Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-11-23


l might hope.
"It is not so bad as feared" he
said. ''Time and careful nursing will
soon restore him. The latter shall In
trust to you"
Then he gave me his directions %
clearly that could not misuDderstand
them, and when he bade me gOod-by,
holding both my hands for a moment
In his own, and said: you must take
care of yourself as well, and not give
me two patients instead of one" he
smiled so kindly that felt my heart
leap as l thought.
Its for Maude's sake he has done
this thing. He loves her."
1t did not seem strange that she
should have won the heart Of a man
as high.in the worlds favor as Ernest
Melrose stood. 1t would not have
seemed strange to me had she won
royalty; in my eyes she might have
graced any throne.
So wrote her of his visit, and its
wonderful results; how father i'm
proved day by day, and how with
health came hope and courage. so that
soon the clouds would scatter, and we
should have her home again.
But she answered. begging me never
to think of her except as happy-that
! In Mrs. Marvin she hsi found a sec
! ond mother. and in her work only pleas
ure.
She rarely mentioned DR.. Melrose's
name: but could well understand why
she was silent.
/ So the winter passed. Two or three
/ times the doctor came to relieve the
monotony. My parents grew to well
| come him as a friend, and l, in my
heart of hearts as brother, for l felt
sure / had guessed the secret of his
love for Maude.
He talked of her so constantly, tell
| ing me how bravely she did her duty,
and how her beauty of character far
exceeded even the charm of face and
form.
/ We looked to him almost as our de-
| liverer, for fathers health and vigor
were at last restored: but when he
asked him for his bill, he laughingly
/ rel led:
THAT was a private matter with
Miss Maude. She is to settle that"
l-y father looked amazed; but I
corld appreciate the payment he would
accept: and imagined their surprise
, waen he should demand 1t at their
hands.
The summer was rapidly approach
ing-the time for Maude's home-com-
ing was at hand.
With glad, happy heart I decorated
our room with the roses she SO loved;
hung fresh muslin curtains from the
windows, looped them back with
sprays of flowers, all the while singing
aloud in my joy.
had reason to be happy, for Maude
was coming to home over which hung
no shadow of debt. The mortgage had
been paid. What she had saved should
go toward her trousseau when she
needed one. for father had prospered
beyond all expectation.
At last l heard the sound of wheels.
Nearer and nearer.
Il bring you a surprise" she had
written, and by her side sat DR.. Mel
rose. I knew II all. Was 1t not as I
pictured. fancied. hoped? I only
know tha; an impulse which sprang
from some corner of my brain caused
me to turn hastily up the stairs, and,
burying my head in my pillow, sob
aloud
ELLIE, darling! Where are your
questioned a sweet, girlish voice; and
l sprang up, ashamed of my momen-
tary weakness, to find myself clasped
in my sisters warm, loving embrace.
She bad come back lovelier than ever
All, could guess what had deepened
the flush upon her cheek. the radiance
TO her eye.
l smoothed my disordered hair. lis
tenlng the while to her merry talk,
though not a word did she say of him.
whose deep, manly tones 1 could hear
now and then rs he sat talking.
Look your best" she said. with a
rougish twinkle-"your very, very best!
THERE am satisfied
And, taking me by the hand she ran
rapidly down into the room where they
all sat.
DR.. Melrose instantly arose, and
came forward with his old smile of vel
come. and made a movement as though
he would already give me brothers
kiss. but remembered in time that his
secret was not yet disclosed.
The evening passed rapidly away in
pleasant laugh and jest. Occasionally
l intercepted n glance between Maude
and her guest, fuD of meaning. hut
no one else seemed to notice 1t. Al
last he rose to bid us goodnight. and
as he held my hand a moment in his
own, he whispered:
You have always been the most in
defatigable In pressing my small
claim upon you. Tomorrow l will
present it to you for payment. May ]
see you for a few moments in the
morningT"
Certainly" l answered: but my
voice trembled and I think had he
stayed a moment longer I should have
burst into tears.
All through that long night I watch.
ed my sister. sleeping so peacefully by
my side, waging my little war with
myself
How natural that he should love her.
so young. so lovely! But, ah! why had
my heart gone forth unasked to meet
his? At least the secret was all my
own-none would suspect 1t.
l had not known it myself until had
seen them side by side. With, perhaps,
a shade less color, little quivering of
the lips. but nothing more, I entered
the parlor next morning to greet DR..
Melrose, who stood waiting for me.
II have come. as you know, to claim
my payment, Ellie. Can you not guess
ltT'
A momentary struggle with myself,
then 7 answered bravely:
Yes. I know it all. You have my
consent, DIR. Melrose. although you
take our dearest possession"