The Tupelo journal., 1916-10-20

rest, some light food and a hot bath
the invalid would be as wen as ever.
John had come in to ascertain the
Doctors verdict. He was still rather
in a quandary. Turning to Alice, with
the grave smile and inscrutable air
which invariably puzzled those who
knew him, he said quietly:
"As you have been so kind, I am
tempted to ask another favor. Will
you remain with Miss Ray until a
nurse can be obtained? You see, I'm
a bachelor"
you can count on me in every way,
Nh. =" Alice paused demnrely.
John Burton is the name | am best
known by" was the answer.
Again Alice was bewildered, but her
doubts vanished when an elderly
ho~usekeeper explained volubly that
her master was the marquis of Castle
ton-a real, live British peer, who had
a fad to live in America under the
name he bore until the title came his
way. Alice waited until she was
alone with Helen, who, by this time,
was thoroughly restored to conscious
ness.
maybe this is your gold mine,
dearie," she whispered. "You never
can tell but, unless I'm greatly mis-
taken, if you play a strong hand,
you've struck it rich"
Poor Helen was too weak and dis
traught to care much at that moment
what became of her. She sObbed out
a broken story. Matters had come to
q climax in the store that day. She
had been dismissed summarily for in
attention, and the small sum due as
wages had been lessened by the fine
levied for ten minutes lost that morn
ing.
When she went home, fearful and
disheartened, her mother had met her
with nothing but r~eproaches. She was
hidden go out and not return until she
found another job. She knew how
hard that quest would he without a
reference. Her heart quailed at the
task. While crossing the park, the
cool, glistening water of the lake
looked SO much like a solution of her
problem that she resolved then and
there to make an end of the ceaseless
struggle.
At the end of a week Helen was
quite strong again and the nurse an
nounced that she should be taken out
into the open air. John, with his
Wonted kindness Of thought, suggest
ed at once that his automobile was at
their disposal, SO Helen and the nurse
were sent for d glorious ride into the
country.
Ii happened, unfortunately, that her
brother saw her as she Iaughingly de
cIined the nurses proffered arm on
their return from the ride and walked
unaided into the house.
Meanwhile, Burton was entertaining
his pretty guest at tea. Realizing that
the girls health was almost fully re-
stored, he ventured to say that she
must surely be thinking now about re-
turning home. Although he had ascer-
tanned from the nurse that Helen had
never shown the least desire to com
municate with her parents, he was
utterly astounded when she broke out
in fearful rebellion
81 don't want to go home" she
sobbed. you can't think what it
means to me-to leave this lovely
house-to be sent away from such sur
roundings to a miserable fiat in a
nlnan cfrnot nOuo. ,-,.@ - go -,r.
people again. I'm sick of being poor
sick to death. l refuse to put up with
it any longer. Let me stay here-on
any terms!"
"Now, listen to me-" he said. "You
are talking of impossible things. You
don't begin to understand the wretched
consequences any such arrangement
must entail. Both of us would suffer,
but you far more than l."
Il don't care" stormed Helen. "Let
me be happy for a month or a year.
Then You can send me away. l can
always end up as l tried the other
day"
Hush, you poor childt" he said,
and his voice throbbed with sympathy.
u cannot bear to hear such words
from your lips. You are young enough
to start life all over again. With my
help, which shall be given freely, !
promise you life can be made a very
gracious thing"
"All right" she said. "You don't
want me, l see, so I'll leave you now.
with many thanks for a kindness which
| can lever forget. But I'll not go back
home; no, never, never! You can
preach as you like, Mr.. Burton"
The door of the drawing room
opened, and a suave butler, disregard
ing the evidences of a scene between
his master and a girl anent whom
tongues were already wagging in the
servants hall. announced a visitor.
Mr.. George Ray, sir. He says he's
this VOunp IaIv'S hrothoro