Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-06-16

take her there, and you shall be more
comfortable.
Alice's only answer was to burst into
tears. The tender-hearted doctor sat
down beside her and took her hand.
"Wont you consider me your friend,
Miss Carnold," he said earnestly, "and
accept this offer?"
She raised her lovely tear-stained
face and their eyes met.
CDR. Banks" she exclaimed, ''your
kindness quite overpowers me. Perhaps
ought to doubt you and spurn your
proposal, but am going to accept, for
it seems to me that Providence has sent
you to us.
'I trust that I shall prove true
emissary of Providence" he answered.
Two weeks passed. The invalid,
thanks to her improved circumstances
and the doctors care, was so much i'm
proved as to be able to sit up. The
doctor spent his evenings with the
ladies when not professionally engaged,
and charming companions he found
them. One evening, while they were
engaged iQ an animated conversation,
the doctors bell rang, and, excusnG
himself. he went below. As he opened
the door tall fne-looking man stepped
into the hall. He stood there mo-
ment. and then said in low voice;
james,"
"Harry :" exclaimedt the other, spring
Ing forward and dragging him into the
light. 'It is you, my dear boyl Where
have Won 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
YOU fiancee in her hour Of need?
Good heavens man, who told you
that? did not desert her. My story
is a strange one, and but for the most
substantial proofs could never con
vince you OF its veracity. But how did
vou hear of this?'
'From your fancee. The Misses
Carnold are living upstairs in the ut
most poverty"
The other sprang to his feet. "Oh
let me 90 to her." he cried. 'Do not
detain mel"
'No; youmust wait, said his broth
er quietly. cit would kill her to see
YOU suddenly in her weak state. Twill
prepare her for the meeting But first
tell me about your disappearance. 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 it?"
Hal uttered an exclamation Of sur
prise. 'It was forgery" he cried
Indignantly; 81 never wrote such
letter. AsI intimated to you, mine is
a strange story, and this l suppose ia
but another chapter.
"lIr. Carnold, Mary's father, the
dav before he died, intrusted to my
care q mortgage which he held on a
cold-mine claim in Southern California,
and which he had intended to fOreclose
in three weeks. He wished me take
possession of the claim and run it for
his daughters benefit, as this would be
their sole support. 1 consented, and
as soon as l left him placed the precious
document in safe-deposit vault.
"Mr. Carnold died the next day, and
in the confusion and sorrow L forgot
to mention the mortgage to the girls
That evening, sitting in my room,
fell asleep. l woke to find myself Sc
curely bound and gagged. To make
long story short, I was carried to
cab, conveyed long way from the city
to a lonely spot, and there kept pris
oner, being guarded day and night by
two of my four armed attendants
"After two years of this sort of life
I succeeded in making my escape while
nv ouards we're in a drunken stupel
after day of debauch. Preached Ban
Francisco in safety, foreclosed the
mortgage, and caused the arrest OF al
concerned in my detention. Theil
cases come up in the November term
The mine was now the property OF th'
Girls. but no trace of them could 1 find
they had disappeared. then came ol
and sought you. Like O larry Story
isn't it?"
'It certainly is, my dear Hal, an
swered James, when his brother haC
finished the recital of his adventures
81 will run up now and break the gooC
news to Mary and Alice.
ga tiresome patient" he said as h'
entered the room. ''But have learned
through him that my brother Henry Il
well, and, what viii be good news t.
YOU. that he has been totally blameles
in the matter Of his supposed deser
ton"