Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-04-24
ARs0n Grey.

ucStu. 4A1o cal tC"lo h0u OOOh
passed abroad, where or how, no.
body knew and most had ceased
to care, for that matter; the last
two years had been passed in
Burlingame.
a brilliant light at night, shin
ing from the great east windows
and occasional gallops through
the town, by day, were the only
tokens of his presence. Howev-
er, a change was coming, and
that without warning. Anson
Grey fell sick-suddenly and
dangerously SO. The village
doctor was summoned, who in
turn telegraphed for another from
the neighboring city in hot haste
and together they said in whis-
pers that their patient wonld
| probably die. There was no
woman in the great house to act
as nurse, and the head servant,
obeying doubtless his masters
orders, refused to allow one there
as yet.
How it came about was a mys-
teIy, but one morning, when the
master had laid a week half
senseless, an unusual cloud of
dust was observed whirling up
the hill and emerging therefrom
was a carriage, spIashed and
weather-stained, headed by two
straining, 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 inpatient
ly and sprang out. With a has
ty glance around she hurried up
the steps, entered the drawing
room, and stood before the two
astonished gentlemen who were
seated there.
"Is Arson Grey alive?"
eyes, but he grows worse"
Before they had OWNED her in
tention she had passed them, and |
was in the next room bending O.
yer the sick man.
''The devil will be to pay if |
she excites him now," the elder
one said. of some good nurse
had come it might have been
some use; but this dainty thing
bah!'
She came out in q moment, her
face white but determined.
"Will you be kind enough to !
send fer a minister and remain
until he comes?" she asked, as
she began to remove her things.
There was something in her
manner that forbade questioning,
and they obeyed her like so ma
ny dumb men, as they said after
ward.
The minister did come; VIII
liam Skinner, the head servant
was called, and after the three
held a private conference, which
seemed satisfactory, they came
out and to the amazemcnt Of
them all, the lady stood beside
Anson Gray and the marriage
VOWS were taken.
The wise doctors were miota-
ken in their estimate Of thcir un-
known. She was something be-
sides a fair young lady, as her
action soon proved. A new or
der Of things was instituted in
the sick mans room, and his wife
instiIled herself as Nurses "a change
which told for the better. In Il
month he was riding through the
village with his wife by his side, 1
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
down in one of the pews like
other people, they were more
than ever confirmed in their O.
pinion. What they never knew
was this:
Three years before, Anson
Grey, naughty and indolent, was
killing time at one of the fash
lionable watering places where
Edith Nilloughby also fingered,
though sorely against her will.
A sweet and wonderously fair
face, much admired and sought
after. Arson Grey had half a
mind to enter the lists with the
others, but something kept him
back and he only exchanged a
few words with her now and then.
There happened to come a
heavy two days food, and the
first night of It Edith sent a SER
want asking Mr.. Grey to come to
a private parlor for a moment. !
He obeyed the summons with a.
lacrity, wondering much what
could be coming now.
Edith was waiting for him,
cloaked and hooded, and evident
ly in haste to be off somewhere.
II hope you will pardon me"
s',e said, as she closed the door
behind him, "but really ! did not
know whom to ask, and mamma
will not allow me to go by my
self. A poor woman down en-