The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1892-12-10
CHAs. g. MoREAu, Editor and Publisher
indorse such an act as you propose,

indorse such an act as you propose,
Frank?"
"Why wouldn't she?"
Suppose her father was similarly
situated and some one drove him off.
Do you think she would be pleased?"
moo, suppose not But that's
different thing"
mot a bit of it. It's just the same
thing, only it would be different OK
that was gored."
The next morning the doctor came
to the store soon after it was opened,
| and finding Frank and Zelxe both there
he said
'My squatter patient down the river
la in hard straits, and unless he has a
little assistance for few days 1 am
afraid he will hardly get along"
SIS he very sick?" Zeke asked.
"Yes, he is, and besides he's desti.
tute. Two or three nights ago he was
robbed by a couple of men of all his
money, SO he hasn't dollar or parti-
Gle of food. He says he has plenty at
home, but it will take two weeks to
hear from there. sent telegram for
him this morning, notifying his wife of
his condition, and she will probably
come out here"
"What is his name?" Frank asked.
''His name is Brown"
Frank breathed easier. He had sus-
pected that the man might be Alice's
father.
What do you say, Frank?" Zeke
asked. "Shall we help the man out of
his dificulty?"
mo, l sha'n't," Frank replied. "I
am not responsible for his bad luck,
and besides he has taken my claim.
I'll go to see him after awhile, but only
to do what l said last night. have
nothing to give him."
"Well," said Zelse, "you have right
to do as you please"
A few minutes later Zeke and the
doctor drove away across the prairie in
the direction Of the squatter's wagon.
They found Ike with the sick man, and
as he remained all night he was COM
PEELED to go home, so Zeke took his
place and remained through the day.
You haven't seen or heard anything
OF Alice Grayson's father, have you,
Frank?'' Zeke questioned one morning,
as he was preparing to visit the squat
ter.
mo, not thing" Frank replied. "It
seems queer that haven't, too, for he
must be somewhere in this section"
Shortly after Zeke reached the wagon
that morning, and while he was pre-
pairing some breakfast for the sick man,
he saw carriage approaching, and
after the lapse of nearly an hour it
came close enough for him to discern
it's occupants.
The doctor was driving, while be.
hind him sat two ladies. He waited
until the carriage halted at little dis
tance from the wagon, then going for
ward was about to salute the doctor,
but suddenly stopped, transfixed with
astonishment At last he murmured:
Miss Grayson, is it possible2"
Indeed it is, Mr.. Mason" said soft
voice, ''and am glad to meet you.
The doctor has been telling us how
kind you have been to papa, and now
we have opportunity to thank you."
'Papa?" Zeke repeated. HE is not
your father? His name is Brown"
"lle is my stepfather only" Alice re-
piled, "but he is as dear to me as a
father could be and you have saved
his life.''
just then a horseman rode up and
with one glance into the carriage he
stopped, full of astonishment. The
horseman was Frank and he recognized
Alice. In few words the doctor in
formed him how matters were.
Frank blushed and hung his head.
He knew by the GOODNESS of Alice's
greeting that she had no love for him,
but he did not know that the doctor
had informed her of his conduct toward
her father.
He learned that later, however.
when, CHANGING to meet her, he at