The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-15
ANs0N GREY.

knew and most had ceased 10 care, AoA .nae
matter; the last two had been passed ID
Burlingame.
| A brilliant light at night, shining from
the great east windows, and occasional ga'-
Hops through the town by day, were the
only tokens OF his presence. However,
change was coming, and that WITHOUT warn,
ing. Arson Grey fell SICK, suddeniy anu
dangerously so. The village doctor was
summoned, who IN tuIn telegraphed Tor
another from the neighboriDg city IN hot
haste, and together they said in whispers
that their patient would probably die. There
was no woman IN the great house to act as
nurse. and the head servant, obeyinS douot-
less his masters orders, refused TO allo"
one there as yet.
! How il came about was mystery, Dut
one morning, when the master had laid a
| week half senSeless, an unusual cloud OF
dust was observed whirling up the nil,
| and emerging therefrom was carriage,
splashed aud weathcr-stained, headed by
1.-TWO straining, painting horses, who came
into the entrance as il driven by the evil
one. A lady, tall and fair as sunlight,
pushed open the calriage-door impatlentiv
and sprang out. With hasty glance
around she hurried up the steps, entered
the drawing.room, and stood before tine
two astonished gentlemen who were seated
there.
"Is Arson Grey alive?"
| ayes; but he grows worse
Before they OWNED her intention she
had passed them, and was in the next room
bending over the sick man.
1.-THE devil will be to pay il she excites
him now" the elder one said. elf some
good Nurse had come it mig hit have been OF
some use but this dainty tbing-bah!"
She came out in q moment, her face white
but determined.
"Wil you be kind enough to send for 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 many dumb men, as they said after
ward,
The minister did come; William Skinner,
the head servant was called, and after the
three held a private conference, which
seemed to be satisfactory, they came out,
and, 10 the amazement OF all, the lady
stood beside Arson Grey and the marriage
VOWS were taken.
The wise doctors were mistaken in their
estimate OF their unknown. She was some
thing besides fair young lady, as her at-
tons soon proved. A new order OF things
was instituted in the sick mans room, and
his wife Installed herself as nursC-a change
which told for the better. In month he
was riding through the village, with his
wife by his side, all eyes, OF course, agog
to catch glimpse OF her handsome face.
All agreed that she was just en- angel, and
when they came to church the next Sunday
and sat down in one Of the pews like other
peoplc, they were more than ever confirmed
in their opinion. What they never knew
was this: .s4
Three years before Arson Grey, naughty
and INDECENT, was killing time at one OF the
fashionable watering-p places where Edith
WIlloughby also fingered, though sorely
against her will.
A sweet and wondrously fair face, much
admired and sought sitter, Arson Grey had
bali n mind to enter the lists with the
others, but something kept him back, and
he only exchanged few words with her
now and then. 81 ,...-...
|? There happened to come heavy two
days flood, and the first night OF it Edith
sent a servant asking Mr.. Grey to come to
a private parlor for moment. He obeyed
the summons with alacrity, wondering.
much what could be coming now.
Edith was waiting for him, cloaked and
hooded, and evidently in haste to be Oh
somewhere.
81 hope you will pardon me-" she said,
as she closed the door behind him; "but
mamma will not allow me to 90 by myself
A poor woman down on the beach is sick,
perhaps dying, and I must 90 to see her.
Her little boy just came after me. / was
there yesterday, and they are in great dis
treSs. Could l trouble you to so with
me?"
| II will do your errand. It is too stormy
for you to venture out"
"Oh, it is no errand. ain sorry to trou.
bic anybody"
Mr.. Grey saw what was wanted, and say.
ing he would be back directly, vanished for
his rubber suit.
The rain drove into their faces and the
wind howled through the dark night like
the minister of thousand storms. Not for
poor fisherwoman, perhaps, but for one as
good and fair, as Edith Willoughby, he
Should not have hesitated moment.
When they came upon the beach the waves
fairly Ieuped into their faces, and Edith
shivered and chung, half terrified, to her
companion in spite Of herself.
~ believe you HAD better return now,
and leave it to me-" he said.
"No, we are almost there. should never
forgive myself if l did, she answered,
catching her breath as she spoke. cit is
only you au worried about"
81 am glad to be able to help YOU" be
sad. And I think lie spoke the truth.
Inside the cottage poor Grace Pooley lay
on her hard bed trying to breathe on little
longer, if so the good God might send some
good friends before she died to care for her
orphan boy.
When the door opened her eyes bright
ened, and she raised up little.
"The Lord bless you for coming. know
He will" she said, as Edith threw of her
wet covering and went toward her.
This is only one OF the boarders who
came with me-" she said, in reply to the
woman's questioning look. 81 should have
come to-day had known that you were
worse"
She sal down beside the bed, and Arson
Grey watched her as she spoke in low, ten
der voice to the grateful woman. Among
the words which be could distinguish was
a promise TO see to Jamie; and when the old
woman who seemed TO be nurse came up to
administer something, and in half whis-
per asked Edith to pray with them, he began
to think he was in another world. And it
was another to him. truly. Surely she would
never do that. But she did. Knceling
upon the bare floor, clasping her white
hands, she sent up such q prayer for help
and strength as Arson Grey had never
dreamed Of bearing before. .:et-
After that night Arson Grey knew where
his heart was. but for his life be dared not
approach Edith. She seemed an immea-
sUrable distance from such as he, but he
cherished the memory Of her prayers as the