St. Paul daily globe., 1893-04-20


Yes" he answered; "what do you
want?"
"Oh, DOCTOR" said the voice, tremu-
lously, "DleaSe come with me at once.
My sister is dying, l fear"
iii be right down." called the doc
tor, and, hurriedly dressing himself, he
descended and opened the door.
"Come in" he said; Il will be with
yO1 Immediately"
AS his visitor stepped into the full
blaze of the hall light, the doctor saw
she was very beautiful. Her features,
although pinched and pale, were clear
cut and classic. Her voice was low and
well modulated, and III spite OF her ap-
parent poverty she had an air of
woman of refinement.
Soon they stood beside a pallet, on
which lay woman. The invalid stirred,
and, turning her wan face to them,
asked, feebly:
Have you brought the doctor,
Alice?"
"Yes, dearest" and, turning to him.
doctor Banks, this is my sister Miss
Carnold."
The change his name made on the
sick woman was electric. From utter
listlessness, she was aroused to the in-
tensest excitement. A deep flush over
spread her face, and her eyes sparkled
like Goals as she raised herself on her
elbow and gaZed into his face.
lit is not he," she mnttered; "yet-
yes-there is likenessw
She paused, and abruptly addressing
the doctor, said: Had you ever a
brother, DR.. Banks?'
Her voice was clear and resonant-in
marked contrast to her previous mutter-
lngs. The doctor answered, slowly and
deliberately:
"YeS, madam"
land his name was Henry?"
"Yes."
"Where is he now?'
A dark shade passed over his face.
II do not KNOW" he said, Il have not
heard from him for three years. The last
word heard from him was a letter he
wrote me from California, telling of his
engagement to San Francisco girl-a
paragon of beauty and goodness"
That paragon is before you-or rath-
er the wreck your faithlesS brother has
left her."
The doctor found that hers was no or
ganlc trouble, but rather a general eX-
houston of natures powers arising
from worry and insufficient food. He
gave her Quieting potion and she fell
into gentle slumber. He then asked
Miss Alice to give him an account of
how the trouble with his brother had
happened.
In answer she related that her sister
had met Henry Banks at reception.
He was young and handsome and had
won her heart. Her father gave his
consent to their marriage and the day
was set. Then followed Mr.. Carnold's
fo fn
erty. He left nothing but his debts.
But the climax to their trouble came
wheh Henry Banks disappeared, leav-
ing letter for his fiancee stating that
he had decided to start anew elsewhere
and she would never see him again.
"Miss Carnoid," he said at last, ''these
surroundings are not congenial to you.
Now, | have proposition to make,
which | beg you will accept in the same
spirit that it is offered. The second
floor of my house is vacant and | want
you to occupy it. When your sister is
we'll enough to remove we will take her
there, and you shall be more comfort
able"
Alice's only answer was to burst into
tears. The tender-hearted doctor sat
down beside her and took her hand.
'Won't you consider me your friend,
accept this offer?"
She raised her lovely tear-stained
face, and their eyes met.
'Dr. Banks" she exclaimed, ''your
kindness quite overpowers me. Per-
haps l ought to doubt you and spurn
your proposal, but am going to accept,
for il seems to me that Providence has
sent you to u.s."
Il trust that shall prove true ennis
sary 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 in an animated conversation,
the doctors bell rang and, eXcusing
himself, he went below. AS he opened
the door tall, ,fne-looking man stepped
into the hall. He stood there a moment
and then said in low voice:
james,"
Harry" exclaimed the other, spring
ing forward and dragging him into the
light. "IS it you, my dear boy? Where
have you been these three years? Come
in and get warmed up"
When they seated before the cheerful
crate fire James said:
HAL. tell me, why did you desert
your fiancee in her hour of need?'
''Good heavens, mani Who told you
that? did not desert her. My story is
strange one, and but for the most sub
stantial proofs 1 could never convince
you of its veracity. Bnt how did you
hear of this?'
From your fancee. The Misses Car
mold are living up stairs in the utmost
poverty"
The other sprang to his feet. "Oh.
let me go to her!" he cried. "Do not
detain mel"
''No, you must watt" said his brother,
quietly. 1T would kill her to see you
suddenly in her weak state. l will pre-
pare 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, in
dignantly. "Inever wrote such letter.
AS minated to you, mine is strange
story, and this, 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 daugh-
ters' benefit, as this was their sole sup