The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-08-14
and, .trang. to say, she did net repeat i. to

and, strange to say, she did net repeat II to
her aunt,
And, apparently, she was right, for, from
that time, he began to mend rapidly, and
soon the day came for which Miss Eldridge
had longed-he was able to be moved to the
squire's house at Greenvale. The hotel at
Norwich was q comfortless and noisy abode.
Miss Eldridge felt that the quiet and seclu-
sion of Greenvale would do her patient
more good than anything else could.
The mystery concerning him had not been
solved. He had asked where he was, had
remembered the accident that la befallen
him, nj had inquired who was taking care
not to talk or try to think, and he had
obeyed with the dociiity that comes of
physical weakness.
1t was not until he was comfortably set.
tied in the squire's house, and had recov-
cred from the fatigue of the journey, that
Miss Eldridgs would answer his questions
as to the reason of her seeking him, and
showing him such kindness.
The squire, who was confident that If his
memory for names had failed, his memory
for faces had not, declared that he had
never seen the young man before, and he
was SO puzzled about the matter that he
gave Miss Eldridge 10 peace until she told
the young man of the telegram.
81 am certainly John, but who r. Mason
Is I do not know, nor how anybody at dis
tancs could possibly know what had hap
pened to me. / am really afraid that am
an impostor. Ihave become possessed of
your care and kindness by false pretences.
Let me mak all the amends in my power
by telling you at once who I am"
sit does not matter in the least We are
said Miss Eldridgs hastily, her tender
heart sorely troubled by the young mans
look of distress. "You really must not
talk about it at al until you are stronger"
Several times in the course of the next
week the young man reverted to the topicj
but always to be checked by Miss Eldridge.
1t wounded her sense of delicacy that he
should feel obliged to give an account of
himself, and, for herself, she was quite
willing to take him upon trust. Moreover,
enjoyed the little touch of mystery. She
did not acknowledge that to herself, but it
had its effect.
She did not taxi as good care of Phyllis
as she ought to have done; sac acknowl-
edged that afterward with deep penitence.
Phyllis e n ang to MIN through the
long days of his convalescence. Miss FL
bridge or the nurse was always present,
and there was very little talking. He was
a remarkably reserved and quiet young
man. Miss Eldridge could not see that it
made any difference to him whether Phyllis
or she was his entertainer. And as for
Phyllis, she seemed to regard it as rather
One day Miss Eldridge suddenly awoke
to the fact that she had been vaguely wish
ing it were o~therwisei Was she really so
attracted by this utter stranger that she
would be willing that Phyllis should fall
in love with himf Miss Eldridge took her.
self sternlyt to task for u an unprincipled
emotion. And yet he did not seem alto
gether unlike q minister. She resolved
she would no longer blind herself to her
duty. The young man should be allowed,
encouraged, to give an account of himself.
Miss Eldridge went out to walk to calm her
perturbed mind INT reflect upon the situa.
ton, when she encountered Nicodemus.
Twice already had Nicodemus expressed
an earnest desire to a IN interview with
the invalid. Miss Eldridge had set it down
as that curiosity to which the rural mind
in general, and Nicodemus' in particular,
persistent that it struck her as improbable
that his motive could be merely curiosity.
"What do you want to see Mr.. Conroy
for. Nicodemus?" she said.
"Well, you see, ma'am, it's q little mat
ter of business" said Nicodemus, looking
downcast but determined. "There's some.
thing in his line that I want to buy.n
"What is his liner" was on Miss Ell.
bridges surprised tongue, but she checked
its utterance. What She would not heal
from her patient himself she could not
allow Nicodemus to tell her.
"lt's something that I suppose you
wouldn't approve of, though you don't
seem to think there's uothin' out of the wa
about him. want to find out all about
that lottery that he's runnin', and, if il
seems. all fair and square, as they say it is,
I want to buy q ticket"
"Nicodemus, what are you talking about:
exclaimed Miss Eldridge, in Mortified &C.
cents
"Didn't you know, now, that he was q
lottery Teller? That's what the landlord
over to Norwich said, that he didn't be
lieve you knew it, for anybody would most
as quick take him fora parson by his looks,
but I told him you want one that went tc
work with your eyes shet, commonly. ]
kind of Wonder that he didn't speak out,
and tell his business, but meEbe he got an
inklin' that youdidn't set much by lotter
les. Ever sence l heard Parson Godfrey's
sermon about the one tarlent pve beer
maxim up my mind to buy a lottery ticket
and it does seem to me real kind of provi
DENTAL that he should be hove off then
cars right in my way, so to speak, for he
International Colossal Gift Enterprises, a.
he calls it, is all square. That sounds real
genteel and moral now, jest as he looks
don't it. There's church members over tx
Norwich has got tickets in it. They say
he's got a real ~persuadiu' manner"
NO ulOT0 ulu MISS EluTIuS6 Wdlb TO near
With head erect, and a mien that BODIED il
to evil doors, she was marching toward the
house.
She had been imposed uponi The stran
ger whom she had watched and tended ant
brought back from the gates of death was
wicked man. guilty of the immortality which
she despised almost more than any other
She had been basely deceived And yet
had he not tried to tell her ssall about him
SELF" as he expressed it, more than once
n she had stopped him? What senti
mental folly that had been! Miss Ell
bridges anger was transferred from tn.
young man to herself, IS she reflected
And Phyllis! How culpable had been hel
carelessuess in that respect! What was tt
be done? The invalid was not yet able t,
leave his room. She could scarcely turf
him away. The squirrels ideas of hospitali
ty would not have permitted that, if he hac
proved to be an escaped burglar. Blu
Phyllis must go at oncel Miss Eldridge
went in search of her.
"Phyllis, I. think that this would be
good time for you to visit Cousin Cornelia
She is very lonely, and the change nigh
do you good" she said.
81 don't need to have any good lone me
l am very WELL" said Phyllis, with a littl
pout.
Cousin Cornelia was elderly, an invalid
and prim; so prim hat Phyllis was wont Il
declare that Aunt Hester in comparison
with her was 'frisky."
1--WE may have guests later. There i
nothing to keep you at home now,'' pur
sued Miss Eldridge.
"N-no," faltered Phyllis.
"You had better go on the early trail
tomorrow, and stay a week." said Mis-
Eldridge, in a ton which Phyllis under
stood as meaning that from that decision
there was no appeal.
Phyllis devoted herself to preparation
for her journey for the rest of the day, ant
Miss Eldridge was not obliged, as she hat
feared, TO resort to manouvring to keel
her away from the dangerous society o
the invalid-the 'lottery f~eller!"
But in the evening Phyllis suddenly
turned upon her aunt, with a little air o
defiance, and announced nat she must e
and bid goodbye to Mr.. Conroy, since sh'
was to go away SO early in the morning.
Miss Eldridge, who had foreseen thi
contingency, thought it was wiser to yiel,
than to resist, and fore ed herself to sa,
SO, yes" in a calm and matter-of-cours
way.
But she followed Phyllis Upstairs in tw,
minutes. The door of the invalid's room