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Show - ALLEN GRAY; -OH,- Tie Mystery of Tnrley's Point Beln ,Pow Romantlo Ohnptom v.. From .tho Llfo or a Country Editor. I " " lornt s. jruarcrje, ' A " WALTER BnOWKfllLn" HELM IXBVAK," "DAJtKER Or BEDrORB," A OlBIH StOUll jf ' ' ICtprkU, im, r fn x jv. x(f, x-- , ., . f'fr Ctmny. ,!$ " CHMTKU XVIII. -; ''., '' ' - . ' "THA CAN SEVEN 3E." -'Simmons ond Strong found thoDittcrncss of personal defeat somewhat sweetened by thB knowlpdgo tbnt, their enemy had gouo down with thein. Moroso, gloomy nnd ill- ,' natured, each went moping about Iho atreots, cursing his own ill-luck, nnd won- it doring what blight had cotno over their 5 "WJl town that it could not be saved from Inov- "" Jtableruln. Allen Oray had como nt last to .realize that Turley's Point was doomed, unrt All hla endeavors to save it were worso than , useless. " I will give It up," ho said to himself, as lie sat at his dealt one day. " It Is no use to . try-to do any thin for these foolish people ,, i ' while thoy are so blindly jealous and cn- ' i nous of each other. If a stranger comes y f . ' ' lere" to purchase property or engage In , ,;'-, -Wnslness he Is discouraged. I will soil out , .'. thepaper and go to other field where I hall hare mom tavorablo surroundings." "' But property In Turley's Point was not a - ready sale, and ho could Had no ono bold enough to venture to tu!co the editorial helm Of the WuUrn Ittpviillc. During tho summer just passed Allen coatinually'hopediamld tho heat of political conflict and a falling business to entirely . forget all about tho stono houso on tho'hilL But as the woeks rolled on ho found tho Image of ono of tho Inmates of that mysterious mysteri-ous building becoming dully moro fixed In Ms mind and mora and more a part of him-s him-s self. Try as ho would it- was imposslb)o to effaco that imuge from his memory. He had talcen frequent strolls to lho stono . house, but not a soul was to bo seen.- It . seemed as utterly' desorted as If on anJsl- ... and which hs4 boon uninhabited foe ages. The fountains Jwero dried up, and weed . itdfcL,- were fwfajfln the garden .-,,,,. Wyl&SBfa'"irrfMl (fooe, tkldnghatbtlgtftingji IfSfPSH" "wltherliHf aaystery with thoml' said Allen,1 I J: , a lew days 'after .too election, .having ro- urted from troll to pio. top, of tho hill, i , "I will forgot her, I' will leavo tho neigh- ' ' borhood, and. In otbor fields, amid different scenes and people, begin llfo anew." As autumn advanced ho, mado vigorous efforts to dispose of the paper, but without j avail. Bummer accrued to linger in tho lop of winter, and those days pi rjpciihiR ,- '' ' fruit ahd golden harvest woro continued ( longer than usual. i Onotvenlng when the moon shone bright- t ly from a cloudless sky, and .tho landscape I- , aeomed moro lovoly than by day, AUou do- If",, elded to take ono moro stroll. Ills lU'.iny afflictions had taught him to lorn xolitudo. Illss LfeAttry H6pklns, In her efforts to eapt- I MEL KM 1 ' BBS WJlXDBIUD ikjwk to tub old desertse I i noiD. ure the ypung editor, was growing des perate, frequently driving liur victim to th? j solitude of tho forests where, freo from.hei sickening nonsenso, ho could communo with nature at his own swout will. In no plttco was bo more seruro from Intrusion In-trusion than on tho quiet hill-top whoro the 1 ' old mansion, liko some vast castlo, was sot !i . up as a guard for tho village. Allen went A straight up tho hill to tho front gato, in- it tending to sit dqwn on tho stono tsteps and .' j l enjoy a few moments' rofloctlon froo from ' ! ' the cares and annoyances of tho world. But when .ho reached tho gato and 1 glanced through the Iron bars, ho was 1 astonished at the transformation. The ! moon was bathing tho sccuo In a Hood ol ' mellow