Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-22

I
table and ride in the same carriage with
us it becomes unbearable. My hatred
of the man increases hourly. Why
need you compel me to associate with
him so closely, papa?"
The voice of the speaker was of that
peculiar contralto quality which in a re-
fined woman denotes passion and force
of character, and in an ordinary one
coarse order of strength.
1t is a voice which always makes men
turn to listen, and which echoes longer
adown the strings of memory than the
most bird-hke notes of more musical and
higher keyed voices.
The face of the speaker betokened re-
finement, and this, together with her ex-
treme youth and pronounced beauty,
rendered the voice more remarkable.
The elderly man to whom the words
were addressed breathed deep sigh.
"My dear child, beg you to be reason
able" he said gently. ''You know how
i'll have been-you know how alarming
my condition seemed ever after"--
Don't, papa" cried the young girl
sharply. "Do you not suppose remem-
Der as well as you the events which
killed mamma, shattered your health
and ruined my young life? Why recall
them now2
'Have we not come away to forget
them, if possible, or at least to live down
the effects? But l do not see how it
will help us to have that odious man
under the same roof with us day and
night. Let DR.. Rem
"Watson," interrupted the old gentle
man quickly. II tell you, child, we must
not forget the new names we have re-
solved to use. Remember always that l
am Mr.. Crawford, you are Miss Craw-
ford, your governess is Miss Brown and
my physician is Dr. Watson. 1t is i'm
perative that we use these names among
ourselves as well as in the presence of
strangers"
The young girl threw out her arms
with an expression at once impatient
and despairing.
II hate subterfuge and deception in
every FORM" she cried, "and l have
never seen why this change of names
which was suggestion of DIR. Watson,
as you call him-is necessary. In a city
like New York or London or Paris,
where we are to pass our time of exile,
we could easily sink our identity with
out living under false names"
"The greatest city in the world is not
large enough to hide the identity of
disgraced name, responded the old man
bitterly.
"Disgraced? Papal" exclaimed the
young girl in tone of expostulation, but
the old man waved his hand YEARLY.
Enough" he said. Enough of this,
my dear. The past is past. Why dis
cuss it? The present and the future re-
main.
81 desire to regain my health and brain
power, that may set about clearing our
name from the dark stain which has
fallen upon it. do it more for your
sake than my own, as at longest my stay
on earth will be brief; but before go
would lift this shadow from your young
heart.
CDR. Watson, as you well know, is the
first of many physicians who gave me
any relief from my suffering. He was
the last one to be called by me, because,
like yourself, had conceived a most I'M
reasonable prejudice against the man.
Some foolish and idle gossip concerning
his private life, which arose from pure
envy, am now convinced, had warped
my Judgment. But from the hour he
first took hold of my case l have been a
new man. have been like one risen
from the grave.
"It was he who discovered that old
associations were affecting my mind
dangerously. 1t was he who suggested
a journey abroad, and, as you say, under
assumed names. A disgraced name is
like a deceased member of the body. If
you have wounded finger you are in
constant fear Of hurting it, awake or
asleep. If you bear stained name you
dread the effect Of it on every stranger
you meet. DR.. Watson realized what
this strain would be upon me during our
journey, and must confess the relief
find under my alias is marvellous. You
know how l have improved. The chill
with which l was attacked the morning
of our arrival, and which decided us to
remain here a few months before pro-
OSSdiiiS idibiici, 10 olhy d ooop uo"h oi
the ladder of health since / began to
Chamber up out of the valley of death.
DR.. Watson is my savior.
81 beg you to overcome your unrea-
sonable prejudice against him, my dear
child. Whatever the errors of his youth
1 am convinced he was more sinned
against than SHINING. He is your poor
fathers best friend now, and as such
you must consider him."
"But why need he live here with us?
Why can he not take room a few
blocks distant, within easy call2" per-
sisted the young girl. "It destroys the
privacy of our home life--and it destroys
my peace of soul," she added wildly,
ito have him here"
"That is the extravagant language of
youth" rejoined the old man. Your
prejudice is unreasonable, but | will
strive to keep DR.. Watson from annoy
ing you with attentions which he in
tends only as courtesies to the daughter
of his patient.