Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-03-01
If they could.
ANSCDN GREY.

Anson Grey was still, stern man at
thirty, shut up within himself and by
himself, in his great stone mansion on
the hill, and people knew no more about
him than they knew about the dead.
His early years had been passed abroad.
Were or how, nobody knew and most
had ceased to care, for that matter; the
lasttwo had been passed IN Burlingame.
A brilliant light ut night, shining
from the great east windows, and occa-
sional gallops through the town, by
day, were tie only tokens of his pres =
ence. However 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 i'll 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,
obeying doubtless his masters orders,
refused to allow one there as vet.
How it came about was mystery,
puu one morning, when the master had
laid q week half senseless, an unusual
cloud of dust was observed whrllng up
the hill, and emerging therefrom was a
carriage, splashed and weather-stalned,
headed by two straining. painting horses,
who came up to the entrance as If
driyen by the evil one. A lady, tail
and fair as sunlight, pushed open the
carriage door impatiently and sprang
out. With hasty glance around she
hurried up the steps, entered the draw
ing-room and stood before the two
astonished gentlemen who were seated
there.
'Is Anson Grey alive2"
eyes, but he grows worse"
Before they OWNED her intention,
she had PASSED them, and was ID the
next room bending over the sick man.
"The devil Will be to pay if she e1'
cites him now," the elder one said, III
some good nurse had come, it might
have been of some use; but this dainty
thing-bahP
She came out in moment, her face
white but determined.
'.Will 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
oLeyed her like SO many dumb men. as
they said aftcrward.
The minister did come; William
Skinner, the head servant was called,
and after the three held private con-
ference, which seemed to be satisfac
tory. they came out and, to the amaze
ment of all, the lady stood beside Anson
Grey snd the marriage VOWS were
taken.
The wise doctors were mistaken In
their estimate Of their unknown. She
was something besides a fair young
lady, as her actions soon proved. A
new order of things was instituted m
the sick mans room, and his wife in
stalled herself as nurse, a change which
told for the letter. In a month he
was riding through the village, with
his wife at his side, all eyes, Of course,
agog to catch glimpse OF her hand
some face.
All agreed that she was just an angel,
when they came to church the next
Sunday, and sat down in cpe Of the
pews like other people, they were more
than ever confirmed in their opinion.
What they never knew was this:
Three years before, Anson Grey,
naughty and indolent, was killing time
at one of the fashionable watering
places where Edith Willoughby also
fingered, though sorely against her
will.
A sweet and wondrously fair face,
much admired, and sought after, Anson
Grey had half q 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 servant asking Mr.. Grey
to come to private parlor for mo-
ment He obeyed the summons with
alacrity, wondering much what could
be coming now.
Edith was waiting for him, c1oaked
and hooded, and evidently in haste to
be off somewhere.
81 hope you will pardon me, she
said, as she closed the door behind
him, "but really 1 did not know whom
to ask and mamma will not allow me to
90 by myself. A poor woman down on
the beach is sick, perhaps dying, and
I must go to see her. Her little boy
lust came after me. was there yes
terday and they are in great distress.
Could trouble you to 60 with me2"
81 will do your errand, 1t is too
stormy for you to venture out.