The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-02-22

stead Of going into the house,"
Then the doctor regained sufiicient pros.
ruce Of mind to move away and scat himself
Az far as possible from the open window.
Josie came In flushed, excited, ana desp'e
her evident effort to appear rs usual shy ana
constrained.
The doctor did not remain long. He felt
TOO shocked and wounded to know wnat
course to pursue In this sudden and unex-
pected state Of things.
He would go home and think IT over. ana
the result Of his thinking WIS that no con-
Guided to say nothing to Josephine just now'
but to watch her movements the next even
ing and find out something more definite oy
which to shape his course.
| 1t was IL little past o'clock the next even
Ing when, watching from his Office, he saw
Josephine trip lightly down the steps OF her
fathers house, attired in the brown and
striped dress, and little hat. around which
was tied a brown veil.
He saw her face before she pulled the folds
| OF the veil close, and even caught her glance
as she looked shyly over towards his office,
MS il fearful Of being seen by him. Then she
walked on very fast, while he followed at
safe distance.
She went first to house in which he knew
u sister Of her father resided-Miss Almeria
Chase-a well-to-do maiden lady whose prim
and severe aspect he had never liked.
Here she remained about half an hour then
reappeared, walking hurriedly as before, and
taking her way not homeward, but towards
the suburbs Of the town.
Entering a sort Of lane or narrow road,
with thick hedge on one side, she came IN
sight Of poplar tree at turn OF the lane,
Here young man was standing-a tall,
handsome young fellow-who. on seeing her.
came hastily forward and received her, ap-
parently half fainting, In his arms.
At the same moment he made signal, and
carriage, until now hidden by the turn OF
the lane, came up.
The two hurriedly entered it, and they
drove away at rapid pace. They were
clearly going to catch the north-bound train
at the nearest station.
The doctor, although he now understood
the plan, made no motion or attempt to OPP
pose it.
eff she prefers him to me, let her CO." he
said, and in forlorn wretchedness and bitter
ness of soul, returned to his office.
The Chase house opposite was shut up and
the windows closed, as though its light and
life had forever departed
Did the parents know as yet what had hap
pened? Should he break it to them more
gently perhaps, than others would do, and in
their woe find something soothing for his
own2
He walked slowly up the front steps to the
porch, and there fingered. He could not find
it in his heart to enter the house where her
presence was no longer, and it was with an
effort that he gave the bell knob pull which
seemed like the wrenching Of his own heart
strings.
The door was instantly opened, and turn
ing he beheld Josie standing sullenly before
him.
II have been expecting you for more than
an hour" she said. "But," catching sight
of his pale and startled face" "what is the
matter? Are you illP'
"No: but II don't understand. I did not
expect to see you. thought you had gone
away" as
NOAO 0WUys
YYss-with Jack Ripley" he said sternly.
And Josfe, to MS surprise, broke Into
laugh.
Then changing, she suddenly became very
grave and dignifed.
"How could you have had such a thought
Of me, Charlie?"
'Josie, was it you whom I saw leave the
house about o'clock this evening, wearing
brown dress and veil?"
eyes, certainly"
"And you met a gentleman in the poplar
lane"
"No, no. she interrupted, again laughing
"That was my cousin, May Harding-Aunt
Almerias niece. We are OF the same size.
and exchanged dresses in order to deceive
aunt's watchful eyes. But come in and let
me tell you all about 1t. could not before,
being bound to secrecy"
And then she told him how Jack and May
had for years loved each other and been kept
apart by Miss Chase, who had taken charge
of May when child and been to her sort
of domestic tyrant
Whenever Jack was in town Miss Chase
kept double watch upon the poor girl, and
it was only by the scheme which had been
SO successful that May was enabled to elude
her argus eye and get safely away with her
lover.
Papa had always been in favor of the
match, but for peace sake did not like to in
terfere with his sister Almeria.'
HE will scold a little when he finds out
my part in it," she said, "but will be de-
lighted all the same that May is happy at
last. No one could ever say word against
Jack except that he was alittle wild and mis-
chievous at college; but he has sobered now,
and just settled down to the practice of law
And as to whether DR.. Newberry will
She paused, and looked up half archly, half
inquiringly into his face.
mo, darling, not now," he answered, "al.
though you have caused me the most miser-
able hours of my life"
Charlie" she said softly, as she allowed
him to draw her gently toward him, elf you
had practised your own theory and sought
an explanation of what appeared to you SO
suspicious you would have been spared those
miserable hours"
eyes, darling, it was my fault. But this
NAV serve us both for n lesson 70 Hreoin with