Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-08-02

married life
But the old man leaning upon the
cane was thinking: "Can it be true.
Does Malcolm think SO little of nv
money, that will be his, that he has never
even mentioned it to his promised wife7
Can 1t be that | shall gain a loving,
tender niece instead of losing my nephew
when Malcolm marries2"
Loving his nephew SO deeply, Hubert
Bates had felt keen pain at the news of
bis batrothal. He had never seen Alice
Hunter, but be knew she had been
brought up in a circle of fashion and was
the orphan niece OF one Of society's gayest
votaries, Mrs. Mary Hayden.
While he mused upon the conversation
he had overheard, the silvery voices of
his young ncighbors still sounding beside
him, there was a sudden crash. Some
thing struck him upon the head and he
lost consciousness
Cries from the summer-house from
groups OF people collected in the grounds
brought party Of men speedily to the
spot me rorren posts supporting ,no
roof upon one side had given way and
the side and roof had fallen in. Mrs.
Courtland and Miss Hunter were buried
under the fallen timbers, the doorway
being completely blockaded, but were
uninjured. Not so the old gentleman
who had been their unsupported 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 a.
speedily as possible announced broken
arm and injury to the head, making
likelihood Of a long, tedious illness
There was some animated discussion,
some suggestions of hospital, search
through the pockets Of the unconscious
victim, resulting iu the discovery of
small sum of money, but no letters, pa
pers, or cards; and finally desertion of
one p another, each going his or her
way, with the consoling reflection, ''It's
none Of my business.
But when they had all deserted the
injured man the surgeon, still busily
=; l., hn low
bench brought from the ruined summer
house, felt u light touch on his hand and
looked up.
'Can I help you?' Alice Hunter
asked
"No, child, not now"
"What will they do with him2"
81 suppose he must go to a hospital"
''But the ride-the journey"
"Will cause great additional suffering,
perhaps result in death"
doctor, will they keep him here if he
is paid for9'
'sCertainly; but there is not money
enough about him to pay his board a
week"
II will pay it."
"You?"
"Yes.; will not let him die for want
Of money l have. He" and her lips
9uivcred, she looks like my dear father
who is dead! ~
.Hem-yes Here come the follow
ers to carry him to the station. think
. I will have him taken to the house where
! board. 1t will cost less and be NOR
| quiet.
Mrs CORTLAND declared Alice wa
outraging the proprietles most dread
house and offered her services as nurse (
t the doctor; but Aunt Sophy silenced al
| comment by moving her belongings fror
!. the hotel TO the quiet boarding house
8 and the doctor found he had a valuabl
assistant.
| Alice explained, in her quiet, 10y
voice, that her father was i'll for min
. long months before he died and she va
: his nurse. This accounted for the noise
7 less woolen dress. the velvet-shod fee'
{ the quick eye and ready hand. and whe
the sufferer recovered consciousness tn
: gentle voice and tact that quieted hi
in par89ysms of pain and fever. Aur
sophEwas too much of an invalid he'
. self to help but she sat beside the be
e while Alice moved to and fro, and pc
formed all nurse duties.
b The invalid had one long talk with tt
doctor. and then submitted 10 the gent
e ministration of the two women, only il
" sisting upon man the doctor provide
being with him at night and within cal
< The season was over and only the