The Penn's Grove record., 1886-04-03

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The explanation was soon given, the
| stranger assisted within doors and a
surgeon summoned.
tti,u be responsible for damages, but
I can't stay for Clark's report" said
Frank Archer. and again he set out on
his journey. -,
The man of medicine gave 1t as his
| opinion that the patient had suffered
no serious harm, and would quickly re-
cover, adding:
ssBut another half-hour in the open,
where Mr.. Archer found him, might
easily have produced much greater mis-
| chief; in his weak state fatal conse-
quences even might have ensued. He
was rescued in the very nick of time,
| and should be grateful accordingly"
Perhaps the wayfarer was grateful,
| as he rested in the warm and well-li5ht-
ed inn parlor Immediately in the rear
of the bar; as the dusk crept on in the
street without he grew more and more
himself. and began to listen to such
scraps of gossiping conversation as
reached him through the half open door
A tiny group of Murley idlers was In
the passage beyond, and their words
were full of interest to the unsuspect-
ed listener.
stMurrell carries his head as high as
ever. though his mill is to be sold, and
all the countryside knows as he's ruin
eds, said one, in cynical tones, abso-
lutely devoid of sympathy.
s'I'm sorry for his daughter" an
swered another; '''tis no fault OF Miss
Carries, and it'll cost her her sweet
heart. Old Archer won't give his per-
mission for that match now If l know
him, and young Master Frank must
choose,betwsen his fortune and his
fancy. l hate to see young people cross
ed, but fact is fact"
"Hush! Here is Miss Murrelll" cried
a third.
A sweet, girlish voice was inquiring
for the invalid. Before the occupant
of the parlor was aware, he was con-
fronted with the vision of a fair, blush
ing maiden-2 vision whereat he star
ted, turned ashy pale. trembled from
head to foot. To his eyes 1t was as
though the grave had given up its
dead.
81 thought you might like some fruit
and so | have ventured to bring these"
the girl said bravely and simply, plac-
ing on the table a basket of exceeding
ly fine oranges and apples. 81 am so
glad you are better; | heard in the vii
lage of your accident, or Illness"
Sand If Miss MuTrell can do a kind
act to anybody she will, " said the inn
keepers wife effusively.
The recipient OF this graceful and
generous attension stammered a reply
that was neither coherent nor express
sive of much gratitude. When his WIS.,
| itor5 were all gone he buried his face
In his feverish hands.
agnes, you were minei Minel" he
muttered fercely.
Frank Archer sat alone in the inner
sanctup of his fathers office. The
chief Murley solicitor was at present
away in the north Of England on an
important confidential mission. His
son was both legally and mentally quail
flied to control the business during the
parental absence. Frank was reading
and ~re-reading, with clouded brow and
a look of ugly determination in his
eyes, a letter from his father, he had
just received. The paragraph which
occasioned his annoyance and perplex-
ity ran as follows:
"'Now that the crash has come, as l
always prophesied it would, there is an
end Of all nonsense concerning Muir
rell's daughter and you. l hope you
unders Hnd this. Pm a man of my
word, Ind I'll consent to no folly, I've
told her this by the same post. But if
she is a.girl or sense she'll hardly need
the telling that it is her bounden duty
to recognize facts as such, and at once
to give you up. There is, indeed, no al
tentative"
ST rather think that is mistake"
the young man growled. ''Resign Car
rIei Neyerl There shall be an alterna-
tive. l will make one at whatever
cost"
There came a ring at the bell, and
after a minutes parley in the ante
room there was admitted into the apart
ment q figure Frank recognized with
very nearly a gesture of impatience.
"Wants to thank me for picking him
up yesterday afternoon. Botherl But
it'll Don be over," he soliloquized.
1t was as he suspected. The wien.
ed little stranger, whose attire, scarce
ly refreshed blythe arduous brushing
of the inn boots" looked more dingy
and thread bare than ever in the morn
ing light, began to apologize for the
trouble he had given and to express in
stiff, %uucourtly phrase his sense Of OBJ
legation,
You are very welcome to any SER
vice l have been able to render, Drank
SAID cOaclsely, in accents of a polite
dismissal.
"Then, SIT, we may pass to the Sec
ond purpose of my CALL"
81 h9S your pardon"
"l'n1 tainded to be your client as
well asftpur debtor-though with you
lawyeI@ she first word generally In
cludesG@ latter" said the visitor,
with a sardonic chuckle,
In spite both of his gloom and of his
m~ystidcation, Frank smiled. He was
plainly in the presence of a character
and he had a fondness for studying
ou~t-of-the-way types of humanity.
"You are satirical at our expense.
But am at your command, =" he an
swered, and he took from a pile of pa
pers a small notebook. 81 must ask
you for your name, please"
John Gre6n."
A peculiar expression upon the speak
er's face caused the suspicion that this
was an alias, but the young solicitor
entered it without audible comment.
"Well, Mr.. GTeenP"
"There IS a large steam -four mill at
Rsybeck. nigh here, to be sold, l I'M
derstand?"
Frank Archer's bewllderment deep
ened. OF what conceivable Importance
could this ill-omened fact be to this
stranger2
"Yes; the advertisement is in the
newspapers"
sit is from them / obtained my In
formation. The present proprietor
Thomas Murrell, is a bankrupt"
1t was a harsh word, which, for rea.
sons of his own, grated on the lawyers
ears. He frowned. and slightly inclln-
ed his head.