light. All signs of ncgloct wore re moved, and flowers woro blooming and , fountains so long dry and silent hod found i their volcos again and woro laughingly gush ing out 'the brightest sparkling wator. Tho air seemed full of life and gladnoss. From an open window came tho strains of a piano. Allen was entranced at the French air that floated on tho evening broczo from tho window of tho houso. Even as ho list-' list-' ned enraptured tho muslo ceased, tho dooi opened, aud a slight form, with a light shawl thrown over nor shouldors, came down the whlte-pcbbled walk to tho gate," AUea Instinctively shrunk back so as not to seen. Crouched In tho shadow of the wall ho waa unln thrilled at sl-rht of that anirelic i i Hi Wfowb. Doing wno nuu seeuieu u uouuino a pun ci himself. Ilertha opened tho gate, and, drawing tho silk shawl nbout her shouldors, passed down tho old turnpiko humming a plaintive air. Her head was uncovered, and, her wealth of golden hair hunglooscly about her shoulders, was mado tho sport of tho breeze. "Where Is she going!" ho asked himself. Slowly ho rose, following nor. IIo could not glvo any reason for his course, savo that ho was Impelled by somo inward Impulse. Had be conquered his hcartl Certainly not, for now that ho was near her again thoso same strange wild emotions which bad so completely taken possession of him beforo wcro all revived with ten-fold powor. Still humming tho plalntlvo French air, sho wandered down tho old long-deserted road, until sho camo to tho path which led to tho spring. Following, Allen soon saw her scaled upon tho old rustic scat Behind a largo square stone, which nges ago had tumbled down from tho bluff above, ho stood and gazed at tho lovely creature who seemed to bo a domesticated drynd, that had stolen away for a fow moments to her natlvo haunts. This was an opportunity not to bo neglected, neglect-ed, something seemed to whisper In his oar, and ho felt at tho sama time a wild, almost Irresistible, desire to rush from his concealment, cast himself ut her feet, nnd vow that he would never riso until his lovo was returned. Uo watted long enough to get full control over his feelings, when he went boldly forward to her side. She rose with a little exclamation of surprise, sur-prise, and said: " Mr. Gray, are you hero! I had almost lost hopo of over seeing you again." " Did you wish to see rael" he asked. " I did. I wish to thank you for your noble act for so kindly obeying my request." re-quest." " Say nothing nbout It. It was a simple sorvico I rendered you, and ono which should bn fnrntton " Yet ono I will never lorgei, air. ry. I would bo ungrateful indeed woro I to for-get for-get that, at my requost and for mo, you riskod your llfo," " Ilavo yon any objections to mo silting horo atyoursidol" ;ald Allen. " Nono whatever. Thero is no othor seat, and you must havo become weary climbing tho hill." " How Is tho llttlo boy I" ho nskod, sitting nlmsolf ut her oldo. t Uo Is wolL" " Doe he lllio to stay tliorol" , " . "Ho can ho happy nowhoraclso,V . Forscvoral moments Alton sat thinking' . that ho waaf ully nyiald for ult he hadf en-' durod-on that jourtcy. , A ,Uaa I purjucdahp nt last aski&Tlfafefi YfrVMta. lr,-j-trw jro ntt'fejHgraffll "I 1 tl)oui;litJ was, and yet there was nt 'direct proof cf it." " Every precaution was taken to prevent pursuit, and every precaution taken In case you wcro pursued : but, thanks to Providence, our precautious in Hut direction wore un-nocesjdry." un-nocesjdry." "How did ho learn of my return'" " I do not know, Mr. Allen but let us not talk any inuro of that. Grateful hearts will over ho.d you in sacred remembranco for your nebio soif-suordlang actions. I can not thank yuutpqugli. I wish I could repay tho debt of gr,uttudo I uwo to you." " I would rather you would not mention It." " I will not, then. You want to go away from Turloy's Point I" "How did you leurn that!" "I judgo i.o from your editorials, and I havo seen your press and material advertised adver-tised for sale iu othor p.ipors." "You havo rightly gucs6cd my motWo," said Allen, auuiy. "Tu. .wy u Point has been a disapjioinlmcnt to inu und tho business a sad failure" With a sigh sho answered "Turloy s Point has bcon a great disappointment disap-pointment to moro than yourself. It has beeu tho rock on which my bark of hopog went down." 