Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-10-22

suppose it was not right thing to do, but
this handsome sick stranger, so hardly used,
and so surrounded with mystery, had reused
in me sincere sympathy for his loneliness
and suffering, and l walked through that
part of the garden into which his windows
looked. We had been politely requested to
avoid it, because the sight of strangers in
creased Mr.. Compton's nervous condition.
l did not believe this, and | determined to
try the experiment.
"He was leaning out of the window, and
a sadder face | never saw. smiled and
courtesied, and he Immediately leaped the
low sill, and came toward me. l stopped
and began to tie up some fallen carnations;
he stopped and helped me, saying all the
while know not what, only that it seemed
to me the most beautiful language ever
heard Then we walked up and down the
long peach walk until heard the rattle Of
fathers wagon.
after this we became quietly, almost
secretly as far as Dr. Orman was concerned
very great friends. Mother so thoroughly
pitied Alfred that she not only pretended
oblivion of our friendship, but even pro-
NOTED it in many ways; and in the course
of time DR.. Orman began to recognize its
value. was requested TO walk past Mr.
Compton's windows and say 'Good morn
ing or offer him flower or some ripe
peaches, and finally to accompany the gen
tlemen in their short rambles in the neigh
borhood.
"Ineed not tell you how all this restricted
intercourse ended We were soon deeply
in love with each other and love ever finds
out the way to make himself be understood
We had many five minutes meeting no one
knew of, and when this was impossible q
rosebush near his window hid for me the
tenderest little love-letters. In fact, Julia,
found him irresistible; he was 50 handsome
and gentle, and though he must have been
thirty-fve years old, yet to my thinking, he
looked handsomer than any young man
could have done.
"As the weeks passed on, the doctor SEEM
ed to have more confidence in us, or else his
patient was completely under control. They
had much fewer quarrels, and Alfred and
walked in the garden, and even "a little way
up the hill, without opposition or remark.
do not know how | received the idea, but |
certainly did believe that DIR. Orman was
keeping Alfred sick for some purpose Of his
own, and determined to take the first OPP
portunity of arousing Alfred's suspicious
So one evening, when we were walking
alone, / asked him if he did not wish to see
his relatives.
ale trembled violently, and seemed in the
greatest distress, and only by the tenderest
words could soothe him, IA half sobbing,
he declared that they were his bitterest ene-
mics, and that DR.. Orman was the only friend
he had in the world Any further efforts
made 10 get ut the secret Of his life were
fruitess, and only threw him into paroxysms
OF distress. During the month Of August
he was very i'll, or at least DIR. Orman said
So scarcely saw him, there were no let
tiers in the rosebush, and frequently the dis
pute between the two men rose to u pitch
which father seriously disliked.
zone hot day in September every one was
in the fields or orchards only the doctor and
Alfred and ! were in the house. Early in
the afternoon a boy came from the village
with letter to DIR. Orman, and he seemed
very much perplexed and at a loss how to
act. At length he said: Miss Phoebe, !
must go to the village for a couple of hours I;
| think Mr.. Alfred will sleep until my re-
turn, but if not, will you try and amuse
himp
81 promised gladly, and Dr. Orman went
back TO the village with the messenger No
sooner was he out Of sight than Alfred APP
peared, and we rambIed about the garden as
happy as two lovers could be. But the day
was extremely hot, and as the afternoon adj
vanced the heat increased. proposed then
that we should walk up the hill, where there
was generally breeze, and Alfred was de-
lighted at the larger freedom it promised US.
"But in another hour the sky grew dark
and lurid, and noticed that Alfred grew
strangely restless. His cheeks flushed, his
eyes had wild look Of terror in them, he
trembed and started, and in spite Of my
effort 10 soothe him grew irritable and
gloomy. Yet he had just asked me to marry
him, and | had promised / would lie had
lnJ 4 4, "A N,II l..
my suspicious about DIR. Orman, and vowed
| TO nurse him myself back 10 perfect health.
We had talked, too, Of going TO Europe,
and in the eagerness and delight of our new
plans, had wandered quite TO the little pine
forest at the top of the hill.
"Then | noticed Alfptks excited condi-
ton, and saw also that we were going TO
have thunderstorm. There was an empty
log-hut not far away, and urged Alfred 10
try and reach it before the storm broke. But
he became suddenly like child in his ter
ror, and it was only with the greatest diff
Guilty got him within its shelter.
"As peal after peal Of thunder crashed
-rDDNS w, hilItu ScciilGu W lose all COHlfOl Ol
himself, and, seriously offended, left him,
nearly sobbing, in a corner, and went and
stood by myself in the open door In the
very height Of the storm saw my father,
DR.. Orman and three Of our workmen com.
ing through the wood. They evidently sus.
pected our sheltering place, for they came
directly toward it.
'AlfredP, shouted DR. Orman, in the
tone Of AN angry master, where arc you,
sirY Come here instantly
my pettedness instantly vanished, and
said Doctor, you have no right to speak 10
Alfred in that way. lie is going 10 be my
husband, and shall not permit II any more
"'Miss Wakefield he answered, this is
sheer folly. Look thereF
81 turned and saw Alfred crouching in a
corner, completely paralyzed with terror;
and yet when DR.. Orman spoke b him, be
rose mechanically, as a dog might follow
his masters call
a.