The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-08-20
NO. "a.

coachman silently, and stood and gazed
a moment at the seemingly dying tramp.
For this was the country home of Alice
Marlay's father, and the lady was Alice
Marlay herself, lingering on in the coun-
try late in autumn. She stood and
looked at the unconscious tramp, as
said. He was very pale, with long black
hair, and he was frightfully thin and
wasted. He was entirely "clean and
decent,'' as the man had said.
"Yes, have him carried into the
kitchen, Brown, and take care of him
for the present." said the Mistress
AS soon as he is strong enough, you
can send him to the hospital"
The tramp halfopened his eyes and
murmured wonderingly:
6 mean to walk and walk till die.
They can't send me to the hospital when
I'm dead"
Something familiar in the look and
voice of the tramp arrested the atten-
ton of Alice Marlay. She stopped and
looked at him narrowly, and almost
shrieked with surprise.
Heaven be merciful ~ she exclaim-
ed. Last time saw you, Birney Gra-
ham, you laughed at me to my face,
when 1 spoke of vengeance. Now your
life depends on my word 1 have only
to let you die, Birney Graham. L told
you would hate you and injure you
your life long"
Something in her voice and words
seemed to rouse and fix his fluttering
faculties. He opened his black, wander
ing eyes and fixed them steadily on her
face, with light in them which was
half-recognition. God knows what
could have been passing through the
mans head, in his wild, weak delirium.
L don't know what he meant, and he
himself never knew. But, with his
burning black eyes still fixed on the face
of Alice Marlay, this is what he said
"The hyena will open graves to OBJ
tain food |"
The strong-willed mistress of the man
sion shuddered. "Get him into the
house as quickly as possible, Brown"
she said, in scarcely audible voice.
A low couch was brought and the
man was lifted upon it. The mistress
superintended the removal.
"Be careful there i" she said, in her
sharp tones. "Are you lifting pig ?"
She lifted his head herself.
The man was carried into the genial
warmth of the coal fire, made as COM
Portable as might be, and doctor sum-
moned immediately. Then the sharp
tongued mistress of the great house dis
appeared. She went to her own room
and locked herself in. What she thought
about during an hour there, no mortal
knows, but when she reappeared, she
was very pale, and her delicate, proud
face looked like the face of one who has
been fighting the fight with herself and
lost the battle.
Housekeeper," said Miss Marlay.-
Have the best bedroom prepared, IL
you please"
"The best room ?" echoed the house.
keeper, doubling if she had heard
straight.
"That was what said," answered
Miss Marlay.
Birney Graham lay in the best bed
room for weeks, " lowering between life
and death,' as the people who write
novels say. One day he suddenly came
to himself and turned his head weakly
on the pillow, towards Brown, who sat
beside him, and said:
"Is this the hospital9"
"Does itlook like an 'ospital Y'' asked
Brown, Indignantly.
Birney Graham thought about it two
or three minutes, before making up his
mind. No, 1t DOESN'T" said he, final
Iy. "Whose house is itg"
" Marlay, Miss Alice Marlay," said
Brown, speaking as though he thought
the patient had lost the sense of hear
ing.
Wasn't Alice Marlay married long
ago ?" asked Birney Graham, still more
feebly.
"No, she wasn't, and amt" replied
Brown.
Birney Graham turned his face to the
wall again in silence. Brown went out
and announced to his mistress that her
patient had come to consciousness. Miss
Marlay returned with Brown, "a changed,
softened look on her face. She had