'What do you mcanl" Allen asked, gazing wondorlngly into tho sweet, beautiful face. "You, who havo scareo bocji in the vlllago, how bas.it wrecked your hopcsl" "By Tur'i' Point I Include the houso on the hill, und thero Bomo of tho darkest days of my llfo huvo been spent. I have formed no acquaintances hero caveyours, and from tho first time 1 met you I felt that you were a brother. A real brother could not have boon kinder than ou havo boon, and foi your noblo conduct I ahull never ceaso to be thunkful." For a fow moments Allen's emotions go tho better of him. At last, regaining in part his self-control, ha determined to dare all and know the worst, and In a voice ol forced calmness said: "I wish I could bo moro than a brother to you." "Nn. no. do not mpntlon that." she stL ncr loco very paio, jee ne was not uAtuou. "I did not como hero expecting to meet you," she wont on, "but slnco by chance wo hayo met, I am glad of It. Vour faith In mysolf haa convinced mo that vou ure supqripr lo others. But, while I udraire you, I can noyor bo moro than a friend, a very dear friend! a sister If you will, but nothing moro." "Oh, Bertha Bcrthat in Heaven's name don't dr)vo uio mad I" ho groaned, In tho bitterest bit-terest ugony, " Don't you know that I lovo you!" "I havo foared it," she answered. "Pcarcd It!" . " Yos, feared It from tho very first" "Why need you fear honest lovol Oh, Bertha, Bertha, do not drive me uway in utter despair. I havo tried to forget you; but I con not If you do not lovo mo now, give mo some hopo, Bay that you will love me In tho future and become my wife." " Oh,Ucavcn,that can never be I" she wept violently, wringing her hands. "It can; it shall bo," criod the frenzied Allen, selling one fair plump hand and raising rais-ing it to bis lips. "You know not what you say, I am at-nttiiwrrU."1 at-nttiiwrrU."1 . .. . llo dropped mo nanj una staggoreu as n he had received a blow. ciurTnit xix. A RTAUTMKO IIEVEUITIOH. "Now you dcsplso mo, don't you!" said tho palo beautiful woman, In a volco so sad that It fell likq a funeral wail upon his car. " No, no, I can't say l hat I " Allen groaned. " How could I havo been so deceived! " " Do you forgivo mo I " "Yes, yes, for Heaven knows it has not been your fault!" "I will over In n sister to you, Mr. Gray, and as you s ivcd tho llfo of my llttlo brother nttho rUk of your own, I shall ever hold you in grateful remembranco." Uko one stupefied, Allen stood icunlng against a treo, gazing nt her n:ul half bollovlng that it was all a dro.iHi. At last ho said: "Whoisyourhusbatid! That dark whiskered whis-kered man" Sho nodded her head in answer. Bho was weeping softly. "Crait llxivcnf Ite her toubatult" He was moro than twlco ns old as sho. nnd thoro was nothing congenial In thoir natures. Sho roso to go, but, putting out mo hnnd, ho gently touched her arm, and in a voice of stony calmness said: "No, no, madamo,do not go yet; It Is tlmo that I should havo iin explanation. I have been buffcttcd about by tho varying winds of fortune, till I havo grown weary of it; lot mo know tho wholo truth -all of this mystery, and If I havo any honor In my soul, J will keep your secret" She was weeping softly. "Doyoublamoiuol" she asked again. "No; you havo perhaps hover given mo