The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-25
THE DOCTORS LAST SHOT.

Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Brown were
having very comfortable afternoon
together. Mrs. Smith, who was an in.
valid, or thought herself one, which is
Just as bad, was reclining in an easy.
chair, and Mrs. Brown, who had run in
with her knitting work just to see how
she was, had been persuaded to spend
the rest of the day with her friend.
Yes, Mrs. Brown, L consider it
provldential. That poor niece of mine
was left an orphan on the cold charities
OF the world, and as 1 was the only
friend she had, she came right here, OF
course. Well, here 1 am in such deli
cate health, needing constant attention,
and =! couldn't expect my own girls,
poor dears, to be fussing around their
sick mother all the time. | want them
to enjoy themselves while they can.
Ibis poor thing needed home, and l
gave it to her at once. / said of course,
child, come right here and live with
us. You can make yourself useful, no
doubt. and it'll be all right" She's
been here six months now, and has
been wonderful help to me. I keep
her busy from daylight until dark to
keep her mind off her troubles, you
know, and nights when 1 can't sleep it IS
dreadful handy to have her where she
can rub my back, soak my feet, bathe
my head, and read me to Sleep"
Do you pay her wages ?"
"Bless me, no She said something
about it one day as if she expected to
be paid for her work, but told here we
couldn't think of hiring our own blood
relations to work for us. I told her to
Just be easy about that, whenever she
needed anything we'd see about it.
She gave me kind of queer smile
that didn't quite understand or like :;
but, on the whole, she is wonderful
quiet and gentle like, and I consider it
real Providence"
/. "Where is she q
&c L sent her down to the back pas
ture to get some blackberries for my
tea. l thought may be I'd relish them
if they were fresh"
Down in the back pasture she was.
the poor neice, Meta Laugdon, but not
picking blackberries. She was sitting
on a mossy log among the bushes, cry.
ing as If her heart would break. 1t did
her good; it cooled the fierce fever in
her heart, and she finally grew quiet
and slipped softly down upon her knees
and prayed long and earnestly for pa
thence and wisdom and help from her
heavenly Father. Then she caught up
her pail and rose to commence her task.
But it so happened that Doctor Ches-
ter, who was spending few weeks in
that delightful country place, was out
hunting that day. A fine, plump par
fridge flew up from the bushes Just at
that moment, and the doctor fred To
his astonishment the bird escaped, but
a shrill scream and heavy fall beyond
the bushes made him throw down his
gun and bag and rush furiously
through the sharp briars, never heed
ing the rents they made in his fine
hunting suit or the cruel scratches up
on his face and hands.
There lay the game he had brought
down, in the shape of q young girl who
was in dead faint or killed for aught
he knew. He quickly loosened her
dress and dashed water in her face from
the full canteen which he happened to
have, and finally forced few drops of
brandy between her lips. At length
she opened her eyes, to his great relief,
and tried to rise, but a sharp cry of |
pain showed there was something more |
serious than a mere fright.
"What is it, where are you hurt %
My arm," she exclaimed.
He tore the faded calico sleeve open
to the shoulder, and sure enough the
soft, white arm was covered with blood |
and seemed to be riddIed with shot.
"Dear, dear, what have done I" he
exclaimed, hastily tying his own and |
her handkerchief tightly around it.
I" There's no time for apologies or ex-
plantations. l thought / was shooting
a partridge, and in some unaccountable
way l have shot you. Now tell me
where you live so can get you home
as soon as possible. am physician,
and we'll sorn have the poor arm all
right again"
"My home is just over the hill; I
can walk if you will help me a little"
With set, resolute face, and lips tightly
,losed to keep back the means of pain,
Meta walked hastily towards home
leaning upon his arm. But Just as they
reached the gate she tainted again, and
5aking her in his arms he bore her
'apidly to the house, and without any
ceremony pushed open the parlor door
md laid her upon sofa. |