The Red Cloud chief., 1879-04-17

appearance was of q man who had sus.
tanned = terrible fright.
Mat touched his arm gently.
"WhAt is it, fAther?"
Doctor Curtis's lips moved twice be.
fore any sound issued; then he uttered
but one word: ''Cholera!"
Upon Mats face there came q faint
reflection of his fathers fears. The
scourge had been raging with frghtful
violence In distant parts of England
They had talked Of Il often, dreading it
approach, trusting it might pass by thu:
pure, healthy village.
No; the next day three cases were re
ported and one death. The rival prsc'
~titioner, Mr.. Bennett, q man of good
private means, fed with his wife and
family. Mat and ''the old doctor
were worked almost TO death. No need
of bar-parlor discussions, or approach.
Ing steeple-chases, or poaching ARRAYS
now TO quiet the mad young blood.
Mat went from house TO house with g
grave face, and cheerful. kindly, hope
full word for every poor, terrified wretch,
who shuddered at his own fears.
Then his father was stricken, ''the old
Doctor"
Poor sold d~octor!" When the evil
he had dreaded really came to him,
seized upon him, he grew brave and
strong.
"Nonsense, lad" he said, when Ma.
tried to speak encouraging words from
a sinking heart. 81 have no stamina; l
could not expect to live much longer in
the ordinary course Of nature. Don't
blink the truth, boy. shall be glad to
die in harness."
Miss Bellue watched the funeral pro-
cession from that same upper window
she had once before put to q similar
use.
Very contrite was Miss Bellue in these
days. A horrible dread had taken pos
session of her with the first 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 ply
steal cowardice; and every gossiping
tale of Mats calm heroism increased
her self-aba ement and her love and
admiration for that unconscious gentle
man.
His fathers death gave him double
work, but he did not spare himself. He
snatched food, rest, sleep when and
how he could, until the epidemic died
out almost; then as the last case was in
a fair way of recovery, he sickened.
"My luck has changed" said Mat,
with a smile. 81 can be spared now
the work is DONE" - s
Miss Bellue heard the news the same
hour. A housemaid to whom she had
done some little kindness ran off to the
rectory TO tell her. Miss Bellue gave
an order or two and went straight to
her fathers study.
"Papa, Mat is stricken now"
"Bless my SOUL" said the Rector, in
great excitement. "POor lad-poOr
lad!"
81 have told jenkins to put the
horses to the brougham and the house.
keeper to get the green bedroom
ready"
"Ehp" said the old gentleman look
ing very bewildered.
"And you must fetch Mat" explain
Cu MISS Dcllucs Cdiully.
"But-but''-
"He shall not be left to the nursing
of those ignorant servants" she insist
ed r~esolutely. "He shall be brought
here or l will assuredly go to him."
The Rector had yielded to her all her
life. He shook his head in sore per-
plexity.
care you not afraid, dear?"
A peculiar smile lighted her pale,
beautiful countenance.
"Not now"
A similar question was almost the first
one put by Mat in a convalescent state.
"Were you not afraid, darlingP"
"Perfect love casteth out fear" she
rejoined, softly.