any cnuso to bellcvo you wcro single, save when you called yourself Bertha Collins. I supposed that yo'j woro MIrs Collins. "My English nnmo is Collins, tho French U Colllour, or Do Collieur. My llfo has bcon such a sad ono that I do not know as it would Interest you. Howovor, as you have befriended me, if you Insist on knowing all, you shall." Allen was seemingly as calm now as If ho had been in his ofllco transacting somo ordinary business. Hla faco might havo shown somo faint signs of tho ngonythat was torturing his soul, but could not havo conveyed any thing llko an adequate representation repre-sentation of tho sufferings ho-was enduring. endur-ing. Ho calmly bado her sit down, and rc-took bis place at Her side. V "Mrs. Collins, regard mo osyonrbrother," M with an effort said ' as u brother very ;ar uway ond whom you will perhaps never sco again, but ono who will never blot-your i Imago from.hla ;tncmory,, ,-This has, Indeed,1 bca a;9il;.wmubcf"but5- Jt.ls nlmost ever,, Tho curtain will soon descend, between myself my-self and hopo forever, but boforo It falls on lho final act I want tho hoy to this sail drama. That mysiort'i tduno House on tho hill has been a puzdo 10 Turley's Point for yoars. What Is In it! Is it a prison-house for people, a homo for tha Insune, or a place wherein tho ficnlls iHfoiublo for incantations incanta-tions und uulawlul rlUwl" " It (a ull," shouusworcd, her faco deathly wblto. ' Tell-mc all nbout It" " I will," said lho pretty crcaturo, with a deep-drawn sigh. " Colonel Collins, as ho is known among hh few English acquaintances, acquaint-ances, Inherited tho stono houso on lho hill from his father, who built it a groat many years ago. When first orected it was intended in-tended to bo tbo homo of the old monsieur, but his wifo would not llvo In It My motbor was a French woman nnd my father an Englishman. En-glishman. Thero uero but threo children In our family, n brother seven yenrs older than myself and tho llttlo bay whom you remem- "DO TOH BLAME ME!" ' ber taking to Mile. Camllln In Froucntown. Threo years ago my father was allvo, and wo wcro a happy, prosperous family. Colonel Colo-nel Collins, who had been living alternately ' In Franco and America, n sort of an ad- i venturous life, came to our houso In Dayton, Day-ton, O., whoro father was utthe tlmo known as ono of tho wealthiest, merchants In the Jlty. I felt a pocullar distrust of tho man from tho flist moment I saw him, but fathor ' and mother, on the contrary, Beomcd fascinated fasci-nated with him. "My mother, llko myself, fait aa Instinctive Instinct-ive rcpugnanca toward her countryman. He so Ingratiated himself Into tho good Braces of my father that somehow I nevar knew-In a fow weeks ho had comploto control con-trol ovor his busluoas affairs. My poor brother, falling Into tho snnrcs sot for him, was led to tho gaming table, which brought about, among othor sins, forgeries that in a fow months ruined our family. I can not jntor Into tho full dotails and horror of the fow months that followed. "To add to them, no sooner had Colonel Collins gained comploto control over the destinies of every member of our family, than mo futlier and only protector, died. t WWTTsMTIfillflWtttfSMWgir'fWrtTttwwssK -ririi wiriMiii Boloro his death coionct coiimsropoSa' matrimony to me, nnd, knowing that we could not llvo happily togothor, I rofusod his offer. " With mother nnd my little affllctod brothor 1 loft our homo In Dayton, and como West to my aunt Mllo Camlllo, In Frenchtown. Wo were very proud, and ro-solved ro-solved to keep our degrading misfortunes tooursolves. My older brother remained behind, hoping to save somotlng for us out of tho wreck of ouronco bandsomo fortuno, though mother find I bad In our own names property, tho Income of which would bo ample