Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-01-23
one thought in his mind, II pray heaven
If NAV not be the rectoru L,

"Farmer Joycesl Thank heaven! The
next house to the rectory, but not near
enough to endanger it!'
Mats suspense gave place to thrill
of almost pleasurable excitement; it was,
his ''mad young blood" asserting itself.
Dashing through a gateway, he almost
ran over girl, bareheaded, wringing her
hands in impotcnt anxiety. 1t was Miss
Bellue.
''Go back at once" commanded Mat,
CURLY. "Put on hat, and the thickest
shawl you have"
The panic stricken girl o3cyed. Not
till afterwaad did it occur to her he had
no right to issue such instructions.
When she returned it was to find Mat
thew Curtis, Esq M. D., in the center of
a burning pigstye, pitching out squeak.
ing, hal!-roasted porkers.
Just my iuck!' he grumbled, examin-
ing his scorched fingers. eff they had
been babies, now, I might have gained
some credit at the same risk
"The stable is a. fire, sur!''
'What!' shouted Mat, He did not
wait for the information to be repeated.
An ardent lover ot horsehesh, it was an
appeal to his sympathies that sent him
round Intervening Outbuildings in state
Of breathless suspense.
1t was true. The STABLE was on fire;
the horses were screaming with terro
two or three rustics were making excited
and fruitless attempts to drag them out
attempts the poor animals resisted
with all their might. A little crowd of
men looked on idly and dsspairingly.
"Jim, run into the barn and get three
or four empty sacks and rope. Quick!"
Eyes, sur"
By drawing a sack over each animals
head and nj ok, thus blindfolding it.; by
passing rope round the forelegs and set
ting strong Inns to haul, and by little
organization of brave but until then ILL ap-
piled efforts, rescue was effected. All
the horses were saved except one poor
brute smothered by the smoke.
Farmer Joyce came up, with grimy
hand extended in honest gratitude.
"Thank you kindly, sir. I don't mind
for the ricks and the bui]dings-they are
insured; but it went to my heart to hear
them poor brutes scream"
Mat gave his left hand-the right one
was bound up with handkerchief. The
old rector joined them, Miss Bellue lean
ing on his arm
"The danger is over now, Joyce, I
think. Mat, come across with me-
Mat glanced at the averted face Of the
young lady, and misconstrued it. She
was, in truth, ashamed to meet his eye.
The contrast between his GOODNESS and
courage and her physical cow rdice hum
bled her.
II have burnt my hand and arm slight
ly-just my luck!' said Mat 81 must
go home at once to dres them.'
He took off his hat as he spoke, awk-
wardly enough, with the left hand, and
turned away.
"He is fine fellow, Agnes, that lover
of yours" said the recter; shut his man
ner is rather abrupt tonight. What ails
him?'
"Never mind, papa--never mind"
There was kind of wall in Miss Bel
lue's voice.
"a lovers quarrel" thought the rector,
sagely. "Then my attitude must be one
of digni6ed neutrality-my policy non
intervention;' and he laughed quietly to
himself at the concelt.
Mat was dressing his burns in the sur
gerry hen the outer door opened and his
father entered.
s:Halloo, father! Who called you up!
It was my turn tonight"
It should be explained that "young Mat
Curtis" aud 1.-THE old doctor" were part
ners.
"The old doctor" made no reply. He
sat down IN low chair, and began to
fan himself with broad straw hat. Mat,
looking up in surprise, saw that he was
CHASTITY pale; that his eyes had look of
horror in them; that his whole appear
ance was that of man who had sustained
terrible fright.
Mat touched his arm gently.
"What is it, father2''
doctor Cults lips moved twice be-
fore any sound issued; then he uttered
but one word: ''Cholera!"
Upon Mats face there came faint re-
Fiction of his father fear. The scourge
hal been raging with frightful violence
in distant parts Of England. They had
talked OF it often, dreading its approach,
trusting it might pass by this pure.
healthy village.
"No; the next day three cases were re-
ported and one death. The rival practi.
toner, Mr.Bennett, man of good pr:
vate means, fed with his wife and family
> Mat and ';the old DOCTOR were wor ked
almost to death No need of bar parlol
discussions, Or approaching steeple-chas-
es, or poaching affrays now to quiet the
mad young blood.
Mat went from house to house with q
, grave face, and cheerful, kindly, hope
:, tul word to every poor terrified wretch
who shoulders at his own fears.
Then his father was stricken, 'the old
> doctor."'
Poor "old doctor!' When the evil hi
had dreaded really came to him, seized
upon him, he grew brave and strong.
y "Nonsense, Iad!' he said, when Ma
tried to speak encouraging words from {
sinking heart. II have no stamina,
could not expect to live much longer ir
y the ordinary course OF nature. Don
blink the truth, boy. shall be glad t.
r die IN harness"
= Miss Bellue watched the funeral pro
' cession from that same upper window
. she had once before put to similar use
Very contrite was Miss Bellue in these
days. A horrible dread had taken pos
session of her with the fr:t report O.
cholera in the village. She fought agains
it; she hated herself for it; she tried t
. drag herself to the beds of the sick poor
= but trembling limbs refused to carry her
. 1t was constitutional physical cowardice
., and every gossiping tale of Mats calm
heroism increased her self abasement ane
> her love and admiration for that uncon
scious gentleman.
His fathers death gave him double
work, but Re did not spare himself. H.
snatched food, rest, sleep. when and how
I he could, until the epidemic died on
2 almost: then as the last case was in fai
way of recovery he siclzened.
Miss Bellue induced her father to hav,
= Mat conveyed from his lodgings to tn
$ rectory, and there the devoted girl min
a isterad to his comfort assiduously, ant
4 her faithful care was rewarded by hi
ultimate recovery.
D Meet we tell of mutual explanation
S and promises when Mat learned to whom