River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-01-23


ed him, a retreating figure, growing small
er and smaller in the distance. He neve
once looked back; the regular march 0
his step never faltered turn of the roa'
hid him from sight. Miss Bellue sa
down on the floor "a most undigniict
position-and cried till her pretty eye
were red and swollen.
ut is all overp she moaned -"al
overw
y
"Firel FireP'
Mat sprang from his bed, and, will
professional experiences struck p light
tumbled into some clothes, and rushed
from the house,
No need to ask whence the alarm pro
ceeded; the fierce pillar of fame and tn,
red glow in the sky were beacons TOWARD
which he ran at headlong speed, will
oae thought in his mind, II pray HEAVIER
it may not be the rectory y
"Where is it2' he shouted TO two la
borers, tagging along as swiftly as heav,
boots and ponderous habits of progress
sion would let them,
"Farmer Joyce's, sur"
"Farmer Joycesl Thank heavenl TIT
next house to the rectory, but not neal
enough to endanger It'll"
Mats suspense gave place to thrill
of almost pleasurable excitement; it wa.
his mad Young blood" asserting itself
Dashing through a gateway, he almos
ran over girl, bareheaded, wringing he
hands in impotont anxiety. 1t was Mis-
Bellue.
"Go back at once" commanded Mat
CURLY. "Put on hat, and the thickes
shawl you have"
The panic stricken girl o5cyed. No
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, NJ. D., in the center Of
burning pig styc, pitching out squeak
ing, hali-roasted porkers.
''Just my luck y he grumbled, examin-
| ing his scorched fingers. eff they had
been babies, now, might have gained
some credit at the same risk"
'sThe stable is a fire, surl"
what" shouted Mat, He did moi
wait for the information to be repeated
An ardent lover Of horsefiesh, 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 p
eyes, sur"
BY drawing sack over each animals
head and NJ ok, thus bilndfoidlng 1t; by
passing rope round the forelegs and set
ting strong arms to haul, and by little
organization of brave but until then i'll APP
piled efforts, a rescue was effected. All
the horses were saved except one poor
brute smoth red by the smoke.
Farmer Joyce came up, with grimy
hand extended in honest gratitude.
'Thank you kindly, sir. / don't mind
for the ricks and the buildings-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, j
think. Mat come across with me-
Mat glanced at the ayerted 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-iust my luckl' said Mat. 81 must
90 home at once to dress them
He took off his hat as he spoke, awk-
wardly enough, with the left hand, and
turned away.
ale is fine fellow, Agnes, that lover
of yours" said the recter; "but his man
ner is rather abrupt tonight. What ails
him?"
"Never mind, papa--never mind"
There was a kind of wall in Miss Bel
lue's voice.
"a lovers quarrel, thought the rector,
sagely. "Then my attitude must be one
of dignified neutrality-my policy non
intervention; :" and he laughed quietly to
himself at the conceit
Mat was dressing his burns In the sur
gerry q hen the outer door opened and his
father entered.
"Halloo, father! Who called you upl
1t was my turn tonight"
1t should be explained that "young Mat
Curtis aud "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, father"
doctor Curtis lips moved twice be
fore any sound issued; then he uttered
but one word: "Choleram
Up0n Mats face there came faint re-
Election of bis fathers 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 pri-
vatc means, fled with his wife and family.
Mat and 'ithe old Doctor were worked
almost TO death No need of bar-parlor
discussions, or approaching steeple-chas-
es, or poaching ARRAYS now to quiet the
mad young blood.
Mat went from house to house with a
grave face, and cheerful kindly, hope
full word to every poor terrified wretch
who shudders at his own fears.
Then his father was stricken, "the old
doctor"
Poor cold DOCTOR" When the evil he
had dreaded really came to him, seized
upon him, he grew brave and strong.
"Nonsense, ladl' he said, When Mat
tried to speak encouraging words from q
sinking heart. II have no stamina, /
could not expect to live much longer in
the ordinary course OF nature. Don't
blink the truth, boy. I shall be glad to
diein harness."
Miss Bellue watched the funeral pro-
eession from that same upper window
she had once before put to a similar use.
Very contrite was Miss Bellue in these
DAYS. A horrible dread had taken pos
session of her with the frt report Of
cholera in the village. She fought against
it; she hated herself for it; she tried to
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 establishment and