for o.ir wants. Wo little dreamed that In coming to Frenchtown wo woro near-Ing near-Ing tho rendozvoa of tho man whom wc dreaded abovo nil others. Aunt Lucllo was glad lo recelvb us, nnd offered u a hdmo with herso.f as loug as wo would nrcoptit I Intended teaching music, or socuring a position as a governess, nnd wo thought wo xmld onco more bobnppy. My littlo deaf rower usvej cfme ' mnrusho was with my aunt, who aotcu on mm. "Ono night therd camo a knock at the door, and my brother, wlld-cycd and hag-gard, hag-gard, was admitted. Ho hnd only tlmo U explain that ho was charged with forging a check on Colonel Collins nnd was now flying fly-ing from tho vengonnco of tho law, when tho door opened and Colonol Collins himself him-self entered. Tortured by fears and har-rassod har-rassod by a man who was scareo less than a domon, rav poor brothor was seized with convulsions, and for days his lifo was despaired of. Colono) Collins Informed me that unless I becamo his wifo my brother, regardless if condition, should bo dragged to prison. This would 1:111 both him and mj mother, and frightened, horrified and unconscious un-conscious of .tho awful step I was taking without consulting any ono, I consented I dared not appeal to an officer to protect mo from this man for, behoving ray brothor to bo a criminal, officers of tho law wore men most to bo dreaded. "I have but a faint recollection otmy marriage just as If It was a frightful dream. When I camo to realize that I was his almost noul ud body I resolved thu I would mako Llm .3 good a wifo as I could without loving ilm, aud dotcrmlnod to protect pro-tect my faLuhy, Ho had us secretly convoyed to tbo stono houso on the hill. There vre havo lived, he holding as a con slant mennco over tno tho destruction of mj mother nnd Insane brother, who aro Inmates of that house. YAilIo I do not lovo my hus band, and was, forced Into marrlngo with him, yet as God la my witnoss I have made him .as good, a wifo as ho would lefme, and I shall Uvo nnd dlo loyal to my marriage. vows. Ho wanted mother and I to asslga over to hlzntho property tyrt linU la run-.-names JejfKMfllHHBHHHIsau .'minccaBIH "o "oYTOWTOPPIfBcdiZco that yfp foared ho would do my little dumb brother somo humi, orsond him a way whore wo should novor soo 1dm ncaln. It was thon that I, for that child's sako, dared mako tho ylslttoyouand enlist your sympathies In him, as you remember. You may think It unwomanly, immodest, but if you could re-alizo re-alizo what was at stalco you would overlook tho imprudence of tho act At my aunt's tbo llttlo boy was among loving friends, whllo at tho old stono houso on tho hill ho was not only miserable but In constant danger of being taken uway from us,whcre wo should novor seo him again." "Mrs. Collins, your conduct on that occasion occa-sion Is qulto praiseworthy, Instead of meriting merit-ing censure," assured Alien, "but why do you livo with such a monster! The law will ! give you a divorce" "I am a Cuthulic," sho answered, "and neither does my religion or my conscience npprovo of divorces. No, sir, my llttlo brother is safo from his persecutions, my lnsano brothor can not llvo long and mother ond I will enduro rough usago andlmpnson-ment andlmpnson-ment until death shall rolcaso us from bondage bon-dage Sho will not leavo mo, for sho thinks my bunion would bo doubled If sho was not hero to share It I promised, altboughundor duress, to llvo with him until death do us part, and I will keep that promlso." Alien's head was bowed upon his hand. At last, witii a troubled sigh, ho asked! "What is bis motivo for this strange con-duct. con-duct. Is ho an outlaw, as has been charged!" "No, sir: ho Is astrango man, law-abiding in tho common acceptation of tho term, but self-willed, cunning and unscrupulous In tbo accomplishment