The Osceola times., 1879-11-22

! ''iNi0i HiEglHg along as swiftly as heavy
boots and ponderous habits of progress
| sion would let them.
Farmer Joyce's, sir"
Farmer Joyces! Thank Heayenl Tho
next house to the rectory, but not nea,
enough to endanger it.
Mats suspense gave way toa thrill OF
almost pleasurable excitement. II was
his mad young blood" asserting itself
Dashing through a gateway he almost
run over girl, bare-headed, wringinp
her hands in impotent anxiety. II was
Miss Bellue.
Go back at once" commanded Mat,
curtly. Put on a hat and the thickest
shawl you have"
The panic-stricken girl obeyed. Not
till aiterward did it occur to her that he
had no right to issue such instructions.
When she returned it was to find
Matthew Curtis, Esq, NJ. D., in the CEN
tire of a burning pig-sty, pitching out
squeaking, half-roasted porkers.
Just my luck!' he grumbled, examin-
ing his scorched fingers IF they had
been babies, now, | might have gained
some credit at the same risk"
"The stable is afre sur,'
What" shouted Mat.
lie did not wait for the information
TO be repeated An ardent lover Of
horse flesh, il was an appeal to his SYM
paths that sent him around intervening
out-buildings in a state of breathless
suspense. II was true. The stable was
on fire; the horses were screaming with
terror; two or three rustics were making
excited and fruitless attempts to drag
them out-attcmpts the poor animals
resisted with all their might A little
crowd Of men looked on idly and de-
spairingly.
"Jim, run into the barn and get three
or four empty sacks and a rope. BE
quick"
"Yes, sir"
BY drawing q sack over each animals
head, and thus 6lindfolding il, by pass
ing q rope around the forelegs and set
ting strong arms to pull, and by little
organization of brave, but until then i'll
applied efforts. rescue was effected.
All the horses were saved, except one
poor brute smothered by the smoke.
Farmer joyce came up, with q grimy
hand extended in earnest gratitudel
Thank you, kindly, sir don't mind
for the rcks and buildings-they are all
insured; but it wentto 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 Belluc
leaning on his arm.
The danger Is over now. Joyce. I
think. Mat, come across with me-
Mat glanced at the avcrted face of the
young lady, and misconstrued it. She
was, in truth, ashamed to rect his eye.
The contrast between his coolness of
courage and her physical cowardice
humbled her She had came down from
that pedestal Of propricty from which
she had presumed 10 Judge him 20
harshly, though he did not know it.
Il have burnt my arm slightly-lust
my luck, said Mat, II must so home
at once to dress it,
lie took of his hat aS lac spoke, awk-
wardly enough with his lcit hand, and
turned away,
"He is a fine fellow, Agnes, that lover
of YOURS" said the rector, "but his man
ner is rather abrupt tonight. What
ails him2"
"Never mind, papa-neyer mind.
There was a kind Of wall in Miss Bel
lue's voice.
"A lovers quarrel thought the rec
tor, sagely. Then my attitude must be
one of dignified neutrality-mv pol Icy
non-in.eryenuon;n and he laughed
quietly to himself at the conccit.
Mat was dressing his burns in the
when the outer door opened,
and his father entered.
Hello dad! Who called you up1 1t
was my turn tonight
Ii should be explained that young
Mat Curtis and the old doctor were
partners. .,
The Old doctor made no reply He
sat down in a low chair and began TO
fan himself with broad straw hat.
Mat. looking up in surprise, saw that
he was ghastly pale; that his eyes had
A look of horror in them; that his ap-
pearancc was that of man who had
sustained horrible fright.
Mat touched his arm gently.
What is it, iather?'
DR.. Curtis lips moved twice before
any sound issued; then he uttered bnt
one word:
Cholera
Upon Mats face came faint reiiec-
ton OF his fathers fear. The scourge
had been raging with frightful violence
in different parts of England. They
had often talked of il often, dreadlng
lis approach. trusting that it might pass
by this pure and healthy village.
No-the next day three cases were
reported. and one death. The rival
Mr.. Bennett, n 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 approaching
steeple chases, or poaching aiiravs now
TO auiet the mad young blood. .,
Mat went from house to house WIN
grave face. and cheerful, kindly, nope
fnl word for every poor, terrified wretch
who ehuddered at his own fears.
Then his father was strickcn-the old
doctor -, l..
had dreaded really came to HIM, seized
upon him. he grew brave and strong,
"Nonsensc, lad" lac said, when Mat
tried 10 speak encouraging words from
A sinking heart 81 have no stamina, l
could not expect to live much longer m
the ordinary course of nature Don't
blink the truth. boy. shall be glad to
due in harness.
Miss Bellue watched the funeral pro-
,ession from the same upper window
she had once before put to a similar use
Very contrite was Miss Bclluein those
doys horrible dread had taken pos
session of her with the first report OF
oLnloro ,,. in thc Village: she fought against
il; she hated herself for it. she lried !, 70
drag herself to the beds OF the sex
moor bnt her trembling limbs refused to
co,ry her. II was constitutional, phys