The morning call., 1890-10-13
ONE STORMY NIGHT.
BY LILLIAN NJ. LESLIE.

Gt%ES ham, Md, who had just entered his
boarding place, threw off his wet overcoat,
then bounded up the stairs to his room.
'Ah a letter from mother" and his eyes
frightened as they fell upon the dainty mis-
sive ON the mantel. Now for comfort!'
and throwing himself into an easy chair, he
tore open the letter with an eager hand.
"One from Nell inclosed. The dear girl! l
wonder"
Ting a-ling-ling!
Botheration! Another call to make at
this late hour"
Opening a window and thrusting out his
head he called impatiently:
"Who is it? What's wanted ?'
1t was with difficulty that he caught the
answer, so furiously was the wind bowling
and the snow was beating against his face.
1t was boys voice that sent him back the
answer:
CDR. Burnham wanted at Mrs. Manning's,
on Green street. Lady ill.,
'All right; will he there as soon as posi-
ble," and the window came down with a
bang.
THANK fortune, the distance isn't so far
but that | can foot it. Whew! What q
Snow-stOrmi"
In about fifteen minutes the doctor reached
the Place where his services were re-
quired. Mrs. Manning met him at the
door. and grasping his hand she pulled
him into the hall and helped him to throw
off his overcoat with the freedom of an old
friend.
ct is my little Fay" she explained
hurriedly, land | fear she is very i'll. Come"
She led the way into pretty chamber,
and there, lying on the white pillows, was
the sweetest face handsome Clyde Burn
ham had ever beheld The face of an
eighteen-year- girl that is surrounded by
a wealth OF wavy Drown hair. Que little
all had ha ri frin
head, and the other was moving restessly
about.
''She is delrious, poor child" murmured
Mrs. Manning.
As the doctor bent over the bed pair of
soft brown eyes gaZed up into his own. The
The doctor started and glanced at Mrs. Man
ming.
why, have you met before?" she in
auired.
No, indeed; this is the first time. But
she is delrious, and her mind is undoubtedly
dwelling on au absent lover" And he
smiled, but the last words came as if forced
from him. The poor girl is very i'll, but
with good care will recover"
Il am thankful. my little Fay. No father,
mother, brother or sister; but she shall al
ways have home while / live. Heaven
help me to be a mother to her.' and Mrs
Manning gently passed her hand over the
girls forehead.
who is she, Mrs. Manning? You call her
your Fay"
Her name is Fay Hamilton. Her father
and mother died when she was a small
child. and since then Fay has lived with
me, and our own child could not be dearer
Her mother was my dearest friend
Then she ADDED: For the past year she
has been attending school at Rosslyn. Two
days ago she returned home to spend part
OF her vacation with me and the other half
with a school friend. She complained of
feeling tired, and had severe cold; hut |
was not alarmed till tonight. Tell me that
she is not dangerously i'll. Clyde"
'Oh, no. We can save, her." ana he bent
gently DER the sick girl. Once more the lips
parted, and again the name Clyde eS-
capped her.
ming looked puzzled.
II cannot tell, unless, as l said before, it
must be the name of a lover
Lover! She had none. Fay is too young.
How strange, too, that it should be your
name?' and she smiled half quizzicaliy as
she noted the color that involuntarily over
spread the doctors face.
strange? 1 do not think so. CLYDE is
not very uncommon name"
1t was early in the morning when he
started for home. The storm had subsidized
and now beautiful wintry scene presented
itself to his view. The snow-covered ground,
the frosted trees and the clear, blue sky
letters.
Mother still imploring me to come home
on visit. How l would like to see them
ALL Just one year since left home But
no, cannot go-not just yet" and vision
of a flushed face with brown eyes and ruby
lips that murmured his name, rose before
him. But he put it resoiutely away from
him.
Now for Nell's letter. What a girlish
hand she writes, One could tell that she is
only schoolgirl of but II summers. What
is this she writes?
"'Clyde, do try and come home this MONTH
A schoolgirl will visit me soon and am
anxious for you TO meet her. She Is the
prettiest and best girl that ever lived. Do
come
"Ah, sister mne 1 do not want to see that
pretty girl one-half as much as / would like
to see you; What little rogue Nell always
waS-a better sister cannot be found"
Carefully folding the short note. he placed
it in his vest pocket Then, nearly worn
out, the effects of the nights patient watch
ing, he threw himself on the lounge, hoping
to snatch short nap.
Mrs. Manning, a wealthy widow, was one
OF the first OF many TO evince strong
motherly liking for Clyde Burnham, when
he came to the rapidly growing town of
Melrose, and there hung out his sign for the
first time, where his chosen profession had
proved success. 1t did not take him long
to become favorite with all. There was
something sinSularly winning in his hand
some countenance. The dark blue eyes
looked at you so openly and frankly that
you nstinctvely felt that he was true. and
was last developing into noble, upright
man.
The old worshiped him for his gentle cour-
tesy, his charity and his kindly smile and
words. Men respected and spoke Of him as
a hne young man.; Younger men admired
and liked him. The children loved him.
And more than one young girl had grown
pale at his approach and gazed at him with
love-lit eyes. But he smiled on all alike.
And besides all these gifts with which
heaven had so richly endowed him, he was
the son of one of the wealthiest and most
aristocratic families in Stockholm. Such was
and such is young Clyde Burnham
Day alter day he visited his patient and
watched her progress toward recovery with
an Interest that surprised even himself
One DAY she awaited his coming reclining
robed in morning gown of pale blue. Her
pale face surrounded by short clustering
curls, for which her wealth of long hair had
been forfeited.
With outstretched. eager hands she
greeted him.
81 am glad you have come. You see 1
have come downstairs. 1t will not be long
now before l can visit Nell. will t?"
Nell! Is your friends name Nell? That
is what | call my dear sister,
10 iI' huu WUuutItu WHY the itch
color mantled her cheek, and why she
dropped her eyes, before uplfte ted SO boldly
and frankly.
or course. you are glad that you are re-
gaining your old health SO rapidly, and SO am
sincerely glad But" and look of yearn-
ing crept into his eyes, you will not need
me longer. The visits of your physician
Will belong to the past. Little girl" and he
:" Yes, am truly sorry" The words came
slowly, and, did he fancy it, or was there
really touch Of pathos and wistfulness in
her voice.?
But the best of friends must part, my
little girl; good-by." And thus he left her
-Four weeks latter She was visiting her
school friend.
Meanwhile the doctor plunged more
deeply into his practice, that daily increased,
striving ever to shut out of sight the face he
loved so .passionately; day by day endeavor-
Ing to drive away the sound Of that voice
calling in wild delirum for CLYDE"
"Oh heaven!' he would murmur: "if l
could only be that Clyde. But, no; one
other loves her, and she loves him only too
No OIL h..