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Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville

' he screamed, already raving; and then Old Hucks ran in just

in time to prevent the madman from throttling West, for his fingers were

even then twined around Bob's throat. There was a desperate struggle,

and I remember that, scared as I was, I joined Thomas in trying to pull

Thompson off his prey. But suddenly old Will threw up his arms and

toppled backward, still raving like a demon, but unable to move his body

from the waist downward. West helped us to put him in bed, and said he

was paralyzed, which afterward proved to be the truth. Also, his mind

was forever gone; and I think it was father's death that did that,

rather than the loss of his money."

They were all staring, white-faced, at the speaker. Most of the mystery

was being cleared away; indeed, there was now little of mystery

remaining at all.

"West hurried after a doctor," continued Joe, who was almost as much

absorbed in his story as were his listeners, and spoke in a reflective,

musing way, "and he succeeded in finding one who was stopping for a few

days at the hotel. Poor Bob was very kind to us in our trouble, and I

never heard him mention a word about his own losses, which must have

been severe. After the funeral was over, and I found I had nothing to

inherit but the farm, I decided to go to the city and make my way there,

as I had long wished to do. West gave me a little money to start me on

my way, and the rest of my story is not very interesting to anybody.

Major Doyle knows something of it, after the time when I got through my

technical school by working as a servant to pay for my instruction. I'm

a failure in life, so far, young ladies; but if you'll not bear that

against me I'll try to do better in the future."

"Good!" cried the Major, approvingly, as he took the boy's left hand in

both his own and pressed it. "You're developing the right spirit,

Joseph, me lad, and we'll think no more about the sadness of the past,

but look forward to the joy of your future."

"Of course," said Patsy, nodding gravely; "Joe Wegg is bound to be a

great man, some day.

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