Year: 1869

decision, and thus it had remained


though, Mary had the superintendencc
over his household. Still he would mo-


give up to her what had in the course
of years become his habit. Ever,
thing had to be referred to him. ard


as he was naturally suspicious, his ty
rannical way was exceedingly oppress-
| i've to the members of his household
though it must be said that he had no,
hasty temper. and seldom he flew in
| TO a passion.


The house the doctor occpuied was
| his own. II was a very old-fnshioned
building. somewhat in the Gothic style
yard was surrounded by a high stone
, wall. and its long embrasures remind
ed the spectator Of the middle age.
Next to the beautiful garden there was
large park bordering the river and
extending 10 the forest, of which il had
once been part. A high wall divided
the garden from the road. and extended
from the house 10 the river side; here
n hawthorn hedge inclosed the grounds
strong enough. This property lay out
side the city line, and must at once
strike every stranger who visited the
place. as it harmonized in no way with
the small town. An old French refi-
gee had once had the fancy to build it,
as likely To remind him of the old
knights, OF whom he was 50 proud TO
h.s IaAnrlaps 4 -, l. I
contrived 10 sink his money in the un-
dertaking, ~ the walls were strong
enough Ia brave the elements for ma
ny century. Il had changed owners
more than dozen times since the vet
eran's death. The spacious rooms no.
body liked people generally said the
house was haunted. and the old French
men came al night to disturb the sleep
Of those who inhabited it. The doctor
was no such fool 10 believe these ghost
stories when he purchased the place at
a very low price. He felt quite al
home in those lofly large rooms, ami
knew how 10 make them 80 comforta-
bic that he would not have exchanged
his house. for any other one in the city


Besides himself and his daughter,
only female servant and his coach
man were occupying it when Ellen
came To live there. OF course it was
quiet place, but the doctor liked it
for that very reason. He was no
misanthrope for all that, a. people
said he was not even unsociable. but
he cared not for all their talk Being
known n IA eminent physician, and to
all appearance possessed Of means to
live upon. he did not make il his bus-
ness to court any body's friendship,
should even the whole town endeavor
la do without his services. Perhaps
ne had not the gift 70 insp prc confidence
in his patients. still there were people
who said he could be- very amiabIe and
entertaining. Usually, however, his
appearance was stern and reserved.
but ut the same time it was evident
nothing escaped his vigilant aud watch
fll exc. For hours he could sit down
without uttering word. and vet his
restless vivid eve showed only too
surely that he was not absent in
thought.


When the doctor spoke, his sen
tences We're generally sharp and sar-
castle, and accordingly he had but few
friends. But the old collector always
stood on his side when others Judged
him too severely The docto-'s pecul-
iaritics did not deter him from counting
his friendship. as he knew well that
every decided character had them more
or less.


Doctor Eckcrt MAS exceedingly
ohliging toward his charge he tred 10
fulfill every wish. even before it had
/ been pronounced. Ii was. therefore,
but natural that the feeling OF loneli-
ness which had possessed Ellen since
| her fathers death, was gradually dis
| appearing when She observed the love
/ every one in the house was showing
/ her. Even the shyness which till now
| she could not suppress when observing
/ the sternne,s of the character of her
/ fathers friend. vanished before the
| cordality with which her guardian
treated her She felt herself at home
in his house the more, as Mary was OF
a very mild and gentle character.
/ 1t could not well escape close
observer that change was taking
place in the doctor. lie now visited


with the two young ladies the places of
amusement and private parties. In
stead of sitting alone in his room as
| formerly had been his habit, he now
would seek the society of the Young
women, and though he could not follow
their merry chat, he could smile at it
and throw in some funny remark.


Mary felt at first very happy when


her friend entered the house. SO far
her life had been a very lonely one, for
her father sometimes would not speak
a single word to her. and she had but
few intimate acquaintances. But now,
when she felt that her father bestowed
his love more and more upon Ellen,
when she saw the smile of his face as
she entered the room. when she observ-
ed that his looks followed her every
movement, feeling of jealousy seized
her, and she sighed again for the past.
| She could not in the least accuse Ellen,
but still she could not chase away this
| feeling which commenced always TO
overpower her. In early youth she
had lost her mother, and as an only
child she had none to love but her fa-
| ther.


A deep melancholy seized her; her
father did not see it; still he observed
the slightest change on Ellen's face.
Only for her he appeared to have eyes.
With all power she tried to hide this
sensation from Ellen, but when she was
alone it relieved her to let her tears
flow freely.