Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-09-06
4 FEEBLE GT0DEuEuT.

SuDio Buber ulo uuu siippeu anu lhl
len on the Strand pavement. Will
the imperial air of the neophyte medi
cine man, Talbot Villiers parted tn,
crowd. A Samaritan stood by with
little brandy in a glass. Talbot pu1
It to the human advertisement lips
5he man opened his eyes with look
II gratitude. The look touched the
young medical student. He held VI
his finger for cab, then he assisted
the fallen man into it and took seal
opposite.
Where tor asked Talbot. Where
do you liver am going home with
you
Talbot street, Westminster, No.
8, murmured the other feebly. MY
name is Stern, John Stern
Talbot gave the direction to the
cabman; then he examined his com.
panion more closely. He was an ell.
derby man of refined features. His
clothes, though shabby, were remark.
ably clean, his linen was clean, and
he was clean shaver, in fact, such q
surplus OF cleanliness in one of his
late occupation was rather suspicious.
Stern bore the young mans scrutiny
with visible uneasiness. He leaned
suddenly over to Villiers.
Sir" he said, "if you are going
home with me, will you keep my
carrying of the boards SO cret? ]
don't want it to come to the ears OF
my daughter. l am pretty nearly
useless for work, but / wish to help
her all l can, and that is why / come
into the city to carry these boards.
She thinks work in an Office"
Il quite understand, said Talbot
pityingly. "Your secret is safe with
me-" The words of the man had
aroused every generous instinct OF
his nature. What made you faint?'
Hunger, replied Stern laconi-
cally.
Talbot made a hurried motion to
stop the cab. Stern laid his hand on
his arm and restrained him. mo,
SIR" he said. II am indebted to you
already. You cannot help me furth-
err; / cannot take anything from you,
even food. But l thank you, all the
same"
Stern's tone was decisive, and Tai
bot regarded him in amazement. The
first answer showed him what little
way he had made in medical diagno-
sis; the second, how little he knew
Of human nature. The pride that
prevented hungry man accepting
food was to Talbot preposterous,
This feeling gave way, however, to
one Of involuntary respect. At last
the cab stopped. Cabs seemed a nov
city insTalbot street, for a face APP
peared at nearly every window. A
girl of about twenty was looking
from No. 5. AS the cab drew up she
turned very pale and rushed to the
door.
my daughter, Kate" said Stern.
Remember your promise, SIR"
"All right" replied Talbot; the n
as the girl came to the cab door, he
raised his hat. Don't be alarmed !;
your father has happend with a slight
accident. He slipped on the curb.
He's all right; but thought had
better drive home with him from the
office"
At the sight of her father walking
from the cab, the color rushed back
to her cheeks in such vivid ard deli
cate tints, and showed so clearly the
beauty of her complexion, that Tai
bot stood gazing at her in silent adj
miration. His eyes fingered on her in
a most embarrassing silence. They
took in the lines of the slight grace
full figure, the nut-brown hair and the
honest steadfast eyes.
"I'll call tomorrow, he said, with
Q start, land hear how he is-that
is, If you don't mind"
1t was evident that Kate regarded
him as a junior member of some un-
known and eminently Christian firm.
"You are very kind" she said
Every kind indeed"
Don't mention it." stammered
Talbot. ''Good morning-I mean
good afternoon-Miss Stern"
He re-entered the cab, and telling
the cabman to drive anywhere, es-
CdDcu lIOIu l. dlOOJ StTccU III SOluc COu-
fusion. But he was true to his prom
lse. He called the next day and the
day after, and many more times.
The state Of Stern's health seemed to
become very serious matter. At
last this pleasant fiction exploded.
He came one afternoon when her eyes
were weary with typewriting, and the
sight maddened him. He clasped her
in his arms. Kate, my own dear
Kate" he cried. II love you and /
want you to be my wife. Will you,
Kate?"
Kate looked into his eyes. He
needed no other answer; and they
passed the afternoon building up a
quiet little Bloomsbury practice.
Stern was to be made dispenser.
Over the teacups Kate told her father
of Talbot's proposals. He kissed her
and sighed. 1t was not in him to
spoil a love-dream; but he scented
danger. Talbot Villiers was a gen.
tleman in every sense of the word !;
but Talbot Villiers had undoubtedly
n father. Who was he? Villiers,
senior, would without doubt have his
say, unless he was very mild father
indeed.
Early the next day when Stern had
copying" to do in the city, letter
arrived from Talbot enclosing two