Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-03-28
It in Politics devoted to Literature Local and General News.

'Pity!'
He suffers torture from the effects of
/ a fall that has ruined him for lif. and
often causes him weeks Of agonizing
pain. Malcolm tells me with tears in
his eyes of his fear of losing the dearest
friend and kind uncle, and | think he
hopes that may be useful sometimes
in nursing him
i wonder if she is the same p
The old man leaning upon his cane
was thinking.
Can it be true?' Does Malcolm
think so little of my mon.y, that will
be his, that he has never even mention
cd it to bis promised wife, Can it be
that l shall gain loving, tender nece
instead of losing my nephew, when
Malcolm marries?
Loving his nephew so deeply, Hiram
| Bates had felt keen pain at the news
of his betrothal. He had never seea
Alice Hunter, but he knew she had
been brought up in a circle of fashion,
and was the orphan niece Of one Of the
societys gayest votarles, Mrs. Marcia
Hayden.
He ascertained by inquiry that the
! yonng girl had Inherited ten thousand
dollars from her father and that her
winters were spent with maiden sister
Of her fat her She was quite a belle,
although only in society one season,
pretty and accomplished, and the old
man groancd in spirit over his nephew
choice.
\ belle, and with head fall OF fash.
! onable frvoity, he WAS CONVINCED that
the girl had been won by the prospect
of Malcolm's hership to his own tor,
tune. He had seen in the future his
nephew estranged from him by the in
iluence Of dressy empty headed wom-
an, or still more appalling, his neice to
be making false protestatlons Of atfec-
ton, with Il hope Of winning golden
tavOls.
, While he unused upon the conversa-
ton he had overheard, the sllvery
voices Of his young neighbols still
sounding beside him, there WAS a sud
den crash, something struck him upon
the head and he lost consciousness.
Cries from the summer house, from
groups of people collected in the
grounds brought Il party of men speed,
~ to the spot. Tne rotten posts sup
porting the roof upon one side had Civ
en- away and the side and roof had
fallen in. Mrs CORTLAND and Mss
Hunter were buried under the fallen
timbcrs, but were uninjured. Not so
with the old gentlemen, who had been
their unexpected listener. He was
taken on, palIid and scnselesa.
Nobody knew him. He had come bv
morning train, had taken breakfast, but
no room, and asked the hour for The
return train. A surgeon, summoned
as speedily rs possible, announced
broken arm and an injury to the head,
making Il likelihood OF long, tedious
illness. There Was some animated
discussion, some sugges IONS OF hoSplt
al, search through the pockets Of the
unconscious victim, resulting IN the dis
coverv of a small sum of money, but no
letters, papers or cards, and finally a
desertion Of one AMI another, each 60
ing his or her way, with the comforting
reflection
It's none of my business
But when they had all deserted the
Injured man, the surgeon still busy
binding up his arm as he lay upon Il
bench brought from the ruined summer
house. felt a light touch on his hand,
aud looked up to see a little figure in
mourning with sweet face very pale
Can, help you?' Alice Hunter ask,
ed.
No, child, not now.
what will they do with him.
I suppose lie must 60 to New York
hospitals
But the ride-the Journey will cause
great additional suffering, perhaps re.
suit in death
Doctor will they keep him here if he
is paid fol ?
Certainly, but there ,s not money
enough about HIM to pay his board
week.
4 will pay it.
You
Yes; | will not let him die for want
OF money | have. 'He'-and her lips
quivered- -'he looks like my dear faith
er who is dead
'H'm-yes. Here come the fellows
to take him to the station. | think 7
will take him to the little cottage where