y, and thanked him, thanked his sister also, but solemnly
assured him she could never marry any one,--she would sooner starve in
the--"

Dr. Grey raised his hand, signalling for silence, and for some moments
he leaned his forehead against the chair directly in front of him.

Mr. Granville cleared his throat several times, and loosened his
neck-tie, which seemed to impede his breathing.

"Shall I go on? There is little more to tell."

"If you please, Granville."

"Mr. Minge would not abandon the hope of finally persuading her to
accept his hand, but next day when he called to inquire about her
health, and to request the sisters to watch her movements, and
prevent her escape, he was shocked to learn that she had disappeared
the previous night, leaving a few lines written in pencil on a
handkerchief, in which she had wrapped her superb suit of hair. They
were addressed to the Sisters of Charity, and briefly expressed her
gratitude for their kindness in providing for her wants, while she
assured them that as soon as possible she would return and compensate
them for their services in her behalf. Meantime, knowing the high
price of hair, she had carefully cut off her own, which was
unusually long and thick, and tendered it in part payment. When she
was taken into the building, her nurse found concealed in her dress a
very elegant watch, bearing her name in diamond letters, and she
requested that the sisters would hold it in pawn, until she was able
to redeem it. During her illness, it had been locked up, and they
supposed she left it, fearing that an application for it would arouse
suspicions of her intended flight. Mr. Minge bought the hair and
handkerchief, and, after a liberal remuneration for their care of
the invalid, he took charge of the watch, and left his address to be
given her when she called for her property. That her mind had become
seriously impaired, there can be little doubt, since nothing but
insanity can explain her refusal to accept one of the handsomest
estates in America. Unfortunately, a few days subsequent to her
departure from the hospital, Mr. Minge was taken very violently ill
with pneumonia, and died. Conscious of his condition, he prepared a
codicil to his will, and bequeathed to Salome twenty-five thousand
dollars, and an elegant house and lot in New York City. He exacted
from his sister a solemn promise that she would leave no means
untried to ferret out the wanderer, to whom he was so devo