Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-24

thoughts were niles away rom East C8mptOn
and every one the town contained. As she
| stood gazing upon the mountains. gloriled in
| the moonlight, she saw two men emerge from
| the shadow Of the old cOrn-bafn across the road
1 One OF them seemed talking In an excited man
ner, judging from his violent gestures.
The other. who made no sign and apparently
spoke no word, was the young peddler. she felt
sure. There was no mistaking his fine figure
and majestic height. They were walking slowly.
| In another minute they had passed into shadow
| again and out of sight.
Miss 'Arlage felt her heart beat fast as she
| watched the little pantOmime, and she was seized
with an unaccountabe terror. Before she had
| time even to speculate on what she had SEEM
there was an uncertain staggering step on the
| piazza. She rushed into the kitchen, and call
ing upon her uncle Pliny as she went, flung the
| door wide Open
| Bert Blodgett confronted her, his face CHASTITY
in the moonlight, which struck full upon it, and
| stained with blood flowing from cash in his
| forehead.
Hush" he said, holding up his hand. cts
With gasp he threw out his arms and sank
| down at her feet, his blood staining her white
dress.
Miss Parkhurst and her brother, both reused
by their niece's distressing cry, stood close be-
+, side her.
"He has fallen somehow and hurt his head"
she explained, though even as she spoke she felt
| sure that 1t was not SO.
She but repeated his statement. It was no
affair of hers. She would respect his evident
desire tor concealment
I Pliny Parkhurst, with his sisters help, lifted
the young man and laid him on the lounge.
DIR Edison was called over the mountain to-
night" he said hurriedly. He has not had time
to get back What had we better do2"
The lips Of the young man moved slightly.
Miss Parkhurst put her face close to his, and
caught two or three words.
There's doctor at the Bromleigh House."
| she said to her brother. with an air of relief
Bert came down from there this after
NOON"
Pliny Parkhurst started off at once It was the
work OF only few minutes to harness one of
| the horses and the road to the new hotel was
not long one.
There's doctor here I'm told" the old
| farmer said to the clerk, as he approached the
| office: IF so want him, and as quick as pos
| sible."
| The physician was summoned. Pliny Parkhurst
| had not caught his name in the indstnct utter
| ance of the clerk.
There's young man at my house, badly hurt.
The words died on his lips. He took step
backward, gazing at the doctor with dilated
| eyes. Evidently the two men recognized each
| other, and in no pleasant fashion.
I'd rather die like dog myself" Pliny Park
from his heart. Ethan to have you set foot over
| my threshold, Dave Blanchard! But can't risk
his life for my notion. 'Twouldn't be right She
wouldn't think so, neither" He turned around
to lead the way out 'I'll be obliged to you if
There was no word spoken between the two
men as they drove rapidly to the Parkhurst
homestead, at the door of which Pliny Parkhurst
jumped out OF the old buggy with the one sylla-
BILE. "Wat!" and went into the house.
His sister was sitting beside the injured man.
Miss d'Arlage had just left the kitchen to change
her dress.
You're 8 good woman, Malvina-a brave
woman" her brother said, as he laid bis hand
tenderly on her head s'But that doctor mn to
the hotel-it's DaveBlanchard, Malvina-and he
shant come into this house to save anybody's
life unless you say So"
Miss Parkhurst gave great start; then grew
perfectly quiet.
There was great blunder. I've just found
out, and was going to tell you as soon as
could"
She made little gesture to Indicate that he
was to be admitted. But she did not even look
at the dOLtor's face as, with one keen glance at
| hers, he examined his patient and dressed the
| wound in his head.
''Shall come tomorrow"
He spoke directly to Miss Parkhurst. She
| looked up at him, having grown calm enough
| to trust herself
'Please attend to him as long as he needs
you" she answered. "And some time-to-
| morrow have something to say to you my
| SELF"
The doctors second call was an early one. He
found his patient doing well. The wound was
not a serious one. He had been faint from the
loss OF blood. In few days, according to indica-
| tions. he would be about again.
Dr. Blanchard followed Miss Parkhurst into
the little parlOr.
yinas" NV 'N-'''
Yes The young man who was hurt last
night" she began very calmly, found, in the
most accidental way possible, an old letter of
nn1. l,eI
was the last one you wrote to me. Possibly
you may remember it, though it was written
twenty-siX years ago."
Remember it !" the doctor repeated, far less
calmly than Miss Parkhurst had spoken. "Life
Is not long enough to forget some things, NAL
VIVA. And so you understandable last! Can
you wonder that after that letter-hearing moth
ing from you'll could not write again ~
mo, cannot wonder" she said. simply
~ knew last night, when met your brother,
that there had been some fatal misunderstand-
ing. the doctor went on; but having waited
all these years. / could still wait till0to-dav.
No. not waited" he corrected. 81 married.
after a year OF intOlerable suspense, anger and
resentment; and my wife lived long enough to
learn how cruelty had wronged her-how little
had ever loved her. My son Arthur, my only
| child. has been my sole companion We have
spent most of the years abroad / came to
East Campton only two days ago, to learn
something of yOu-of what your life had been
And honestly believed that whatever it might
have been, it could not possibly have held such
misery as mine."
Miss Parkhurst made no reply There was
none needed. A duer man than David Blan-
chard would have understood the whole story
Miss d'Arlage rose late that morning, and
failing to find her aunt where she was usually
busy at that hour, entered the parlor in quest
of her.
She started back at the sight of gentleman;
then sprang forward with an exclamation
"Dr. Blanchard!-oh, DIR. Blanchard"
''Efie, my child, you here3"
Miss Parkhurst looked from one to the other
in speechess surprise.
''And you know my Aunt Malvlna?" Fife
cried, in great excitement.
Il knew her. and loved her, Effie, years be-
fore you were born. II letter of mine-the
one found yesterday in the old corn barn-had
ever reached her it would have made differ
ence in both our lives. Ellie d'Arlage, then. ia
the daughter Of your sister Susan2"
Miss Parkhurst nodded. The situation was
not yet Ineligible to her.
arthur is with me, Fife, at the Bromleiph
House." the doctor resumed, in significant
tone.
Miss d'Arlage grew very pale Her ewes fell.
HE is distressed hpvOnd pooacuro 1our