The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-02-22
up as fast as her rheumatic limbs would

Ou1J hnd0 yOu SOAO oOAOJ hOhOyJ "iu
yourself? Fell from de loft, Ell? Oh,
Mars Walter, is you never goin' to stop
cavortin' round and climbin' as eff you
was young? Whar is you hurt mostest,
honey?"
"Don't stop to look now, but try and
get me in the house."
Elsie was terrified at her fathers
CHASTITY face, plainly visible in the moon
light, and his faint voice.
Itwas an agonizing journey over the
few hundred yards between the barn and
the house. With the assistance of the
woman and the child, Mr.. Layton pushed
himself along, though the excrucia ting
pain would compel constant pauses. To
Elsie it seemed as if hours must have
elapsed before her father was dragged
into sitting-room on the ground floor,
for he could not be lifted up the steps TO
his bedroom. To get down mattress and
pillows was minutes work, but as they
placed him on the pallet he tainted
away.
"Don't scream, honey" said the old
woman, who knelt down to examine his
injuries, che amt dead; he's only
swounded away. He'smighty bad hurted,
though, and Pm feared his leg is broke.
Oh, child, eff we don't have doctor to
him right away he'll die, sure. What
we gwine to do-James and Tom away.
and it most midnight, and we aloneT'
She wrung her hands in the extremity OF
despair.
As the old woman spoke, Elsie had
seized shawl and wrapped herselfi in it.
"Pm going for DR.. Wilson, nanny" /"
she said.
"You, chile-you 60 four miles through
de wood,by yourlone self? You'se crazy,
sure"
"Pm going" she said, moving to the
door with a white, determined face.
"Pm not afraid, and when papa asks for
me, don't tell him where I've gone"
In moment she was out of the house,
and running down the lane. She paused
for one minute to see if any horse was in
in the lot that she might ride, but the
bars were down and the lot empty.
Elsie was fearless child, aud every step
of the way to Pineville was as familiar to
her as her own yard.
On she sped, through dark thickets
and open spaces, where the tall, whisper
ing pines made scarce any shadow; over
shallow, pebbly-bottomed creeks; the
little feet never pausing, and the little in
nocent heart knowing no thrill of fear save
for the father shewa speeding to save.
Three miles were accomplished, and she
passed large house some distance from
the road-the Hill Farm, where her two
friends, Rose and Jennie, lived. There
was light still burning in one of the
rooms. A sob rosein Elsie's throat.
"Little do they think who is passing
by now," she thought, "and what a
dreadful thing has happened"
Another mile, and she was knocking
at DR.. Wilson's door, who, fortunately for
her, had just returned from professional
visit, and whose horse, unsaddled, stood
at the door.
"Elsie Layton" I" cried the astonished
doctor, who answered her summons.
"Child, what are you doing at this time
of night, alone and on foot, too? What's
the matter?"
Her story was soon told to two SYM
pathizing listeners, for Mrs. Wilson had
Joined her husband at the door.
Fortunately, my horse hasn't been
unsaddled," said the doctor. $50 in
with Mrs. Wilson, child, and she will
give you a cup of tea, and then we'll
start. You can ride behind me-"
No, Elsie wanted no tea. She wanted
nothing but to be off and on the way
home. But Prince had never carried
double, and he wasn't going to begin for
Elsie or anybody else. He reared, and
backed and pranced in such an alarming
manner that Elsie had to slip off as best
she could.
"No use trying" said the doctor.
"Prince has made up his mind that he
won't take you. Stay with Mrs. Wilson
tonight, my dear, and rest assured 1
will not leave your father"
He put spurs to his horse, and was of
like a flash.
eyes, come in, Elsie," said Mrs. Will
son kindly. "You know you can start
back at daylight in the morning, if you
choose"
For the first time that evening Elsie
broke down utterly, and burst into pas.
sion of tears aud sobs.
81 can't stay" she cried. az would
die if had to stay away from papa to-
night. What will hurt me? I'm moi
afraid; Pm not tired. Oh, Mrs. Wilson
1 must go!"
And go she did, in spite of the good
lady's prayers and even anger.
"I suppose there is really no danger
she thought, "but to think of that little
creature being in the woods at thi'
hourp
Elsie herself now that she had gained
her point, had pretty much the sam'
thoughts. The moon was going down
and the shadows lay black on tn,
hillsides. Fatigue was beginning to tel
upon her, now that the strain was re
laxed, and her heart throbbed wildl!
whenever a sudden sound broke upol
the stiffness of the night.
She was not far from the village whel
the noise of voices and of horses feet OIL
the road behind her caused her an invol
untary panic, which she could not &C
count for herself at the time. She steppe,
into a thick cluster of bushes, and crouch
ing among them, waited for the riders t
pass.
Just as they reached her hiding-plac
one of the men (there were two of them
with an oath stopped his horse and dii
mounted.
cts this rotten girth again." he sale
"Hand me your knife"