St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-04-22
tear. The ,ender.hcarted doctor sat

teorA The Vender-hcarted doctor sal
down beside her aud 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 overpowers me. Per.
haps ought 10 doubt you and spurn
your proposal. but l am going TO &C.
cept for it seems to me that Providence
has sent you to us"
Il 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 evening. with the
ladies when not professionally en-.
gagged, and charming companions he
found them Ono evening while they
were engaged in an animated convcr.
sation the doctors bell rang, and, cx-
cusiu2 himself, he went below. As he
opened the door a tall, fine-looking man
stepped into the hall. He stood there
moment and then said. in . low voice:
"James." t-
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 me; why did you desert
your fiancce in her hour Of necd?"
Good heavens, man. who TOLD you
that? did not desert her. My story
is a strange ono. and but for the Eost
substantial proofs I could never con
vince you Of its vcracity. But how did
you hear of this?'
1 s'.From your fiancee. The Misse $
Carnold are living upstairs in the ~
most poverty"
The other sprang to his feet ''Ohl
let me go to her:" he cried. DO not
dctain me." 'ssE.fsf 49, \.
NO; you must wait" said his
brother, quietly. ''Tt would kill her to
see you suddenly In her weak state. I
will prepare her for the meeting Bnt
first tell me about your disappearance.
You wrote to Miss Carnold, saying that
you had decided 10 start anew, and that
she would never see you again. That
sounds like descrtion. doesn't it?''
Hal uttered an exclamation Of sur
prise. lit was q forgery" he cried,
Indignantly. II never wrote such a
letter. As l intimated to you, mine is
a strange story, and this l suppose is
but another chapter.
Mr.. Carnold, Mary's father, the day
before he died intrusted to my care .
mortgage which he held on a gold mine
claim in southern California. and which
he had intended TO- forcclose in three
weeks. lie wished me to take possess
sion of the claim ard run it for his
daughters. benefit as this would he
their sole support consented. anil as
soon rs l left him placed the precious
document In = 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 q
long story short was carried to q
cab, conveyed long way from the city
to . lonely spot and there kept rrison.
er, 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
my guards were in a drunken stupor
after day of debauch. reached San
Francisco in safety. forccloscd the
mortgage. and caused the arrest of all
concerned in my detent ton. Their
cases come up in the November term.
The mine was now the property Of the
girls, but no trace of them could I find;
they had disappeared. then came on
and sought you. Like . fairy-story,
isn't it:". h
1T certainly il. my dear Hail." an
swercd James, when his brother had
finished the recital Of his adventures.
Il will run up now and break the good
news to Mary and Alice"
"A tircsOmc patient" he sai0. as he
entered the room. ''Bnt have learned
through him that my brother Henry is
well, and. what will be good news TO
you, that he has been totally blameless
in the matter Of his supposed dcser-
ton"
lie then related his brothers story,
being careful to conceal the fact that
the mortgage interested them.
''And so yonr brother is rich miner
nowY' 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. I
understand" sss-.sss sSttt N
''But do you not see that we are
miscrably poor and he Is q wealthy
MANI" she said, sadly. tasy x
Suppose tell you." he answered,
that you are both rich? Suppose
tell you tha. 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.
of surprise; but the imper.
turbable doctor said to Mary, as he
gently forced her back into her seat:
Come, now, Miss Carnold. see
that must exercise my authority.
You must not excite yourself; you are
still very weak. Besidcs-weil, there's
another patient" he added, interrupt
ing himself. rs the bell rang vigorously.
As he left the room he said, mys;e-
"lf the patient proves to be . friend
Of yours. I will bring him up
In short time, there were footsteps
on the stairs-a knock-a cry-and the
lovers were clasped in
each Others arms
'What . joyous reunion." said DR..
Banks IS he and Alice Carnold sat
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