The Democratic advocate., 1896-04-04

the establishment was conducted on very
economical plan, and 1 did not wonder at
the eagerness with which she agreed to re-
turn with me to our comparatively luxurious
home.
''Annis, dear, said she, ''the nurses
are coming to supper now, and you run up
to my room just at the head of the stairs.
will come as soon as put up the chairs
and ring the BELL
accordingly mounted the steep flight
of stairs, and found myself in a little room,
plain enough as to appointments, yet hav
ing an unmistakable air of refinement about
it, but lacking that profusion Of gew-gaws,
called nowadays bric-a-brac. With girl s
natural curiosity, scanned everything Of
interest, and when Doris entered the room
was standing by the window with the
miniature of an exceedingly handsome
young man in my hands.
40, Doris, is this thy brother p
30, did I leave that out? No, no
indeed, only friend whom | lost long
ago.
''How did thee lose him, did he die p
"No.'
please tell me about him, Doris, if
thee doesn't mind. .
II never speak of him, Annis, but |
know that you are discreet, and it is
sometimes such relief to speak of ones
troubles, so will tell you. When I was
about your age, and that is five years ago,
| was living in New York with my parents
who were in affiuent circumstances. This
man loved me, but on account of his pow
erty my father ordered him from the
house, and forbade me to correspond with
him; he went l know not where, for |
have never heard from him since In less
than year my father failed, first in bust
ness, and then in health and died in a
short time; my mother soon followed, and
l was thrown out upon the world to strug-
gle as best l might, and hard and lonely
life is mine; l sometimes wish | were at
the end of the journey
We were walking towards Apple Tree
Lane during this recital, and / felt drawn
towards the friendless girl as l had never
been in the short time we had known her.
had thought of her simply as 'the
nurse" but now / looked upon her as a
girl like myself, only with more sense and
experience And such sadly delightful
experience she had had, too; it was quite
interesting in my romantic way Of think
ing; sounded just like book, and for a
long while l was busy mentally, bringing
about all sorts of happy terminations to her
story, though that should be the instru-
ment Of her happiness never once occurred
to me.
After more appetizing supper than
that she had helped to prepare at the
Home, she was soon installed in my
fathers sick room. Aunt Judith went
comfortably to bed, while I sat up as long
as dared and read my beloved 'Gulliver,
Notwithstanding her protests upon the
book. Before going to my room | thought
1 would step in softly, and ask Doris about
my father, and to my surprise found her
with the miniature in her hand, the tears
rolling slowly down her cheeks, ] stepped
back before she saw me, and hurried to
Dbu WllOlC Wac uulll ldSt dSlGtp
dreaming Of Doris and her handsome lover
The days dragged along, as they do where
there Is sickness In the house, and all the
time | could spare ! was with Doris in my
fathers room. Sometimes | could induce
her to take walk, and as often insisted
upon her going over the story of her absent
one, whose name she would never tell me,
but in whom l was strangely interested
In the eeufse of three or four weeks my
father was so far recovered as to be con-
sideFed eonvalescent, and Doris returned to
her dreary quarters on Crown street, until
her services were in demand somewhere
else
One day towards the end Of January as
was coming home from school, ! was
about turning out OF Fourth street into
Apple Tree Lane, when | was accosted by
a man, evidently a gentleman and a
stranger
81 beg your pardon, Miss, but can you
direct me to the house of Mr. Israel
Hartley?'
"FTiend Hartley is my father an
swered, ''and if thee will come with me |
will take thee to our house
secretly wondered what business this
fine looking man could have with my father,
and hoped it would shortly transpire. His
face seemed familiar, and yet l could never
have met him, as in my short life nay &C.
quajRtances had been SO few as to be easily
reckoned. Reaching the house, l directed
the servant to show him to the best parlor,
while went in quest of my father.
Father, there is young man who
wishes to see thee, and his name is War
ringtop, Who is he, and what does he
wantTi
Daughter, thou shouldst learn to hold
thy curiosity in allegiance. His business
with me can be no concern of thine.
That did not agree with my father on
this point, goes without saying, but had
no means Of satisfying my very natural
curiosity SO was obliged to await develop
ments. l prowled about the parlor door,
hoping the young man would soon appear,
not dreaming that he would be invited to
stay to supper, and spend the evening.
But going to the dining room, was sur
prised to see an additional cover laid, the
only change that was ever made in our
methodical household, 10 matter whom the
guest. Aunt Judith was as usual, super
intending the table arrangements.
ssAnnis, thee will sit in thine own
place, but keep thine eyes from the face Of
the stranger; it is not seemly for young
maiden to gaze at person Of the opposite
sex,
"Why, who-where Is he--~is he going
to stay to SUPPER
6Thee is needlessly excited; is there
anything startling in stranger supping
with use Thee must be more subdued
or thee can eat thy supper in thy room.
To avoid such calamity I became
silent enough, but before the bell rang,
took care to put a few gxtFa touches on my
quaint and sdmbFe garb, which was dark
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