Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-31
MISCELLANEOUS.
An Unexpected Sequel.
THE DOCTORS STORY.

"COme, DR.. Forbes, this is YOUR
night 10 entertain us and somehow
| feel AS though the prize is yours.
For you look to me like man who
has particularly interesting story
to tell"
The speaker, DR.. Arnold, of Chi
cago, was one of a group of gentle
men gathered in one corner of the
smoking-room of a Cunarder, four
days out from Havre to New York.
These gentleman, except one, were
from as many different States of the
Union. The exception was Henri
LeClair, as he signed himself, of
Paris
They had been strangers to each
other until they met on the steamer,
but soon became acquainted, as So
ciably inclined people will on ship
board, On the second night out,
DIR. Arnold had related a story with
an unlooked-for ending that they
had agreed to reward the man who
could beat him with gold-headed
cane, as memento of their voyage,
as soon as they landed.
Cup to this time / have felt quite
sure of that stick" said Arnold, but
fear now il will go to DR.. Forbes. If
it does, though, it will at least re-
main in the profession, which is
| some consolation"
"If | should win it, | may not
need it; and, if so, remember it is
yours, DOCTOR" said Forbes.
AS he spoke, he seated himself
with his back to the wall, and thrust
his hand into the pockets of his sack
coat. No one would have called
Forbes handsome man, but most
people would have looked at him
more than once, with his strong,
rugged face, lighted by pair of
kindly steel-gray eyes. had been
attracted to the man from the first
his pleasant manner and stalwart
frame-but now there seemed to be
an indetinable something about him
had not noticed before; new
light in his eyes, vibrant ring in
his voice; something tense, alert
in his whole manner.
Gentleman" he began, with a
swift glance around, 81 never eX-
pected to tell this story, revealing,
as it does, heretofore unopen pages
from the life history of one of my
friends. However, under the cir
cumstan3es, have decided to do so
for while it shows how great vii
lain man can be, yet on the other
hand it portrays, though feebly, the
faith and cOnstancy of women. All
his life my friend had loved one Of
the fairest, sweetest women God
ever made; and, when at last it
seemed as though she might return
his love, this other came to wreck it
all. My friend had nothing to rec
ommend him but his love; the other
was as handsome as men get to be.
| Nothing exceeded his handsome
face save his black heart. He wooed
and won her. For two years she
was happy; then came the end
He spent all she had and then began
TO abuse her. The baby came. The
mother went. On the same day the
man disappeared. Gone no one
knew where, as he had come, no one
knew from whence. Before going,
he succeeded by fraud in securing
quite large sum Of money. He
went in the morning; she died in
in the evening; his name upon her
lips.
AS my friend stumbled from the
house Of death, he met woman at
the door, who demanded to see the
man. When Informed that he had
gone, she asked to see the woman
who called herself his wife, saying
the other would be glad to see her.
Look here,' she said, upon further
refusal, thruSting q piece OF paper
into nv friends hands. 1t was a
marriage certificate, bearing two
names he had never seen before.
That's our marriage certificate,
cried the woman, 'and that's his
real name, and not the one he's gone
by here. And this is his picture
ON, my God, how l loved him
How | hate him! But he must 60
with me-
AS my friend listened to what she
said and looked at that pictured face,
he swayed dizzily. AS he handed II
back TO her, he told her she was toe
late, but to rest content; that ne
would find the villain, and would
square all scores.
Would you believe it," said For
bes, looking at Arnold, CT that pool
creature clung to him and besoughl
> him not to hurt the fellow. One
victim blessing him with her las
breath; the other pleading for his
life. But beside that deathbed m!
friend had vowed vow to God tn
3 Woman's story had intensified hi
determination, and he could not q
back.
, From State to State, from city t
citv. and from town to town, b
sought his enemy, but could not fin'