The Opelousas courier., 1898-02-26
; The MiSer'S Granddaughter
BY ARTHUR E. CLESSON.

The scene that met my gaze one
evening, when called out On profess
sional duty, might have made the for
tune and added to the reputation of a
Hogarth.
I had climbed up several flights 81
rickety stairs, and stood within a
small, dingy room, whose appearance
indicated the abode of extreme power
ty. The furniture was scanty and OF
the poorest quality, although we'll
cared for.
On a pallet lay an old man, who
arose on n elbow as [ entered, and
looked intensely, almost fercely, at
me.
His hair was very white and long,
as also was his beard, which reached
those proportions seen in delineation
of the patriarchs. Around his aged,
wrinkled forehead, a neatly folded
handkerchief was bound, and by his
side stood a pretty girl, whose face
was olouded with an expression of
deep anxiety.
II have 10 money! I'M old and
poor; and you needn't come here
thinking you can get anything valu-
able. People tell lies about me. We
are very poor. Mildred will tell you
the same"
These sentences were uttered in an
earnest, spasmodic manner, while the
eyes of the old man glanced search
ingly at me a moment; then he sank
back on his pillow, exhausted.
"My friend, I have come to try and
be of service to you, hearing that you
had been injured" I replied.
"This is the doctor, grandpa. He
wants to relieve those pains, and
make you we'll again." the grand
daughter said, by way of explaining
my presence.
The poor man still kept his keen,
gray eyes fixed on me with a glance
of suspicion.
cit is the doctor; don't you under
stand?" repeated the devoted girl.
eyes, Mildred, I know what you
say; but doctors must have pay. We
are too poor to hire a DOCTOR" T..
Saying this, the old man appeared
more calm, and less apprehensive of
a personal assault-for 1 imagined
that to have been his first fear.
Thinking from what I had been
able to observe that the man was a
miser, I readily understood how to
allay his anxiety; and this was soon
accomplished by assurances that no
money would be required from him for
my services.
But a painful duty remained for me
to perform, and that was to inform
this devoted girl, who anxiousIy
awaited my verdict, that her grand
father had but a few moments to live,
for no human skill could save his life
one hour.
She a a little heroine, and Icould
but admire the strength of character
she displayed in her efforts to conceal
emotions which caused her the bitter
est anguish. Her duty toward the
old man, whose tide of life was eb-
bling away, was faithfully performed;
and when the %"silver cord was
loosed," she found relief in q food of
tears long restrained.
I then learned that her grandfather,
Mr.. Mason, had been attacked and
brutality beaten by rufians, who had
expected to find a large amount of
hidden treasure in the miser's dwell
ing. In this they had been disap-
pointed, as they were driven away by
the approach of Alfred Fletcher, a
young nan employed in a bookbind-
cry neal Mildred Mason's poor home.
Mildred and Alfred were betrothed
lovers, and it was when coming to
spend an hour, at twilight, with his
sweetheart, that young Fletcher found
Mr.. Mason in an almost senseless con-
dition.
Mildred was absent at the time on
some errand for her grandfather, and
on her return found Alfred between
two burly, stupid officers of the law,
charged with the assault on Stephen
Mason.
The old man, in a state of semi-con-
seriousness, declared that Fletcher was
his assailant, and had attempted to
rob him.
So the lover was rudely hurried, in
spite of all remonstrances, to that dis
NAL building designated as the Tombs,
hooted at by idle boys on the street,
and gazed on by those who had heard
of the assault as a man who had at
tempted theft and murder!
No wonder the poor girl turned to
me, and in d~espairing accents asked:
"What car I do, doctor? What a
I do?"
It wal q hard question to answer,
truly.
promised to explain the matter, as
it had been related to me, to the prop
er authorities, although entertaining
hope of favorable results, for a
very plausible case had been worked
up by celebrated detective, to the
disadvantage of young Fletcher.
To help the poor girl, who had inn
.licit faith in her lover, I firmly be-
lieyed-whether he deserved it or
to be of service to the young
man, if innocent (for he appeared to
be almost friendless in the time Of
trouble), I searched the premises,
hoping to find some evidence pointing