The representative., 1899-12-07

right?''
He lifted the trunk in the back ana DR.
Merryvale went to the side of the buggy
/ and raised his hat
am afraid" said q little voice from
the gloom. that this is dreadful
It was the sweetest voice In the world
TO Dr. Merryvale standing at the Marvel
station In the falling snow. 1t brought !
wave of memory dearer and more bite,
than any in life. He was silent moment
am more than glad to be of service to
you,' he said simply.
1t was a silent drive up the white strrAt
to Marvel. DR.. Merryvale was remember
Ing; and Barbara was filled with misgiv
ings. The storm was increasing and the
nakes fell softly on the fur robes and COW
cred the back Of the leisurely horse. lust
outlined before them. DR.. Merryvale was
unconscious OF the silence, broken only by
Tue SOFT thud OF the mares feet but to
barbara it hung every moment more heavy.
inis-thls is SO very kind of you," she
. said suddenly
Yes" assented the doctor. politely. He
was back again to the night in Lucerne.
watching the web the moonlight was max
ing of brown hair, weary 16 wears ago
Then he pulled himself together
You will find the hotel very dreary
place. he said, 'and you will find, / fancy.
that the breakfast is even more dreary.,'5
i shall not mind that" said Barbara. 81
shall not mind anything. Anything would
be BETTER she went on recklessly. .than
having to visit relatives whom you don't
know ~
But Dr. Merryvale hardly heard her: he
neard only the voice of other years and he
turned with an inspiration He could lust
see her face in the gloom.
Il dislike to leave you at the hotel" he
said abruptly. You will find it a most
unpleasant place. + went to the station
to meet sort of neice who has not come
as you know. II you do not mind. I feel
sure that my sister will be very glad to
have you come to her. Will you let me
take you there?'
"oh. said Barbara, but couldn't think
OF being trouble to her. couldn't"
The little tone of protest was more like
the voice of the days at Lucerne than DR..
Merryvale would have believed possible.
1T is the only thing to do, really" he
said simply, turning the mare down the
driveway to the stone house
AS for Barbara Merryvale she was mora
than punished in those few minutes for
~~A ".
body like this big. masterful, stin man.
with the kind eyes and quiet voice, who
made her do as he said. She alighted at
the entrance y the stone house ana the
horse stood eIll obediently while DR.. Mer
ryvale took her up the steps. Then the
door was thrown open, and Miss Rachel
stood on thethreshold. in a flood of hos
pitable lamplight, and cut short her bro
ther's attempted word of apologetic ex-
planation by taking Barbara in her arms
Barbara Merryvale!" she said "Ah YOU
need not have told me. Richard. / should
have known those were AIices eyes,
AS for the doctor, his habitual auietude
forsook him.
"You?" he said with a stride forward
'Alices daughter? Why, 1 thought"
And Barbara cried little with her head
on Miss Rachel's shoulder
= Il am very wicked she said. 81 was
trying to run away from you both. But T
iidn't know"
Presently things were explained little
and Miss Rachel took Barbara away to the
lavender smelling room,- and there they
we're explained again. But they never could
De explained quite afterward except by
throwing the whole responsibility blindly
1t fate. For when Barbara Merryvale |
vent back to Brighton two months later.
The confirmed her mothers worst Brighton |
ears. The soft voice that was like the |
yoice Of Lucerne, where the doctor had |
lreamed half the story of what seemed all |
ife. was to come back to stir old echoes |
n the stone hOuse-Exchange