Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-05-02
EATON, OHIO, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1879

on account of some irregularity in his
papers, poor Willie's pension, which
had been continued to bis widow, was
about to be withdrawn. 1t might cost
more time and money than she had to
spare to get the claim re-established.
The old farmhouse where she lived had
only few rather unproductive acres
attached to it., and was heavily mort
gagged. Hetty had depended upon the
now there was a bleak, homeless pros
pect staring her and her little brood in
the face. But all the time she knew
she should be wonderfully helped
THROUGH her many troubles. The
thought of Aleck Gay-great, generous
hearted fellow-who had loved her SO
faithfully long years, came like warm,
sweet suffusion, and burned upon her
cheek in hidden blush. Hetty sus-
pected this feeling was temptation in
disguise, for she knew the devil has a
very ungentlemany way of taking ad-
vantage of woman's weak be ok and
tired feet.
Near Hetty's house was an ugly, steep
hill, with more pitches and shelving
banks than any other in half days
journey. That same afternoon, which
was lowering and overcast, an old man
in tow frock was guiding a pair of
! oxen down Long Hill. When about
halfway to the bottom his streaming
old eyes took note of something ahead
which looked like the detached wheels
and body of yellow sulky. His slow
senses had scarcely made this observa-
| ton when he came upon man, hatless,
and with torn coat, lying among some
loose stones little under the bank.
"Why, du tell, if it amt Aleck Gay |"
"It's me, sure enough" groaned
Aleck. "That beast of mine ran away
and smashed the sulky to shivers. 1
hope he has broken his confounded
neck. My ankle is sprained, and I have
hurt my arm, and there are some
scratches on my face, but I hope my
bones are all right. Come, daddy, give
me lit as far as the widow Hender-
sons and on your way home you may
stop at the doctor's."
Hetty had just put down little Jane,
after bad coughing fit, when there
came a confused and ominous sound
from the front porch. She ran to the
door, and throwing it open, called out,
in a tone of despair, "What has hap
pened now?'
"It's me, Hetty," Aleck answered, as
an accident near here, and am pretty
well knocked to pieces, and thought,
seeing how it is, you would not refuse
to take me in"
Hetty reeled back against the side of
the passage-way without speaking, and
turned very pale. Aleck saw the look,
and it made his heart leap up in his
throat, although he was suffering con-
siderable pain. Soon the patient was
sitting bolstered up in a rocking-chair
wrapped in a blan ket, with his hurt foot
on cushion, and pillows about him.
Arnica, camphor, lint, and bandages
were quickly brought; Hetty washed
the blood from his forehead with a very
tender touch.
"Aleck," inquired she, sympatheti-
cally, "don't you think it would do you
good to have plaster on these cuts?"
"No," said Aleck, giving prodigious
groan, " it amt worth while. Only if
you would stand there and hold your
hand on my head few minutes, it
would draw better than any plaster in
the world"
"You need something warming to
take inwardly, Aleck. 1 am afraid you
will get exhausted and faint away"
No"-and he gave another profound
sigh" but if you'll sit down there.
where 1 can look at you handy, it will
do more good than doctors stuff"
Hetty sat down accordingly, and as
the pity grew in her face, hope rose in
the breast of Aleck.
"Do you think your leg is broken,
Aleck? j. am SO sorry for your suffer
ings. The pain must be intense"
at is pretty bad," answered Aleck,
evasively, "and 1 can't tell just what
has happened until the doctor comes.
I've notion it is mostly internal. There
is something wrong here" and he put
his hand conspicuously over his heart.
81 don't know but Pm going to pieces.
One thing is certain : I never shall
ride in that yellow sulky again. 1t may
be all day with me and then came
another dreadful groan. Hetty"--
after a little pause" don't you think
you could reconcile it with your. sense
of duty to take pity on me?' You ac-
cept misfortunes SO beautifully, Hetty !;
now have become-a-kind of misfor-
tune, couldn't you accept me?"
elf can do you good" said Helty,
in weak voice. at would seem almost
providentially pointed out. Who knows
but this may prove a means OF saving
grace ?" = IL.
"It will I'' cried Aleck, in ecstasy. He
quite forgot to groan, and with his sound
arm he clasped her waist. "Hetty, God
helping me, this shall prove the best
| thing that ever happened to YOU"