Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-04-24
HIS ONE LOVE.
An Old Mans Unexpected but
Happy Disappointment.

An old gentleman, leaning forward with
his hands clasped over gold-headed cane,
was seated in a summer-house situated
upon the grounds of hotel at a fashionable
wateringplace. He was ip corner, hidden
by dropping vines, and hIs face expressed
deep and apparently painful thought. The
refrain Of his sad musing was:
"Only one person in the whole world TO
love me, and shah lose even that love
nowl"
On tho other side Of the summer-house,
divided from the side the old man occupied
by rustic partition, two ladies', young and
fair, rushed in, and taking out some fancy
work, settled down for a chat
One was tall, and dressed in a pretty COS
tune that was at once youthful and ma
tronly;the other was petite, blonde, and not
more than eighteen. Mrs. CORTLAND spoke
first
Embroidery, Alicem she said. ga
handsome handkerchief corner. For your
trousseauln
" Yes" and the sweet voice faltered,
while burning blush crimsoned the fair
cheek. "Is it not prettyf"
VERY. l want TO talk about your pros
poets, child. Your Aunt Marcia tells me
you are making splendid match.''
ibid shel think so, Blanche. NAL
colin is so noble and good, and true
Christianr'
"But your aunt tells me he is the favorite
nephew Of the great oil merchant Hiram
Bates, whose wealth is something enor-
nous. You have only to help him play his
cards well, and he will probably be heir to
magnificent fortune. But what ais youl
You look as II was telling you piece of
news"
81 think Aunt Marcia has been misin-
formed, that is all"
''Then he is not Hiram Bates nephewpi
~ never heard him speak of rich uncle,
and am quite sure he has no hope of in
heritng money. He has good salary, and
my little fortune will buy and furnish a small
house, so we can make comfortable, and,
hope, happy home"
'Did he never speak to you of his
unclei"
''Never OF a rich uncle. He has told me of
n lame uncle, his mothers brother, who has
been very kind to him, given him an educa-
tion and start in business He always
talks OF hum with the deepest love and
pity"
''Pityp
'He suffers torture from the effects of a
fal that has famed him for life and often
causes him weeks of agonizing pain. Nal
"
fear of losing this dearest friend and kind
uncle, and think he hopes may be useful
sometimes in nursing him"
II wonder If she is the samel"
The old man leaning upon his cane was
thinking.
"Can it be truel Does Malcolm think so
little of my money, that will be his, that he
has never even mentioned 1t TO his prom
Used wifel Can it be that shall gain a 10y
ing, tender niece instead of losing my
nephew, when Malcolm marriesP'
Loving his nephew so deeply, Hiram
Bates had felt keen pam at the news Of
his betrothal He had never seen Alice
Hunter, but he knew she had been brought
up in a circle of fashion, and was the
orphan niece of one of society's gayest
Votaries, Mrs Marcia Hayden.
He ascertalned by inquiry that the young
girl had inherited ten thousand dollars
from her father and that her winters were
spent with her Aunt Marcia, her summers
with a maiden sister of her father She
was quite belle, although only in society
one season, pretty and accomplished, and
the old man groaned in spirit oyer his
nephew's choice.
A belle, and with head full OF fashion
able frivolity, he was convinced that the
girl had been won by the prospect Of NAL
NolAn ntHHuiD 10 his own lOTIulO. ne QdQ
seen in the future his nephew estranged
from him by the influence of dressy,
cmpty-headed woman, or, stu more appail-
ing, his neice-to-be making false protesta-
lions OF affection, with hope Of winning
golden favors.
While he unused upon the conversation he
had overheard, the silvery voices of his
young neighbors still sounding beside him,
there was n sudden crash, something struck
him upon the head and he lost conscious
ness
Cries from the summer-house, from
groups of people collected in the grounds
brought party of men speedily to the spot
The rotten posts supporting the roof upon
one side had given way and the side and
roof had fallen in. Mrs. CORTLAND and
Miss Hunter were buried under the fallen
timbers, but were uninjured. Not so the
old gentleman, who had been their uusus-
pected listener. HE was taken out pallid and
senseleSs.
Nobody knew him He had come by the
morning train had taken breakfast, but no
room, and asked the hour for the return
train A surgeon, summoned as speedily as
possible, announced broken arm and an
injury TO the head, making Likelihood of a
long, tedious illness. There was some AMI
mated discussion, some suggestions of hos.
unconscious victim, resulting in the discov.
cry Of a small sum of money, but no letters
papers or cards, and finally desertion OF
one and another, each going his or her way
with the comforting r. Election:
s'ft's none of my business"
But when they had all deserted the in
iured man the surgeon, still busy binding
up his arm as he lay upon o bench brought
from the ruined summer-house, felt a ligh
touch on his hand, and looked up TO sec
little figure in mourning, witha sweet face
very pale
Can help you" Ahce Hunter asked.
s'No, child. not now"
s'What will they do with hint"
at suppose he must so to New Yorl
hospital"
ssBut the ride--the journeyP
ssWill cause great additional suffering
pexhaps result in death"
"Doetor, will they keep him here If he j
paid forFS
Certainly; but there is net none
enough about him TO pay his board week
AZ viii pay it,"
"You."
Eyes; / viii not let him die for want o
money have. He''-and her lip quivere,
-''he looks like my dear father who /
dead'
q H'm-yes. Here come the fellows Z
take him to the station. think win TAX
him 20 the little cottage where board.
will cost less and be more quietn
Mrs. CORTLAND declared Alice was out
raging the proprieties most dreadful
when the young girl went 70 the cottag
and offered her services as nurse TO tn
doctor; but Aunt Sophie silenced common
by moving her belongings from the hotel t
the Quiet boarding house, and the docto
found he had valuable assistant
Alice explained, in her quiet, low voice
that her father was III for nine months be
fore he died. and she was his nurse. Thi
accounted for the noiseless wooden dresses
the velvetshod feet, the quick eye and read,
hand, and, when the sufferer recovered con
sciousness, the gentle voice and tact. tina
qnieted him in paroxysmsof pain and fever