Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-03-28
given him an education aud start in
business. He always talks of him
with the deepest love and pity

He suffers torture from the effects OF
fall that has ruined him for life 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 2
The old man leaning upon his cane
was thinking.
Can it be true?' Does Malcolm
think so little of my money, that will
be his, that he has never even mention.
ed it to bis promised wife, Can it be
that 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 circle of fashion,
and was the orphan niece of one of the
society's gsyest votarles, Mrs. Marcia
Hayden.
lie ascertaned by inquiry that the
yonng girl had Inherited ten thousand
dollars from her father and that Ter
winters were spent with maiden sister
Of her tai; her She was quite belle,
although only in society one season,
pretty and accomplished, and the old
man groaned in spirit over his nephew $
choice.
Il belle, and with head fall OF fash
ionable frivolty, he was CONVINCED that
the girl had been won by the prospect
of Malcolms heirship to his own tor,
tune. He had seen in the future his
nephew estranged from him by the in
ilucnce 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
tavOrs.
While he unused upon the conversa-
ton he had overheard, the sIlyery
voices Of his young neighbors still
sounding beside him, there was 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 hroughta party of men specdi-
~ to the spot. Tne rotten posts sup,
porting the roof upon one side had Civ
Ell away and the side and roof had
fallen in. Mrs CORTLAND and Mss
Hunter were burned under the fallen
timbrrs, but were uninjured. Not so
with the old gentlemen, who had been
their unexpected listener. He was
taken ouy palIid aud scnseIess.
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 in Jury to the head,
making Il likelihood OF a long, tedious
illness. There WAS some animated
discussion, some suggestions Of hoSplt
al. Il search through the pockets Of the
unconscious victim, resulting IN the dis
coyery Of small sum of money, but no
letters, papers or cards and finally
desertion of one AMI another, each 90
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 a
bench brought from the ruined summer
house. felt Il light touch on his hand,
and looked up to see little figure IN
mourning with sweet face very pale
Can, l help you?' Alice Hunter ask
ed.
No, child, not now
what will they do with him
I suppose he must 60 toa New York
hospital
But the ride-the journey will cause
great additional snfiering. perhaps re-
suit in death
Doctor will they keep him here if be
is paid fol ?
Certainly, but there Is not money
enough about hum to pay his board a
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. l think I
will take him to the little cottage where
could board 1t will cost less and be