Year: 1878

looking more like a walking corpse
than living man.


MY Journey was nearly accomplished
when I sat in the train carrying me
from Washington to New York, my
last dollar spent, my rough clothes
travel-wOrn and shabby, my life almost
gone from me.


IdOn't know exactly when tainted,
but I came to consciousness peTceiving
a fragrance Of cologne water near me,
and knowing something was held to my
lips. 1 tasted wine, but was too weak
/ to speak. Little cool hands arranged
some soft bundle under my head, and
then fan stirred the air around me,
Imust have slept, and again I awOke.


Very near me, on the next seat, /
beard a sweet, low voice, saying


I'VE get off at the next station, and
Ihate to awaken that poor sailor for
my handkerchief. I put it over his
bundle for a pillow, and there is
another on his forehead"


A voice, pettish and familiar, an
swered:


'Just like your imprudencel Now
that common fellow will have your
hs9dkerchiefI You are so horribly
iiapulsivel 1t is very forward and un-
maidenly to have been fussing over a
strange man, at any rate. You don't
know how he may annoy you"


Low and sweet, quiVering little,
came a voice in answer:


"He will never annoy any one. If
ever death was written in a face, 1 saw
it in his face"


at is none of your business"


SIT IS my business. You may scOld
as you like. If it is unmaidenly to
stretch out hand to a dying man for
five minutes. then 1 shall never meet
your ideas of decCrum."


And as if to prove her words, the
speaker arose from her seat and leaned
over mine.


Ny head was lower than the back Of
the seat, resting on the window sill,
and my feet stretched out to the next
space. I kept my eyes closed, and I
knew the handkerchief upon my fore
head was mOistened again with cologne
water Just as the train stopped. The
conductor shouted Elizabeth" and
the ladies behind me gathered up their
traps and departed.


could only see linen busters and
brown wells as they walked down be-
tween the car seats, but 1 kept my
seat.


Elizabeth had been my own destina-
ton, for Tom had always a cordial
welcome for me, and I longed to die
where there was some friendly face in
sight. But 1 kept on to New York,
presenting myself to my old laudlady,
who had some difficulty in believing in
my identity, but being convinced,
nursed me as il 1 had been her own
son


Tom came TO see me when my law
! yer informed him of my return, but
the ladies had gone to the Delaware
Water Gap for the summer, and I was
well pleased. Much of my faith in
Amy's friendship had eYapOrated, and
1 wanted my shaved head to be cover
ed-my emaciated face to fill out be-
fore Nettie saw me again.


I had had my taste for salt water
amply gratiied, and rebelled when the
doctor ordered a sea voyage to perfect
my recovery. But be had his way, and
again it was summer before 1 returned
home, and accepted Toms invitation
70 his cottage at Long Bcaneh.


'We have concluded to take a cot
tage at Long Branch this summer" he
NIOte, sand want you 70 join Us, if
possible, in July"


How can describe Nettie-Nettie
Raymond stiII-after three years of
separation2 Beautiful as ever, ami
maIed, accomplished, she was fasci-
mating to all. But the imp of mischief
had not quite deserted her, though she
was more digniled. She was not OPEN
| ly saucy, as she had been, but could put
stings into quiet, apparently innocent
speeches, and I often WINGED under her
satire.


For did love her then. Every hour
added to my admiration-my affection
yet there was never in her manner
one atom Of encouragement on which
to hang hope.


Although I had recovered my health
and strength almost entirely, 1 was
still subject to attacks of headache that
prostrated me for hOurs-cOnscious Of
nothing but terrible pain.


The first one I had at Long Branch
came on about three weeks after my
arrival, when had walked too far in
the sun. Tom was alone when stag
gered into the house, nearly blind, and
he put me down upon wide lounge in
a lower room, darkened the windows
and put cold water on my head.


"Amy will be here presently" he
said; she has gone to ride with Nettie.
I'll keep Nettie out Of your way, old
fellow. She must be rather torture
to a sick man. Vivacity is ali very
well in its place, but had as lief shut
up a swarm of mosquitoes IL sick
room as Nettie."


Imade no reply, and lay mute and
miserable until the carriage drove up.


"uIP Walter ill?'' I heard Amy say
in a low voice. go in, Nettie, and see
if he wants anything"


''You can attend to him." said Net
tie, coIdly. 81 have my dress to ar
range for the hop"


''Nettiel' this in provoked whisper,
"you are not going to let half a million
of money"


"Hushl" was the sharp reply. 81
wish he was a beggarF'


"He would be very much obliged to
you"


But Amy little dreamed she spoke
the truth. Nettie wished was beg
CARL WhyP Could it be that ny
wealth was the barrier between US, that
as a beggar I might have won her lover


Nv heart thrObbed heavily as Amy
opened the door of the room where
lay and came softly to my side.


H.