The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-18

Intelligent, refined, the master of
his honorable profession, and, to all
outward manifestations, true gentle.
man, there was much about the doc
tor to captivate the fairer sex.
Amy thought she could love him,
but, to tell the truth, reader, she new
er tried.
If it were in accordance with her
parents wishes that she should be-
come Mrs. Vathek. she would will,
ingly relinquish him her hand, and
try to love him for his sake.
The Golden god of day was vet
far from the western horizon, when a
professional call took Otho Vathek
from Amy's side, and few minutes
later, to oblige her boyish brother,
the pretty heiress of Oak Hill entered
the pheton, and set out for home.
Not far from the grove rushed a
turbulent stream, whose steep banks
were covered with May grasses and
flowers to the very edge
The precipices were lined with
little groupes of picnicers, whom
Amy could distinguish with the su-
perb glass which she had accepted at
the hands of Doctor Vathek.
Amy do stop the horses, and let
ME get that pretty flower for MAN.
ma" begged Harry, depositing his
already large bunch of flowers in his
sisters lap.
Harry, you have gathered flow
ers enough already" said Amy.
"You was quite anxious to get home
a few moments since, and now you
will never get there, if yoa stop to
pluck every gaudy flower you see" +"
But just this once,"' pleaded the
boy, bestowing look upon his sister
which she could not resist. Amy,
I'm the only little brother you have,
and I'll love you more than ever, il
you leave me pluck the flower"
A tear glittered beyond Amy's
smile, and she gently drew the rein.
, Harry sprang from the pheton, and
ran, with a childish shout, to the
group of dandelions. He quickly
broke several from their stems, and
was returning when a pistol shot
smote the mild spring air.
Down the cliff some person was
amusing himself with target shoot.
ing.
The unexpected report startled the
bays, and, suddenly wheeling, from
Amy's hands rested lightly upon the
lines, they dashed toward the cliff .
The phaton barely missed little
Harry!
With pallid face, but still self-pos.
sessed, Amy tried to recover the lines
but they were jerked over the dasher
before she could touch them, and she
settled back into the vehicle, waiting
with terrible calmness, for the
dreadful fate seemingly in store for
her.
Rapidly the steeds, blind with
fright, neared the cliffs, a hundred
feet below which roared the muddy
stream over its rocky bed.
Groupes of merry people stiiled
their laughter at her peril, and many
buried their faces in their hands,
that they might not witness her i'm
pending doom.
To attempt to arrest .he speed OF
the infuriated animals seemd death
as horrible as leap from the cliff
but there was one who possessed the
nerve requisite for the attempt.
He was young man, who had
quilted the busy city for few days
real pleasure and quitude in the
country, and was comparatively a
stranger in the neighborhood.
When he saw Amy's peril, be ran
towards the phaton, and intercepted
the horses scarce thirty yards from
the precipice.
He fearlessly threw himself before
them. He grasped the bits,eoand
tugged at them with all his strength.
He was knocked beneath the iron
hoofs, and murderously trampled
but the horses were brought to BAY
long enough to permit Amy to spring
from the phaton, and seize the lines
Then they were speedily subdued.
Her daring preserver, rendered un.
conscious by his manifold injuries,
was borne to Oak Hill, and a mes.
senger dispatched for a surgeon.
Amy paced the eastern veranda OF
the mansion, that she might not hear
the heart rending groans the suffer.
er sent heavenward, and watching,
oh, how anxiously! for Doctor Vath-
ek's face.
AT last be came up the lawn, and
executed eeremonious bow when
be stepped upon the veranda. He
would have said something foreign
to his visit, had not Amy pointed to
the door beyond which her deliverer
lay between life and death.
HE needs your immediate atten.
ton, DOCTOR she said, with emphasis,
and, as be passed her, she added
with clasped hands. He saved my
life at the risk of his own, and for
the love Of Heaven, Otho, save his!'
He said nothing, but passed on
leaving Amy upon the porch waiting
his report.
When Otho Vathek bent over the
wounded man, he was struck with
the handsome face, which, through
some unseen Providence, had escap
ed unmarried.
He felt that Amy Moore would
love that face to the entire exclusion
OF his, and be resolved that such
things should not be.