The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-10

CnanKS TO n6r improved circumstances
and the doctors care, was SO much
improved as to be able to sit up. The
doctor spent his evenings with the
ladies when not professionally en-
gagged, and charming companions he
found them. One evening while they
were engaged in an animated CONVEX
sation the doctors door bell rang and,
excusing himself, he went below. As
he opened the door tall, fne-looking
man stepped in the hall. He stood
there moment and then said in low
voice:
"James!"
~Harry!" exclaimed the other, spring
ing forward and dragging him into
the light. as it you, my dear boy!
Where have you been these three
years? Come in and get warmed up"
When they were seated before the
cheerful CRATE fire James said:
"Hal, tell me, why did you desert
your 6ancee in her hour of needp"
Good heavens, man! Who told yeu
thatP I did not desert her. My story
is strange one and but for the most
substantial proofs 1 could never con-
vince youof its veracity. But how did
you hear of thisP"
"From your iancee. The Misses
Carnold are living upstairs in the ut
most poverty"
The other sprung to his feet. aOh,
let me go to her!" he cried. "Do not
detain mel"
"No; you must wait" said his BROTH
! er quietly. at would kill her to see
you suddenly in her weak state. I will
prepare her for the meeting. But first
FOL oh 4
You wrote to Miss Carnold saying that
you had decided to start anew and
that she would never see you again.
That sounds like desertion, doesn't
itP"
Hal uttered an exclamation of sur
prise. at was forgery" he cried,
Indignantly. Il never wrote such a
letter. AS intimated to you, mine is
strange story and this, l suppose, is
but another chapter.
"Mr. Carnold, Mary's father, the
day before he died, intrusted to my
care a mortgage which he held on a
gold-mine claim in southern California
and which he had intended to foreclose
in three weeks. He wished me to take
possession of, the claim and run it for
his daughters benefit, as this was their
as left him placed the precious docu-
ment in a safe-deposit vault.
"Mr. Carnold died the next day and
in the confusion and sorrow I forgot to
mention the mortgage to the girls.
That evening sitting in my room,
fell asleep. 1 woke to find myself se-
curely bound and gagged. To make a
long story short, l was carried to a
cab, conveyed long way from the
city to lonely spot and there kept
prisoner. being guarded day and
night by two Of my four armed at
tendants.
"After two years of this sort of life,
I succeeded in making my escape
while my guards were in a drunken
stupor after day of debauch.
reached San Francisco in safety, fore
closed the mortgage and caused the
arrest of all concerned in my deten-
tion. Their cases come up in the No
vember term. The mine was now the
property of the girls, but no trace of
them could [ find; they had disap-
peared. l then came on and sought
you. Like fairy story, isn't itp"
at certainly is, my dear Hal" an
swered James when his brother had
finished the recital of his adventures.
81 will run up now and break the
news to Mary and Alice"
"a tiresome patient" he said, as he
entered the room. "But have learn
ed through him that my brother Hen
ry is we'll, and, what will be good
news to you, thaS he has been totally
blameless in the matter of his supposed
desertion."
He then related his brothers story,
being careful to conceal the fact that
the mortgage interested them in any
way.
"And so your brother is rich
miner now?" said Mary. 81 hope DIR.
Banks, you will do all in your power to
keep us apart"
II will do nothing of the sort, Miss
Carnold. He is anxious to see you, I
understand"
"But do you not see that we are
miserably poor and he is wealthy
manP" she said, sadly.
Suppose l tell you" he answered,
shat you are both rich. Suppose
tell you that the mortgage was left by
your father in my brothers care for
your maintenance and that the gold
mine is yours"
The two women sprang up with ex.
clamations of surprise, but the i'm
perturbable doctor said to Mary, as
he gently forced her back into her
seat:
*Come, now, Miss Carnold, see
must exercise my authority. You
must not excite yourself; you are still
very weak Besides-well. there's an
other patient" he added, interrupting
himself, as the bell rung vigorously.
AS he left the room he said, mys-
teriously:
"If the patient proves to be friend
of yours will bring him up"
In a short time there were footsteps
on the stairs-a knock-a cry-and
the long-separated lovers were clasped
in each others arms.
"What joyous reunion!" said DR..
Banks as he and Alice Carnold sat
apart watching the happy pair. "But
do you realize that it means separa-
ton to US, unless-unless you wish to
avoid it..
The beautiful head dropped to hide
her bushes, but she did not answer.
"Alice, darling" he continued pas
sionately, "when first saw those love-
ly, imploring eyes of yours 1 loved
you. Now you are rich woman and
] only poor doctor"
| Hush! DEAR" said she interrupting
him; II am rich indeed, with such a
love as yours. Take me, unworthy as
1 am, for you are my life. Robert II.
Lockwood.
Tact.