The Penn's Grove record., 1894-09-14

kDe uOCIoE bth AahS, "hNt NN
himself, he went below. As he opene'
the door a tall fne-looking man steppe.
into the hall. He stood there a mf
uent. and then said in q low voice:
"Jamesl"
"Harry - exclaimed the other, spring
ing forward and dragging him into tn
light. cit is you, my dear boyl Wher
have you been these three years? Com
IN and get warmed up"
When they were seated before tn
cheerful CRATE FIRE, James said:
'Hal, tell me; why did you deser
you fiancee in her hour of need?"
"Good heavensl man, who told yor
that? I did not desert her. Ny stor,
is a strange one, and but for the mos
substantial proofs 1 could eye con
vince you OF its veracity. But how dis
YOU hear of this?'
"From your fiancee. The Mise
Carnold are living upstairs in the ut
most poverty"
The other sprang to his feet. "Oh
let me 90 to her! he cried. "Do no
detain me-
"No; voumast wait, said his broth
,r ouictlv. at would kill her to see
YOU suddenly in her weak state. Twill
prepare her for the meeting. BEt 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. at was a forgeryl" he cried
Indignantly 81 never wrote such 9
letter. As l intimated to you, mine il
a strange story, and this I suppose i
Sut another chapter,
s.Mr. Carnold, Mary's father, the
day before he died, Entrusted to my
care a mortgage which he held on .
gold-mine claim in Southern California
and which he had intended to foreclos
in three weeks. He wished me take
possession of the claim and run it fol
his daughters benefit, as this would be
their sole support. 1 consented, and
as soon as l left him placedth p~reciou
document in c safe-deposit vault.
"Mr. Carnold died the next day, and
in the confusion and sorrow 1 forgot
to mention the mortgage to the girls
That evening, sitting in my room, ]
fell asleep. 1 woke to find myself Sc
curely bound and gagged. To make
a long story short, l was carried to 9
cab, conveyed a long way from the city
to a lonely spot, and there kept pris
oner, being guarded day and night b,
Two of my four armed attendants.
'After two years of this sort Of life,
1 succeeded in making my escape while
my guards were in a drunken stupei
after a day of debauch. Preached SaI
Francisco in safety, foreclosed the
mortgage, and caused the arrest of all
concerned in my detention. Theil
cases come up in the November term.
The mine was now the property of the
girls, but no trace Of them could l find
they had disappeared. / then came OF
and sought you. Like a fairy story
jsn't it,"
at certainly is, my dear Hail." an
swefed James, when his brother had
finished the recital of his adventures
II will run up now and break the goo
news to Mary and Alice"
"a tiresome patient" he said as he
entered the room. But 1 have learned
through him that my brother Henry il
well, and, what will be good news te
you, that he has been totally blameles
in the matter OF his supposed deser
ton"
He then related his brothers story
being careful to conceal the fact that
the mortgage interested them in an
way.
''And so your brother is a rich minei
now? said Mary. 'Ihope, DR.. Banks,
yeu will do all in your power to keel
us apart"
81 will do nothing of the sort, Mis-
Carnold, He is anxious to see you,
understand"
"But do you not see that we are mis-
erably poor and he is a wealthy man?
she said sadly.
Suppose I tell you," he al
swered, that you are both rich
Suppose 1 tell you that thu
mortgage was left by your fathel
in my brothers care for your main,
tenance, and that the gold-mine j
yours"
The two women sprang up with ex'
Carnations of surprise; but the imper,
turbable doctor said to Mary, rs hs
gently forced her back into her seat;
Come now, Miss Carnold, 1 see
must exercise my authority. You musI
not excite yourself; you are still very
weak. Besides-well, there's anothei
patient" he added, i~nterrupting hinJ
self, as the bell rang vigorously. Al
he left the room, he said mysteriouslyi
"If the patient proves to be a FRIEND
Of yours. / will bring him nm
an a short time there were footsteps
on the stairs-a knocks cry-and
the log separated lovers were clasped
iii each others arms.
"What a joyous reunion !" said Dr.,
Banks, as he and Alice Carnold sat
apart watching the happy pair. "But
do you realize that it means q separa.
ton to us, unless-unless you wish to
avoid it,"
The beautiful head drooped to hide
her bushes, but she did not answe
"Alice, darling" he continued, pas.
sionately, when first I saw those
imploring eyes of yours, Iloved
Now you are a rich woman, and
l only a poor doctor"
Hush dear, "she said, i~nterrupting
him IL an rich, indeed. with such a
love as yours. Take me, unworthy as
| am for you are my life."--New
York Storiettes.