The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-01

eSoAc. iiC tCIQCT"He1flCQ doctor sat
down beside her and took her hand.
Won't you consider me your friend,
Miss Carnold," he said, earnestly, land
accept this offer?"
DIR. Banks" She exclaimed. your
kindness quite overpowcrs 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."
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 im-
proved 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 bell rang and, cx-
cusing himself, he went below. AS he
opened the door tall fine looking man
stepped into the hall. He stood there
moment and then said, in Il 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:
"ilal, tell me; why did you desert
your tianccc in her hour OF need?"
Good heavens, man! who told You
that? did not desert her My story
Is Il strange one, and but for the most
substantial proofs l could never CON
vince you of it's vcracity. But how did
you hear of this?"
From your fiarccc Tho Misses
Carnold are living upstairs i'll the ut
most poverty"
The other sprang to his feet ooh!
let me go to herr he cried. DO not
dctain me-!
No; you must wait" said his
brother, qsictly. ut would kill her to
sec you suddenly in her weak state.
will 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. 1T was forgery he cried,
indignantly. II never wrote such n
Letter. AS 1 minated to you, mine is
strange story, and this l suppose is
but another chapter.
MIR. Carnold, Mary's father, the day
before he died intrustcd to my care n
mortgage which he held on q gold mine
claim in southern California, and which
he had intended to foreclosc in three
weeks. He wished me to take possess
sion OF the claim ard run it for his
daughters benefit, as this would be
their sole support. 1 consented, and as
soon as left him placed the precious
document in Il safe deposit vault
MIR 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. woke to find myself Sc
curely bound and gagged. 10 make Il
long story short, l was carried to a
cab, conveyed Il long way from the city
to lonely spot, and there kept prison
cr. being guarded day and night by
two of my four armed attendants.
After two years of this sort of life, l
succeeded i'll making my escape while
my guards were in n drunken stupor
after Il day of debauch reached San
Francisco in safety, forecloscd the
mortgage, and caused the arrest of all
concerned in my detention. Their
cases come up in tho November term.
The mine was now the property of the
girls, but no trace of them could find
they had disappeared. l then came on
and sought you. Like fairy-story.
isn't it?''
1T certainly is, my dear Hail. an
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 tiresomc patient" he said, as he
entered the room. but have learned
through him that my brother Henry is
well, and, what will be good news to
you, that he has been totally blamcless
in the matter of his supposed deser-
ton"
lie then related his brothers story,
being careful to conceal the fact that
the mortgage interested them.
And so your brother is Il rich miner
now?" said Mary. Il hope, DIR. Banks.
you will do all in your power to keep
us apart"
Il will do nothing of the sort, Miss
Carnold He is anxious to see YOU. |
understand"
But do you not see that we are
miserably poor ana lie is wealthy
man?' she said, sadly.
suppose l tell you," he answered.
that 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 en-