The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-07-13
awe MEET
An Episode which the Man Re-
membered and the Woman

Prom Hnp.rs Weekly. r..--
One wild clustering night not many
years ago 4 stage coach made q short de-
tour through one Of the mountainous
regions Of Pennsylvania, and stopped At
the house OF the preacher. TWAS an old
brown house At the foot Of q sterile rock,
seemingly "a remote from civilization as
the hear, Of an Arabian desert. The Rev.
Paul Hume had already spent here, so
far as vitality went, the best years Of his
life. BE had been Of late glad to find the
old rebellious longipgs, the fierce ambi-
ton, even the fretting discomfort and
latent hope for the future, becoming more
dim and dull, and be began 10 believe, Us
the years went BY, he would be able to
live ont those allotted 10 him honorably
At least, and in measure resignedly. He
had given up the old foolish fondness for
putting FIRE and ieryor in long Sunday
discourse. He was quite content that
come Of bis congregation should sleep
quietly through the sermon, and rn-
inmate over whatever Aeshly sggrayation
or Joy thst was uppermostin their minds.
Probably his sole spiritual companion,
even in the degree suited to her capacity,
was his serving woman Hagar-blaek,
straight-ieatured, 'stoical and retieent.
but given to bursts Of religious enthusi-
asm that in \ measure relieved the dull
monotouy Of the life they lived there
alone together. ~ v 'rt0
-Hagar ought to have known her mas:
ter better than TO believe that he would re.
fuse sueeor to any helpless creature, and
it wa foolish for her TO shorten the chain
that barred the door that night in March
when the driver Of the coach begged that
they would take temporary care Of sick
passenger: She had been getting worse
and worse, the driver said, for the last
ten miles, and "seein' there was no hotel
nor hospital nor nothin' handy he had
made bold 10 fetch her To the parsons
house. But Hsgar shook the crimson
turbAn on her tiue Egyptian head, and
declared it was not the parsons business
10 risk his lite with pestilential ievers.
Even As abe spoke, however, the parson
had unloosed the chain and gone out in
bis scant gown and close capt the coach,
and lifted the poor woman out in his
strong arms. Hagst followed him and
bis burden up the stairs, and, "a the
light from the candle fell upon tangled
enrls and braid, bits Of ribbon, and a
long strip Of embroidered lace that hung
from the head OF the sick woman, u gold
chain about her neck, and other personal
gewgaws that appealed to the contempt
81 Hsgar, she muttered 10 herself that
her master had quite enough Of these
miserable aummeries for the rest of his
natural life.
The lady's trunks had been bumped in
after her, and presently they had to be
pried open, for The ladys lips and eyes
were closed, and she could not tell Hagar
where the key lay to these fne treasures.
But Hagar went TO work with will,
and, before the preacher had saddled his
gray cob and started of on his fiye.mile
journey across the mountain for doctor
Hagar bad put aside the ribbons and bits
OF travelling adornment for = long white
muslin robe, which struck the preachers
heart with q chill somehow, and made
him speed tie pony on his way.
The doctor had some broken bones to
set, and told Mr.. Hume frankly that, so
far a. fevers and disorders Of that kind
went, that black woman Of his was worth
a dozen ordinary practitioners, and that
be had long counted upon her In extrem-
tiles OF that sort; and, trottipg over 10
Mr.. Hume's the next morning, on his way
from the setting Of broken booes, the doc
tor called out 10 The parson 10 know 1.-The
was not right about the capability Of Ha-
gar. The sick iady's wffsis and ahkies
were baDdaged up with cooling herbs, and
the strength Of some healing detection OIL
Hargars reached the surgeon's nostrils.
The pupils Of the eyes were dilaied 1T.
tie, and crimson flush burned In the
cheeks OF the unfortunate traveller; but
the doctor declared that HagAr was do
ing we'll, and, with sood care, in week
OF % the journey. could be pursued.
Then, with . curious and involuntary
air u admiration, the doctor looked
again at the patient and went upon his
way; it was not often, in region like
this, one could look Al 3 pretty woman,
sick or we'll, and the good surgeon could
scarcely be blamed for thAt lingering
glance OF his upon poor Mrs. Delplaine.
As yet The parson has been alone con-
cerned for her safety; for many days ii
did not occur 10 him that the condition
Of his guest appealed 10 any attribute OF
bis nature save pity and reverence.
HAgar, however, strongly disapproved OIL
feminine charms, especially when the
owner endeayored to add 10 them by ri.
yolity Of dress or demeanor. The poor
lady, who, felt that shs. owed, perhaps,
her very lie 70 uiessl good peopleS care
and skill, opened her heart 70 Hagar, and
told her ali about her long iourDeyAtrom
the Pacific coaat, where! she had lost her
husband many years since, and had long
ed 10 come home 70 the East, but dread.
ed, "a we'll she might, the dresry waste Of
miles between. Hagar knitted stolidiy
on and listened-apparently abe listened,
but not with that active, tender, absorbed
interest that the minister, gave 10 The
story OF the traveller. +. .s-.t.
Mr.. Delplaine was too III to be leiI
long alone, and Hagar had her household
duties 70 attend TO. 90 sthat the minister
wa often compelled TO bring his boob
add make the sicksroom his study. Thii
chamber, which had been Somewhat bart
and deaolh,s, suddenly became zgloHinl
and warm, and made = sharp contrast
with the room on the lower Hoor, linet
With moth eaten volumes. and choking
with arenmulating dust. Mrs. Delplaint
had begged that 4 few sticks might b
iiighted on the hearth, and had pleadec
thar = quantity Of light wraps ant
shawls should be taken from her trunk
70 soften the glare nj the windows, 70 adj
70 the scanty covering Of Esr bed, TO throw
over the grim leathern back Of her chair
and 40 Mr.. DelaplAine's favorite colo
seemed tote Of the faint warm tintof th,
rose, the whole atmosphere OF the room
took this soft coloring, and the hungr.
souI Of the Reverend Paul delighted there
| In without knowing why. BE Wss walk
ing lust now in the big gloomy room b
Low. he scant tails Of his threadbare Goa
tapping in the chill air OF March, bot hi
soul vas warm with the memory Of Ii
last hours be bad spent In the foon
above ~s,- rsaz ..-.,-.. d
|, And Mrs. Delplaine-having nothtnl
else 70 think Of in this queer, pteturesqu