Middletown transcript., 1902-11-22
"Sweet Peas !"
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
By NARY r. z HITCH.

4a4
ssFie upon youi wrote Portia. ~
be bound you have wound your fascina'
ing meshes about this young man unit
he knows not how to break away. But
dare affirm he has not tried very hare
He is genteel young man, and hl
friend, Lieutenant Digby, speaks mos
excellently Of him. | doubt me not q
speaks true, and, Priscilla when you visl
us. l shall doubtless have opportunltie
that do not now Of seeing him often,
ETC., etc.
Priscilla went down to the landing an
helped Prudence draw up and secure ID
boat, then the girls went up to the hous
together. Strange stories were told OF to
doctors harsh treatment of his niece.
She was pale, delicate girl of eighteen
with light-brown hair and blue eyes, AM
a quiet, almost shrinking manner. Lei
an orphan when child, she had come 7
live with her uncle, who was also he
guardian and the custodian of her for
tune, which was large one. II she diet
before coming of age, it would go to tn
doctor, and there we're those among tn
gossips of the neighborhood who sale
they should not wonder to hear OF he
death at any time; and, indeed, the doc
tors character was such as to make hin
feared and suspected by many who would
not dare treat him to his face with aught
but courtesy. He was skillful physi
clan, never sighting midnight call from
even the poorest patient, and so far as
his profession went, above reproach.
But such was the fear he inspired that
the gossips, in view of the fact that they
might sometime be at his mercy on bed
of sickness, were careful to keep their
opprobrieus words within safe limits.
CHAPTER II
The doctor had accepted the fact of
Jocks flight with the utmost calmness,
and kept up continuous chain OF inquiry
and search which he felt must discover
his whereabouts, and then At this
point the doctor shut his teeth tightly
together and steelly glitter came to his
eyes, which boded no good to Jock.
Whether he mistrusted the Browns of
having anything to do with his flight
they never knew. Bland and smiling as
ever, he omitted nof iot of his courtesy
towards them, but Priscilla always felt
guilty when she met him and was glad
that he had sent Prudence for the mail
instead of coming himself.
The river had cleared out but the night
before and there were pieces of ice float
ing down, which made the passage across
one of danger. Mrs. Brown thought Of
this and of the whisperings behind the
doctors back, and she wondered if he
would indeed be glad to have her drown
80 that he might get her money. Her
greeting was SO motherly and tender that |
Prudence said almost brightly:
81 do SO love to come here; you are all |
10 happy, when at our house even the
ire will not burn brightly. This side
If the river is pleasanter than ours; the
Hills are SO high that the sun goes down
'Yer there two hours earlier, and that
makes it come dark soon. l wish l lived
N this side"
Il wish so too, dearie. But were you
lot afraid to cross with all that floating
CO in the river?"
"a little, but then was willing to risk
to come here. Besides, uncle
sked me to come, as he was busy, and
e asked me SO pleasantly that l was
nxious to oblige him. was afraid once
nd l called back to him, but he did not
ear me. 1t was when big piece of ice
razed the skiff and almost tipped me
ver."
''No wonder you were frightened. You
light have been drowned"
eyes; but then should be with mother {
i'd often I feel as if should be almost
ad to die. 1t is wicked, know, but
is sad to be SO much alone. But l G
ont think of that now. l almost feel I
if might stay half an hour this time,
1cle seems 80 pleasant to-day"
And SO the poor girl stayed and the Z
me passed away pleasantly indeed. Pru- i
,nce had no housewifely accomplish g
ents. She could not even do sampler L
ork, while at spinning and weaving she v
as a novice. She had no one to teach G
r but the Doctors gloomy old house G
eper, and she would not be bothered
th teaching rich girl, who, she said, 81
d no need to know such things. K
The time passed away all too soon, I'll
king as they did of their anticipated al
lit to Portia, for Prudence was to ac- al
mpany Priscilla, the doctor being held
great esteem by the Governor, who b
lied the three girls, Portia, Prudence u
d Priscilla, Three Peas, from the initial
ters of their names. di
But the ill-starred girl never went again al
on her return she was taken with a W
ght chill and the doctor prepared her III
warm drink. She grew worse instead to
better and died before nightfall, before
} neighbors we're apprised of her i'll E
IS. She did not suffer apparently, but m
{ aoated quietly beyond the reach Of OF
BIT and sound as if going to sleep, and fu
: last words were: "Thank you, uncle, m
think l shall not need anything hs
re. l will go to sleep" SO
Ind SO the poor, lonely maiden died, le
;h no ministering hand near her ex- W
It her unloving uncle and the house he
,per, who did not seem to feel her ell
Ith at all, but redoubled her subser. fol
nee to the doctor. an
Is for the latter, what thoughts visited lat
q, or whether, as was affirmed by the all
he was the cause of her th
tn, no one could tell, nor was it ever so'
we'd against him. There was much
( of taking out warrant for his arrest, su
when it came to the point no one tel
, found with sufficient temerity to be so
on whom should be focused the doc wa
: , cai