The Red Cloud chief., 1879-03-13

mouse as u future millionaire should live
in"
my fortune" said Alice Hunter.
with a ring in her clear VOICE, "will
furnish a house suitable fora bank
clerk with five hundred a year salary.
which is what my husband will have.
IL Malcolm has a rich uncle, he is not
the man to live in expectation Of money
to come to him over q grave. If his
Uncle Hubert is, "a you say, very rich,
Malcolm would hate money won by the
death of the nearest relative and dear
est friend he has. But | don't believe
in the money, for he never spoke of it
To me-"
Then the talk drifted into discussion
OF bridal finery, of furniture, and stories
of the young wife's content in Der own
married life.
But the old man leaning upon the
cane was thinking: Scan it be true?
Does Malcolm think so little of my
money, that will be his, that be has new
or even mentioned it to his promised
wife? Can it be that / shall gain a low
ing, tender niece instead OF losing my
nephew when Malcolm marries?"
Loving his nephew 81 deeply, Hubert
Bates had felt a keen pain at the news
of his betrothal. He had never seen
Alice Hunter, but he knew she had been
brought up in a circle of fashion and
was the orp~han-niece of one of society's
gayest votaries, Mrs. Mary Hayden.
While he unused upon the converse
ton he had overheard, the silvery voices
of his young neighbors still sounding
beside him, there was a sudden crash.
Something struck him upon the head,
and he lost consciousness.
Cries from the summer-house, from
groups of people collected in the
grounds, brought a party of men speed
lily to the spot. The rotten posts sup
porting the roof upon one side had given
way and the side and roof had fallen in.
Mrs. CORTLAND and Miss Hunter were
buried under the fallen timbers, the door
way being completely blockaded, but
were uninjured. Not so the old gentle
man, who had been their unsupported
listener. lie was taken out pallid and
senseless.
Nobody knew him. He had come by
the morning train, had taken breakfast,
but no room, and asked the hour for the
return train. A surgeon summoned as
speedily as possible announced a broken
arm and injury to the head, making a
likelihood Of a long, tedious illness.
There was some animated discussion,
some suggestions of hospital, a search
through the pockets of the unconscious
victim, resulting in the discovery of a
small sum of money, but no letters, pa
pers or cards; and finally a desertion of
one and another, each going his or her
way, with the consoling reflection, "It's
none of my business"
But when they had all deserted the
injured man the surgeon, still busy
binding up his arm as he lay upon a
bench brought from the ruined summer
house, felt a light touch on his hand
and looked up.
"Can | help you?" Alice Hunter ask
ed.
"No, child, not new."
"What will they do with him?"
81 suppose he must 60 to a hos
pitalP"
"But the ride-the journeyP"
CIVIL cause great additional suffer-
ing, perhaps result in death"
"Doctor, will they keep him here if
he is paid for?"
"Certainly; but there is not money
enough about him to pay his board a
week"
81 will pay it."
"You?"
eyes, I will not let him die for want
of money 1 have. He"-and her lips
quivered-"he looks like my dear ia
Their who is dead?"
"Hem-yes. Here comes the fol-
lowers to carry him to the station. l
think l will have him taken to the house
where l board. 1t will cost less, and be
more quiet"
Mrs. CORTLAND declared Alice was
outraging the properties most dread
fully when the young girl went to the
house and offered her services rs nurse
to the doctor; but Aunt Sophy silenced
all comment by moving her belongings
from the hotel to the quiet boarding
house, and the doctor found he had a
valuable assistant.
Alice explained, in her quiet, low
voice, that her father was ill for 9 long
months before he died and she was his
nurse. This accounted for the noise
less wooden dresses, the velvet-shod feet,
the quick eye and ready hand, and
when the sufferer recovered conscious
ness the gentle voice and tact that quiet
ed him in paroxysms of pain and fever.
Aunt Sophy was too much of an invalid
herself to help; but she sat beside the
bed while Alice moved to and fro, and
performed all nursing duties.
The invalid had n long talk with the
doctor, and then submitted to the gentle
ministration of the two women, only in
sisting upon a man the doctor provided
being with him at night and within call.
The season was over, and only these
three remained of the summer boarders
at the house, when, n cool October
dav- the sick man. now fast recovor;no