The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-31
AN ACCOMPLICE.

q N ~
+ AN ACCOM-PLICE.
was sitting in my consulting
room and wondering. I was young,
well qualified and not wanting in a
modicum Of confidence in my pro-
fessional abilities, but for the serv-
ices of my humble self. John Hard
man, n. D., there seemed to be no
demand at all in the great city.
MY melancholy meditations were
cut short by the din OF my front
door bell. and presently a gentleman
was usheTel into my presence.
..Dr Ha,Nlman, I believer" said
the newcomer. Allow me to intro
duce myself. am Mr. Thomas
Sharp OF Rose Villa live in your
neighborhood.
After expressing my pleasure at
making his acquaintance inquired
If / could be Of any service to him.
.sXou are a busy man, I expect.
doctor, = said he and then paused,
while / mendaciously limited that
such indeed was the case. 'sBut pos
sibly' you will be able to find me a
Little time in professional capac-
ity. =
T informed him that Of course ]
could do SO.
We'll. ! may tell you atonce. he
went ON pleasantly, II am as sound
as a bell myself, but wish to en-
gage ycur good services for my
nieoa. She is young and inclined to
be delicate, I think, and wants lit
tie toning up, and, as / happen to
know some particulars about you
and your career entirely to your
credit, lam going to place her under
your care.
put in a few hurried words ex-
presl,ive OF my pleasure in undertak-
ing the charge and was going on to
make come inquiries as to my pa
TENTS health and manner Of life,
but my yoluble friend cut me short
]. "You are the only son Of the late
John Hardman of Blankley hall, -
he interrupted. II used to know
your part Of the country, and ] know
that you are the only surviving
member Of that good old Hardman
stock Never mind how came to
know it. j also know that your ia
ther came to grief over the &
bank failure, and that it has been an
uphill game for you since in conse-
quence. j am pleased toseeh how well
you are now getting on"
i Mr.. Sharp continued to ramble on
in this strain for some time, giving
me little information about himself,
but, to my astonishment, revealing
no little knowledge of my history.
Cur meeting terminated very COZ.
daily, and he Departed after receiv.
ing my acceptance Of pressing in.
vifation 10 dine with him at Ross
Wills on the following evening.
Rose Villa turned out to be q very
charming and well appointed domi
cile. I had made a few inquiries in
directly through Polly polly was
my smart little parlor maid), and il
seemed that Mr.. Sharp was a gentle
man Of means, with no ostensiblt
profession, who had been for abou'
Two years in his present abode. Hi
niece, a young lady of taking ap
pearance, in Polly's opinion, was
the only other member of the house
hold, and they were not favored by
many if any callers So much fol
amateur detective work. My early
impressions of Rose Villa and O
Grace Fairleigh, my lovely patient
were distinctly pleasing.
MIR. Sharp made capital host
He was CHEEKY and entertaining, ant
Miss Fairleigh, a fair haired, blu'
eyed, handsome girl, was as graciou
as she was beautiful She was al
accomplished musician, playing wei
and singing with a voice that fol-
tone and sweetness is rarely equaled
in a suburban drawing room. They
gave me that pronounced luxury, a
really good dinner, and spent q
most enjoyable evening afterward.
Miss Fairleigh and became
friends almost at once Twas drawn
toward her as much by her hall
yelled shyness and maidenly man
ner as by her rich beauty. That
which appealed to my curiosity in
connection with my visits to Rose
Villa was my inability to fathom Mr..