of his designs. In his cold, selfish way bo loves me, but bis is a lovo to blight rather than bless. His extravaganoo has frcquontly pocunlarlycaibarrassod him, and it Is at such times that bo docs not scruplo at nny menus to try to fohx from mother and I our property." - I "What aro thoso strango sights and sounds socn and heard at tho stono houso on tho hill!" "No doubt tho reports of thorn havo boon greatly magnified by persons bclloving tho place haunted. Tho lights nro mado by a I peculiar magio lantern with which my in- j sano brother somo times amusos himself. His shrloks nnd laughter, which has driven so many horror-stricken away, art but tho ravings of a mad-man. You know all, Mr. Gray," sho said, rising. "It Is not pro;cr that I remain longor. Itcgrets that wo bad not mot sooner aro useless it is usoless for us to think of each othor at nil. Allow mo to thank you for daring what you did. My husband was very angry at you for thwarting him, aud ho would havo killed you at that tlmo If ho could." 'Did ho abuso you for it!" "Not more than ho has on other occasions." occa-sions." "Was ho Jealous." "Oh no, ho know that my motivo was only to thwart htm, and savo my unfortunate llttlo brother Claude, Now, farewell) I go back to my moth rand duty I Cod approves this sacrifice. I am sorry that I am forced to complain of my husband, and this story told for tho first tlmo shall never bo repeated. re-peated. I shall remember you in my pray-v pray-v but but wo must never seo each otnorngaii72?aow,i!u'v'vvv'vvvv izaiiiiiiifl Sho sobbed bitterly. Allan took her rsHHHIH hand, rovorently touched It to Ids lips, and, fLaLaH unablo to utter a word, whoclcd about ami rLHHIIfl loft tho scene. ! aaaaal - ' ? LBB CHAPTUIt XX. I jH CONCLUSION. L B Allen Oray found tho remainder of his f H llfo at Turloy's Point trichoma. Ha kept -'alllllllfl tho secret of lho old houso ou tho hill to LH himself. As ho hnd no hopes, of Improving his business at lho Point, and h lountl st ( H daily growing more liuploasaut, he dots. , H mined to tnnka u il.uugo; although La etV lalsaiiiiiifl fored his p.ois a. id ina enal voir ctunij, tte JH ono could bo Tumid to ta'.o ti'm V. '.jaBsallllllllfl Drivci to dul-oralUm lu xi Ut bo. HH thought him u y Vo udgh) H bo abto to diupajo .!u ;(vaa. H Thoso politicians and statesman, Htnsi, fM Simmons and Strong, lrarntognatkrsr beta 'VLHIIIIIIIIIIIIH defeat, continued to war upon each sUita. 'LaLaLafl They had sufficient money to yuroW ass) 'Lbbbbbbbbbbb! newspaper, and, as Tonty Barnss ksfsn to ,H evince a desire to enter tha toursutkatja t 'H field, ho determined to make sata aaaeat ' iH tho poot 1 4 "Toney, can't you get Mr. Strong to uv H tho HVjffhi lit public nnd put you la u X . ltor!" Allen asked the poot ono day, aa a H camo Into tho ofUco with a f rush'roll Of tub " "I don't know; I will see him asout It, LbbbbH aid Toncy,h! faco becoming Joyfully bright ' TH It was un easy matter to sot Miss Uoyklaa ' H after Tom Simmons, and when Tom Uama4 i H that thero was danger of Strong pufchasv kaaaaaaaaaa! ing tho papor nnd using .It as a later to f H crush him, ho mado hasio,' to. rajsa' taa )i H money and buy the concern hlnisaU. H Thus released, Allen Oray, unmovea ay !H tho sighs, tears und delicate laslnaaUes sbbbbbbbbI of Miss Hopkins, quitted tho dull little Via '' bbbbbbbbI sourl town, and lu ChU-an sougkt aew t) '' fields of labor, with llttlo i ipo, bowover, of j driving from his mind tha sad tnmifg H Of tho past tf JJLbbbbbI Uo secured a position as reports aa oas H of the great city duliles, aud for a fear hla zasBBBBBBsl llfo ran on with but llttjo to disturWto ''bbbbbbbbI dolly routlno. Oao oveuing ha had just' Iisbbbbbbbbb! come Into tho main offlco. when tha 'editor. wIbbbbbbbbbI in-chlof sent him totlm scono of