The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-03-07
tumbled into some clothes and rushed

tumbled into some clothes and rushed
from the house.
No need to ask whence the alarm
proceeded; the fierce pillar of fame and
the red glow in the sky were beacons
towards which he ran at headlong speed,
with one thought in his mind, 81 pray
to heaven it may not be the rectOryl"
"Where Is itl" he shouted to two Ia
borers, tagging along - swiftly as heavy
boots and ponderous habits Of progress
ion would let them.
"Feazmer Joyce's, sur"
"Farmer Joyce'si Thank heaveni
The next house to the rectory, but net
near enough to endanger It'll"
Mats suspense gave place to thrill OF
almost pleasurable excitement; it was
his " mad young blood" asserting itself.
Dashing through gateway, be almost
ran over q girl, bareheaded, wringing
her hands in impotent 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 obeyed. Not
till afterwards did it occur to her he had
no right to issue such instructions.
When she returned it was to find
Matthew Curtis, Esq, M. D., in the
center of q burning pig-stye, pitching
out squeaking, half-roasted porkers."
"Just my luck!" he grumbled, ex-
aiming his scorched fingers. "If
they had been babies, now, I might
have gained some credit at tho same
risk" .are .s- .
"The stable is a-fire, surf"
What!" shouted Mat. He did not
wait for the Information to be repeated.
An ardent lover of horsefesh, it was an
appeal to his sympathies that sent him
round intervening out-buildings in q
state of breathless suspense.
twas true. The stable was on fire !;
the horses were screaming with terror j;
two or three rustics were making ex-
cited 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 de-
spairingly.o'
Jim, run into the barn and get
three or four empty sacks and rope.
Quick!"
eyes, sur"
BY drawing sack over each animals
head and neck, thus blindfolding it; by
passing rope round the forelegs and
setting strong arms to haul, and by
little organization Of brave but until
then ill-applied effort, q rescue was Of.
fected. All the horses were saved ex-
cept one poor brute smothered by the
smoke.
Farmer Joyce came up, with grimy
hand extended in honest gratitude:
"Thank you kindly, sir. l don't
mind for the ricks and the buildings
they are all insured; but it went to my
heart to hear them poor brutes scream"
Mat gave his left hand-the right
hand was bound up with handker-
chief. The old rector joined them, Miss
Bellue leaning on his arm.
"The danger is over now, Joyce, /
think. Mat, come across with me-"
Mat glanced at the averted face of tho
young lady, and misconstrued 1t. She
was, in truth, ashamed to meet his eyes.
The contrast between his GOODNESS and
courage and her physical cowardice
humbled her. She had como down from
that pedestal of propriety from which
she had presumed to judge him SO
harshly, but he did not suspect it.
81 have burnt my hand and arm
slightly-just my luck!" said Mat. 81
must 60 home at once to dress them"
He took off his hat as he spoke, awk-
wardly enough, with the left hand, and
turned away.
He is a fine fellow, Agnes, that low
er of yours" said the rector; "but his
manner is rather abrupt tonight. What
ais him?'
"&ever mind, papa-never mind"
There was kind of wall in Miss
Bellue's voice. .f.-....
"a lovers quarrel" thought the
rector, sagely. "Then my attitude !
must be one of dignified neutrality-my
policy non-intervention :" and he laugh
I'd quietly to himself at the conceit.
Mat was dressing his burns in tho sur
gerry when the outer door opened and
his father entered.
IS Halo, dad! Who called you upP
It was my turn tonight"
1t should be explained that 'syoung
Nat Curtis' and ''the old doctor" were
partners. .sE ~
"The old doctor'' made no reply.
lie sat down in low chair, and began
o fan himself with q broad straw hat.
Nat, king up in surprise, saw that he
vas CHASTITY pale; that his eyes had .
ook of horror in them; that his whole
appearance was of man who had sus-
aimed terrible fright.
Mat touched his arm gently.
"What is it, fatherP'' |,
Doctor Curtis's lips moved twice be.
ore any sound issued; then he uttered
ut one word: sCholera!" |,
Upon Mats face there came q faint
election of his father's fears. The {
courge had been raging with frghtful
iolence in distant parts of England. {
hey had talked of it often, dreading its {
pproach, trusting it might pass by this t
ure. healthy village.
No; the next day three cases were re- i
orted and one death. The rival prac- 4
toner, Mr.. Bennett, . man of good
rivate means, fled with his wife and
'mily. Mat and ''the old doctor"
ere worked almost to death. No need v
bar-parlor discussions, or approach u
& steeple. chases, or poaching ARRAYS il
ow to quiet the mad young blood. n
Mat went from house to house with "
rave face, and Q cheerful, kindly, hope O