Wichita eagle., 1888-02-03
THE BROWN HOUSE.

It stood lust OF tie outskirts of the town;
pretty, picturesque little cottage, vine
wreathed and half hid among the locust
trees
The little brown house was to receive an
occupant Carpenters we're down from the
city, and the interior was thoroughly re-
paired The grounds were put in order, and
the furnishing began. This was superintendent
in person by the houseileeper of the new
tenants, quiet, middle age old woman, who
vouchsafed no information in regard to the
new corners beyond the fact that they were
to be Nine De We're, an aged widow lady, and
for years an invalid, and her daughter, Mile.
Julie De We're Her own name she gave as
Mrs. Sarah Atchinson.
At length, when the preparations were all
complete, and every one was on the qui vive,
one evening, a close travelling carriage drew
up before the gateway. slight figure, in
travelling suit and thick, green veil, sprang
lightly down. Miss De We're, of course. Then
the driver and housekeeper, under the direc-
ton of the young lady, carefully lifted out
what appeared but an inanimate bundle of
wrappings; but a hollow cough betrayed the
presence of the invalid.
Slowly the group wound up the graveled
path, Nine. De We're leaning on the arms of
the servants, while her daughter walked on
in advance. 1t was plain to perceive that the
poor madame was very feeble.
So the De Veres were donesticated Every
thing went quietly On in the brown house,
none but the servants often seen outside.
Those who called, prompted either by curios
ity or friendly interest, were politely received
by the young lady, who invariably apologized
for the elderly one: Mamma is not able to
bear the fatigue of conversation Her reply
to invitations out was always the same: II
cannot leave mamma. Until she is better
you must excuse me-"
Thus it transpred that after time people
ceased to visit at the brown house, and the
French widow and her child lived in almost
hermit like seclusion.
Even the few servants made no friends
outside, and the house might as well have
continued empty, SO far as its promotion Of
/ sociabiiity was concerned.
l was young man at that time-ardent,
inpulsive and very ambitious. Young III
my profession, had my position yet to
make, and often suffered, as most early
practitioners do, from the Encouragement
my few calls gave rise to.
had one familiar friend-my chum, I used
to call nina young fellow of about the
same age as myself, by the name of John Gray
John was noble fellow, with frank,
cheerful disposition and wonderful amount
of courage, both moral and physical He was
on the detective force, and had already
gained some notoriety by his success in the
business.
We often spent the evenings together in
my Office up town, exchanging condolences
end words of mutual encouragement. 1t
was during these conferences that ! became
interested in the inmates of the little brown
house, and learned all that any one knew Of
them.
( John Gray had caught a glance from Julie
De Vere's dark eyes; and from that moment
she became the one woman in all the world
to him. True, he had no acquaintance be-
yond en- exchange of glances and once or
twice a courteous bow, but the bewitched fell
low fairly worshiped the ground she walked
upon.
One evening he Iounged into the Office in
an unusually bad hurnor.
81 envy you, Doc!" he began; "you are a
luckier fellow than I. When you have call
you know just where to 60, and can easily
tell what to do; but in my biz that is the
problem"
Anything particularly bad just now?'
eyes; looking up of difficulty. You
remember hearing OF heavy bank robbery
i'll N some two years agoF"
"Tesn
''Well, a man by the name of ElIery Chan
ming was the defaulter. He slipped through
our fingers, and we've had 10 trace of him
from that time until this 1t was supposed
he went to Europe Lately we have been
trying to break up gang of couuterfeiters
that are circulating deal of the queer and
have had reliable intelligence at the Office
that the man we supposed had fed to the
continent was somewhere in our very midst,
TIE leader and active principal of the gang
He is like the needle in the haymow, and
when we get him ] reckon we shall earn
himln
''Whatll you give for some of my assist
snce'" l coolly asked, lighting fresh cigar.
Il wouldn't advise you TO leave practicing
medicine and turn detective" he said,
moodily.
''Of course not" replied, "but physicians
sometimes learn strange secrets. What say
you to a new hat against pair of gloves that
l work out the clew to this businesss'
''Dcne!" he cried heartily well used to our
familiar Jokes; and then, leaving business in
the background. began on his never failing
thene-Miss de Ve.e.
Youth think I'm chatting when tell you,
Doc, but it's true as gospel, I've got a new
opera glass, and when Julia sits by her win
dow get across to my den in the 'Mainte-
nom and gaze at her by the hour through it.
such coy little nest as she has; cush-
ioned chair in the bay window, with the
heavy curtains dropped between her and the
room beyond. And there she sits with her
har b<oi 10 S&T,
color on her cheek, coming and going, as
she reads or muses. over her embroidery.
"Such q dainty little white hand as she
has, and on one taper finger a magnificent
ring. l don't believe its like can be found
in the country; diamond cluster, set in the
form of star, huge diamond in the mid
die, and the stones in the rays diminishing in
size from the center to the points.
How do you suppose the young lady
would fancy it, john could she know the
constant surveillance she is subjected tol"
His eyes grew wide
Il cannot believe you think so poorly Of
me as to dream of my ever intrudinG on her
privacy! I have too much honor for that
only watch for her at the bay window"
Some little time after this conversation
was befalen by curious adventure. | sat
il tie Office, smoking my twilight cigGr,
when a person in the garb of a serving man
presented me the following strange epistie:
DIR. B.: have heard it reported that
you are slillful physician. If you wish to
earn handsome fee in the lawful pursuit of
your calling, please follow the bearer. in case
you consent to submit to the following co.l-
ditions: Allow yourself to be brought thither
blindfolded, and 10 return in the same way;
also make no inquiries as to where you so, or