The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-23

sSoAos OSAQcE-HG&TJ6Q DOCTOR sat
down beside her and took her hand.
Wont you consider me your friend,
Miss Carnold," he said, earnestly, land
accept this offer?'
DR. Banks" She exclaimed your
kindness quite ovcrpowcrs me. Per-
haps ought to doubt you and spurn
your proposal, but / am going to ac-
cept, forit seems to me that Providence
has sent you to u.s."
II trust that l shall prove n true
emissary of Providence" lie answered
Two weeks passed. The invalid,
thunlIs to hcr improved circumstances
and the doctors care, was so much i'm
proved rs to be able to sit up. Tic
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 convcr-
sation the doctors bell rang, and, ex-
cusing himself, he went below AS lie
opened the door q tall, fine -loolSing man
stepped into the hall. He stood there
n moment and then said, in low voice:
James,
Harry exclaimed the other, spring.
ing forward and dragging him into the
light. 1T is 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 nc; Why did you desert
your fianccc in her hour of necd?"
Good heavens, mani who told You
that? did not desert her. My story
is n strange one, and but for the most
substantial proofs / could never con-
vince You of it's vcracity. But how did
you hear of this?"
"from Your fiarccc. Tho Misses
Carnold arc living upstairs i'll the ut
most poverty"
The other sprang to his feet. "Oh!
let me go TO hcr!' he cried. DO not
dctain metz
mo; you must wait" said his
brother, qsietly. ut would kill her to
sec you suddenly i'll her weak state. l
will prepare her for the meeting. But
first tell INC about your disappearance
on wrote to Miss Carnold, saying that
You had decided to start anew and that
she would never sec you again. That
sounds like dcscrtion, doesn't it?"
Hal uttered an exclamation of sur
prise. 1T was forgery" he cried,
Indignantly. II 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 intrustcd to my care q
mortgage which he held on gold mine
claim i'll southern California, and which
he had intended to foreclose in three
weeks. He wished me to take posses
sion of the claim ard run it for his
daughters benefit, as this would be
their sole support. / consented, and as
soon as left him placed the precious
document in Il safe deposit vault.
Mr. Carnold died the next day, and
in the confusion and sorrow 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 n
long story short, l was carried to Il
cab, conveyed long way from the city
TO lonely spot, and there kept prison
er, being guarded day and night by
two of my four armed attendants.
After two years of this sort of life,
succeeded in making my escape while
my guards were in q drunken stupor
after day of debauch. reached San
francisco in safety, foreclosed the
mortgage, and caused the arrest of all
concerned in my detention Their
cases come up in the November term.
The mine was now the property of the
girls, but no trace of them could find;
they had disappeared. then came ON
and sought you. Like fairy-story.
isn't it?''
ut certainly is, my dear Hail." nm
swcrcd James, when his brother had
finished the recital of his adventures.
II will run up now and break the good
news to Mary and Alice
"a tresomc patient" he said, as he
entered the room. but have learned
through him that my brother Henry is
we'll, and, what will be good news TO
you, that he has been totally blameless
in the matter of his supposed descr-
ton"
lie then related his brothers story,
being careful to conceal the fact that
the mortgage interested them.
And so your bother is rich miner
now?' said Mary. 81 hope, Dr. Banks,
you will do all in your power to keep
us apart"
II will do nothing of the sort, Miss
Carnold lie is anxious to see yoa. I
understand"
"i'ut do You not see that we are
miscrably POOR ana he is a wealthy
man?' she said sadly.
suppose [ tell you," he answered.
that you are both rich? Suppose |
tell YOU that the mortgage was left by
your father in my brothers care fol-.
your maintenance, and that the gold
Eine is yours?"