The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-04-01
Seletf Story.
ANsoN GREY.

kAuSou oiay VINO q otiiis osCan AAAeso "
thirty, shut up within himself and BY
himself, in his great stone mansion on
the hill, and people knew no more about
him than they knew about the dead His
early years had been passed abroad,
where, or how, nobody knew and most
had ceased to care, for that matter; the
last two had been passed in Burlingame
A brilliant light at night. shining from
the great east windows, and occasional
gallops through the town by day, we're
the only tokens of his presence. How
ever,a change was coming and that with
out warning. Arson fell sick, suddenly
and dangerously so. The village doctor
was summoned, who in turn telegraphed
for smother from the neighboring city in
hot haste, and together they said in
whispers that their patient would proba-
bly, die There was no woman in the
great house to- act as nurse, and the
head servant, obeying doubtless his mas.
tefe orders, Teruseu 10 arfoW our rncrS {
as yet.
How il came about was mystery, but
one morning when the master had laid
week half senseless, an unusual cloud OF
dust was observed whirling up the bill,
and emerging therefrom was carriage,
splashed and weather stained, headed by
two, strairing, painting horses, who came
up to the entrance as if driven by the evil
one A lady, tall and fair as sunlight,
pushed open the carriage door impatient
ly and sprang out. With hasty glance
around she hurried up the steps, entered
the drawing room, and stood before the
two astonished gentlemen who we're
seated there.
us Anson Grey alive ?"
"Yes, but be grows worse"
Before they diviEed her intention, she
had passed them, and was in the next
room bending over the sick man.
"The devil will be to pay if she excites
him now," the elder one said, 'if some
good nurse had come it might have been
OF some use; but this dainty thing
bah !" &c
She came out in moment, her face
white but determined sd
"Will you he kind enough to send foT
minister and remain until he comes 2"
she asked as she began 10 remove her
things. ria
There was something in her manner
that forbade questioning, and they obey,
ed her like so many dumb men, as they
said afterward.
The minister did come; William Skin
ner, the head servant, was called, and al
ter the three held private conference,
which seemed to be satisfactory, they
came out, and to the amazement of all
the lady stood beside Anson Gray and
the marriage vows we're taken
The wise doctors were mistaken in
their estimate of the unknown She was
something beside fair young lady as
her actions soon proved A new order
of things was instituted in the sick mans
room, and his wife installed herself as
nurses change which told for the better.
In month he was riding through the vii
lage with his wife by his side, all eyes, Of
course. agog to catch glimpse OF her
handsome face.
All agreed that she was just an angel,
and when they came to church the next
Sunday and sat do Wn in one Of the pews
like other people, they were more than
ever confirmed in their opinion What
they never knew was this:
Three years before Anson Grey, ,haugh-
lty and indolent, was killing time at one
of the fashionable watering places where
Edith Willoughby also fingered, though
sorely against her will.
A sweet and wondrously fair face.
much admired and sought after. Arson
Gray had half a mind to enter the lists
with the others, but something kept him
back and he only exchanged few words
with her now and then.
There happened to be heavy, two
days food, and the first night OF II
Edith sent servant asking Mr. Grey to
come to private parlor for moment
He obeyed the summons with alacrity
wondering much what could be coming
lnow
Edith was waiting for him, cloaked
and hooded, and evidently in haste to be
off somewhere. ~
81 hope you will pardon me- she said
as she closed the door behind him, "bu;
really / do not know whom to ask, and
mqmma will not allow me to 60 by nv
self A poor woman down on the beach
is sick, perhaps dying, and ! must 90 to
see her Her little boy has just coms
after me I was there Yesterday, and
they are In great distress Could ]
trouble you to 60 with me3"
j II will do your errand 1t is toe
lsturmy for you to venture out"