a railrss4 ' " if bbbbbbbbbbb! disaster, which a telegram had announced bbibbbbbbbbI but a moment before! his arrival. Tha wreck) Srfasaaaaaaal was only a'fow miles from tho'city, an4 -, .'t IIbbbbbbbbbI speelal car look himself and several oik ' IbbbbbbbbbI nowspapcr men with htm. v ( i mM Darknoss had already envtloped ok) ' ' -'IjH landscape, concoallng much ot tho ghaatb ' ".sLbbbbbbI horror, whon the soonc was reached. Ik. '. '.al was a broken bndgo and there were skat , H terod coaches and mingled passcngart IsT' ' "'.bbbbbbbbbbbbbbI tthe heap. The TOrter tet to wOrVzVai .t(fiaLaLaH " tho'6und.cf itMmmmZmiM Cf ruins. .sbbbbbhsbibbbbbmsbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb Cray drapgedHH ctoken car, a slight rirflHBaH goldon trcTsTsWHRsHH to blm, and holding tho lnsansiblelH L GKM ton lantern bo gusped: ' sHH H "My Cod, it Is Bertha!" OentlyTMrFH hor upon tho greons ward ahd called a us W' H goon to ber sldo. S'- LbbbbbbbbbbbbI The gray-hnlrod man ofrfclcnco bent eve 1 'H her, placed his car to her chest, and .ssta 'f.H her heart still beat Kcstoratlvas ward asV MH ministered, and sho began to revive. 'AlW t sbbbbbbbbbb1 turned away and noted several Ufolssa UJ' VUH forms lying at tbo side of tho track. Among" ' 1L ' them was tho dark-whlskercd Frenchman, , ( "bbbbbb! tho husband and evil goulus oj BclrtUa. m H "--is5--4iii-'-' ' V LbbbbI Even death thoro was a look of AooLHbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbI satisfaction upon 'his haughty faco. nH ' PbbbbbbbbbbbbbbI Calmly Allen went about tbo tvrsok, aclH ' VLbbbbbbbbbbI hurriedly writing up tho affair, tookn.tolH ' M reporter on a rival paper and saldi J - LbbI "Luko, I am in great distress to-algklL ,bbbb! and I wish to ask a favor of you. Touim ' ' , IbbbI think I am asking too rauoh, bat WW yeft'. JIbbbI eome to learn all, yc u will not blame rae A ST bH "WhatUU, Allen!" Luka ashed, aa aasaaav ML mot fit iLB "Tako my rsport, and at tha Brat stales IsC &IH telogrnph It to my papsr," U - jH Thoy bad now corns near otuMiffc to A H MIbbbbI lantern for Luka to see hla cctspaaWi w '3sbbbb! face. 3 Vl "Why, Allen, what Is the matter w't fu JEH you!" ho asked; "you lookaa If you bad, fijt JH seen a ghost" WiB' sfl "I found a friend horo" ?71E 'sfl "Dcndl" !V "Not dead yot, but sho Is badly Injured. vm H Go to tho ofilco and explain all to tho edltosh ;'3b cfl In-chief." m "I wilL" &k,' M With tbo first car Allen went back to U nfi , 'M city. On tho seat at his side, hor head rest- i XM sfl Ing on his shoulder, was a pale, beautiful ' 4at young woman, hor long golden hair stream- 4Hfel 1H ing In rippling waves down hor baok. Bha iMK bb! was undor tho iufluonco of narcotics anA 'V; M groaning with palu. ' -fU "Does tbo young leddy go to a 'osplUll &S 1 asked tho coachman, as Allen lifted his still & ' H unconscious burden Into a carriage, ffi '" ' U CONCLUDED ON 4th 1A0E W$M M JssbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbI r ' " ALLEN GRAY "Ho; to ttio fairuar nbuso. To tho hotol thoy drove, aud securing one of tho bost rooms, he hail tho most skilled surgeons oallod and a nurso engaged. Much of his tlmo wa spont at her bed-sldo, bed-sldo, and when thov sweet bluo eyos first opened imhuod with rcavm, thoy foil upon tho pnlo, anxious face of tho young editor. For days abo was loo wreak to talk, but when Hho grow strong onough ho told her all. Hho then Informed hlra that her mother and oldest brothor wero dead, and hor husband hus-band having bocomo unbearable sho waa flying from him uLtho time of tho accident. At tho lost stop boforo It occurred, ho having hav-ing como ahead of hor on nuothor routo, had boarJod hor car. Ho had just found her and a woro ho would kill her when thoro was a crash as If tloavon and earth wero meeting together, und sho know no mora. Allon auortatned that hor auut wus now living at Dayton, and telegraphed hor to corno at onco to her Injured nloco. Tenderly as a brother tho reporter cared for hor until Mllo. Ca'ntllo camo. Youth, hoalthund a a' rong constitution woro on Dorian" tl.'