me by the hand, she
ran rapidly into the room where
they all sat.
DR.. Melrose instantly arose, and
came forward with his old smile of
welcome, and made a movement as
though he would already give a
brothers kiss, but remembered in
time that his secret was not yet
disclosed.
The evening passed rapidly away
in pleasant laugh aud Jest. Occa-
sionally / intercepted n glance at
Maud and her guest, full of mean
ing, but no one else seemed to no.
tice it. At last he arose to bid us
good night, aud rs he held my hand
moment in his own, he whisper
ed:
"You have always been almost
interchangeable in pressing my claim
upon you. Tomorrow / will pre-
sent it to you for payment. May
see you for few moments in the
morning 2"
Certainly" / answered; but my
voice trembled, and / think, had he
stayed moment longer, l should
have burst into tears.
All through that long night ]
watched my sister, sleeping SC
peacefully by my side, waging my
little war with myself. How nat.
ural that he should love her, SC
young, so lovely But, ah why
had my heart gone forth unasked
to meet his I At least the secret
was all nay own-none should sus.
pect 1t.
had not known it myself until
l had seen them side by side. With
perhaps a shadeless color. a little
quivering of the lips, but nothing