The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-03-24
A LOST KEY.

Edgar Arnton had made highly i'm
portant discovery, and one that troubled
him. He was a surgeon, and was given
to examining hearts. For full hour,
in the gathering summer twilight of the
Park avenue, he had applied his facul-
ties to the testing, in another sense, OF
his own. The decision to which, very
unwittingly, he came, was that his dim
suspicious of tire past three months were
well-founded-he was in love,
The thrill which had gone through
him as he clasped Kate Gerrows hand
ON leaving her uncle's gates that very
evening pointed in that direction. The
expansion of soul and the exhilaration
of mind which he continually ex-
perienced in her presence, the longing
that often seized him In his moments of
professional disgust and WEAKNESS to
feast his eyes, If only for an instant, on
Kate's bonny face, all drove home the
unwelcome conviction.
In the course of his final turn along
the broad path between the whispering
poplars, Edgar formed a resolution. En-
tering Brixby, he encountered the very
friend he had desired to consult. Mr..
Trent was a solicitor, many years the
young medical mans senior, and his
only confident in all the countryside.
" If you are disengaged for ten min
utes or SO, Mr. Trent" said Edgar, 81
should like to have talk with you about
Mr.. Gerrow's niece"
l am perfectly at your service, mon
ami. You are smitten by the great ap-
probation of Miss Gerrow's charms. 1
have seen it coming long time"
Edgar smiled little sardonically, in
the dimness.
cit is a lawyers business to be far
sighted" he said CT have found it out
now-the fact of which you speak-and,
am afraid, only just in time"
A harshness was In his tones which
surprised the listener.
-" do not understand" said Mr..
Trent.
"Why, I mean that had the disease
gone further 1 might have proved I'M
able to overcome it-as l mean to do
now"
"You astonish me more and more.
Miss Gerrow is beautiful, of good birth
and we'll educated. She is an heiress
into the bargain; and if she cares for
you, and her uncle consents, what posi-
bic obstacle can intervene ?"
You have said," returned Edgar
modify; "she is an heiress."
The lawyer bit his lip to keep from
loud explosion of misplaced merriment.
"The very thing that, whether she
were pretty or plain, would make Miss
Gerrow an attraction to most suitors."
Il am aware of it. But am not like
the majority am poor, my prospects
are barren enough /; all the world would
say | was fortune-hunting-m
for money if it came to a marriage. She
might learn to think so too, and that [
could not bear. have seen plenty of
this already-in my own family"
The concentrated pathos of the last
sentence, and the involuntary sigh which
concluded it, touched the solicitor. His
meditated words of bantering remon-
STRANGE were not uttered
"What shall you do then ?" he asked.
"Shun the danger, fight the tempta-
ton, work harder. / cannot run away
as in other circumstances / might be
minded to do my living lies in Brixby.
But you can help me considerably in the
struggle if you WILL"
"I-how?"
"When you see me running any risk
of tete-a-tete with Miss Gerrow and
you can possibly interfere, do so."
"And make you hate me for it I; L will
not PROMISE"
81 shall not hate you, 1 shall be very
grateful. must meet her frequently Mt
the house of mutual friends. You will
often be able to make me your debtor
in the way say"
The route the pair had taken brought
them at this point with the Gordon OF
habitations again. With few more
words of less special interest they parted
for the night As Cigars tall, athletic
figure disappeared among the mingling
shadows of tree and cottage, the lawyer
turned and gazed for moment.
"Poor fellow there has been misery
in his lot in earlier years, / know" he
muttered TO himself; "and he is by no
means sure of his own power to with
stand in this matter, or he would not
appeal to any friend"
It was even so Edgar Arnton mis-
trusted himself despite the apparent
frmpess of his resolution. As fate would
have il, week later he was thrown into
Kate Gerrow's company even more con-
stantly and more intimately than before.
Mr.. Gerrow was taken suddenly and seri-
ously i'll. Edgar had to attend him and
TO labor hard to ward of an attack OF
probably fatal apoplexy.