.o. aud ahe rooovorod very rapidly. Whon Mllo Camlllo camo aho brought the Uttlo dumb boy, who was rejoiced to sou his aUtor and his companion on that long dark. rtdo. fiortha'a rccovory was so rapid that soon after hor aunt s arrival tho was thought to bo woll onough to go homo with hor. Vhoa Allen camo to bid hor adlou ho aaldi "I havo ono roquoi' to make of yout" "What Is it I" sho asked. "That you pormlt mo to correspond with you." For a moment look of pain swept over Tna sake axoei rnigATtma an uxl loved j LOKQ the palo, bonntl,'i:l .ico, tho gnlden head' wa bowed In thought, nnd sho said " Walt until a yoar lus clapwd." "Notbeforol'' "No, not before, but rcmomber that I will evor hold rod lrr irralef ul lemorabranw)." Their piiljnrj was elaiply as friends. Bertha looked very pratty in widow's weeds, for sho inilVwed oh wearing mourning mourn-ing for the man wlio in Iffg bud mado her mlscrnble. Allen waited anxiously for fiehour whon all restrictions nhoul.d bo removed Moan whllo ho ra U)cu.nag! ono oi the oromojt . nowapapvr men of tho tlruo. From reporter' ho had reach) 1 tho poaltlon or city editor on one of tho largiat a-jd moat widely known dalUca In Chi.-.ifp, Tho year gono by, AJIcn vn-ote, and In duo , tlmo received uit uniwcr Tho correspondence correspond-ence becamr rcguhv, and utthoend of another an-other six months & Jcavo of nbsoncc was granted tho overwoiUcd Uty editor, who hlod away to some pluco in Ohio. Reaching Dr.ytont ho hires oan lago and ordor tho driver to too hlra to Mllo. Camlllc's. Ai tho can Iao duuvi up to thw pretty cottago catc, thoro standing by It, awaiting him moro beautiful ar.d youthful In appcaranca than whon ti hid scon her on tho bluff bathed In tbo, goidcn light ot tho sotting san.was thq wma angelic creature, creat-ure, whom ha ludlovod 3j lo:tg. Ho sprang- from t'.u larriago. Thoro, being no barrier to cIieLk, their natural Impulses, Im-pulses, hrart met heart In tud long rapturous raptur-ous embraio Clftduo cuiiij to shako tho hand of his friend, and even MUo. Camlllo could muster up auCl lent KhgtlsU for ade-llghttulconvors.tlou. ade-llghttulconvors.tlou. Alien was so long missing from his desk that his assoelatsa bogaa ta wonder what waa tho cauw of lua protiwricd absence. Tho managng odltor seemed to know tho cauao, thoagh hik9iit lils own i-ouusol At lust Alien loturnod lo hta jwst bright, smiling aud hapiy. LuU?, who wus now atsoclatod with him' oli tho same paper, askodhlma groat many quoitlons In. regard re-gard to his viilr, all of whk,h .Ulea ovaded. A fow days la'cr, howentr, when ho met tho city editor on tho s'rcot, accompanied by tho prettiest bluo-cyod, golden haired crcaturo ho had over soon, who wn introduced intro-duced tohlin by w r iroait husband as Mrs. Allon Orny, tight, begae to break lu upon his darkened mind, and ho thought ho understood fully tho causo of Allen's protracted pro-tracted absence. A fow weck after his rriTlngo and ro-,turn ro-,turn to (aiieuBo, Allen rocolvod a lettor from Toney Barnes, uccompnniod by a poem for which ho liopcd Mi. (Jrav would And a publlihor. Tonoy atatcd ninong other item of news that Him-aon nnd Strong hadatla8t8iiecorl!.MlnUniiiclalb ruining , each other. Tho IIV(int:itltf'nad suspended sus-pended several mouths boforo, and Miss Hopkins had "married a vvidowor ovor on tho Island with nino children' He concluded con-cluded by sayinjr that tho pooito were all moving away rroai Turloy'a l"olut. and A old ttonc Imusc on the hlU had long slncxr boon dosorlod. fTrru cvo.) |
