The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-12-30

flew to the door, and drawing back the lock
gently opened it. There on the step lay,
as well as I could see by the twilight,
young, well-dressed man. He made an
effort to rise when he saw me. partly re-
gaining his feet, caught at the door-post,
staggered and fell headlong into our
garden. ALI this was but the work of
moment, and now thoroughly alarmed,
and hardly knowing what did, I closed
the door and rushed into the house. My
husband met me on the threshold.
"fWhat now? What's all that scrim-
mage about?' he asked.
Timidly told him.
"'You fool, are we not hard-up enough
already, but you must be playing the
Good Samaritan, and let the man in? Do
you want to turn the place into hos
pital? He's drunk, no doubt
with this he reached the spot where
the unfortunate man lay face downwards
upon the edge of the soft, unknown lawn.
Gently turning him over, my husband
went on:
"'Why, he's dying, if not dead; we
must fetch doctor. A pretty mess you
! have got us into, but we must go through
it honestly, or else who knows what we
may be charged with-murder, perhaps?
Be off and get doctor; there's red
lamp at the second turning on the left
down this road
"I flew to do his bidding, terrified by
his words, which I saw had some reason
in them, and had nearly reached the
house when he called out:
Here, go out this way, by this door
here into the road; it's nearer
81 returned and was about to open
the garden door, close to which he was
| still bending over the body, when I saw
he was examining the contents of large
portemonnaie, which he had taken from
The pocket of the PROSTATE, unconscious
| nan. It seemed to be full of notes and
gold. Ihesitated, but fearing to remon-
,trate, was drawing back the bolt, when
Ne whispered:
'Stop-wait minute. Did any one
see you let him in p
"'No one; there is not a creature
about, and the roads is not overlooked
I answered.
"'No, nor this corner of the garden
where we are-no, it's too much shut in
by trees, and it's getting too dark.
whilst speaking he was looking
unobserved, and, seeming satisfied, be-
|
the pockets and to transfer the porte
monnaie, letter or two, a handsome
gold watch and chain, and scarf pin to
his own.
"'What are you doing?' 7 timidly
asked.
Mind your own business" he said,
do as tell you and hold your tongue.
I'll go for the doctor myself; but first of
| L..
Here, catch hold of his feet
''Then, without listening to my pro-
tests, my husband raised in his arms the
slim, helpless form of the young man,
and, with my assistance, carried him
along the path, under the shadow of the
high wall and trees, into the house, and
parlor that gave upon the lawn by al
open sash-window.
"'Lighta candle, pull down the blind
get some water and brandy; he is moi
quite dead, said my husband, whilst ex
" No initials, nothing to identify hin
tor; you stay with him. Put a little
more brandy to his lips from time tc
time, loosen his necktie-so, and now
/ l.
there have been any signs of conscious
ness, or if the poor fellow speaks at all
keep it to yourself; don't say word. Yor
can tell me when the doctor is gone
The man is not dead, but he will die,
think, and if he does die without speak
ing-well, we shall lose nothing for on
I hospitality; it's worth risking. Mind
now, what tell you, he added, with
fierce look at me, If you don't I'll b
the death of YOU
''Then he went out through the iron
door and gate, ostentatiously in hurry
, and heard him running down the siler
q road. I turned to my patient, and foun
him still breathing, but quite uncon
q scious.
= Terrified and bewildered I hardl
knew how long it was before 1 hear
hurrying footsteps again on the road, an
. presently, having let himself in by tn
q latch key, my husband appeared with
r stranger, the doctor, a seedy, needy
= looking man.
y "Rapidly examining the patient, /
: said, with his finger on the pulse.
= "tAbout twenty minutes since he wf
seized, eh? HIM your younger brothe
g you say?'
eyes, answered my husband promp
. ly, with significant look at me as
started at his reply.
"The doctor had his ear on the man
. chest, while my husband continued wit
2 assumed emotion:
q "My youngest, my favorite brothe
!, Dear sir, pray tell me-Ahl I fear
:, your face; but say, is there no hope?'
. '"The doctor shook his head.
"'Oh, will he die?'
!, ''The doctor bowed his head, and n
T husband buried his face in his hands +
a moment.
- 81 was aghast, perpIexed beyond me
!, - sure, and was about to speak when q
?, other fierce look checked me.
u ''When the doctor had moistened Il
~ patients lips once more with brand
~ and after using the stethoscope
- several minutes, he said with profession
= gravity:
AZ ~ "1t is my painful duty to tell y
!, that you must prepare for the worst
70 "tAh, feared sor said my husbar
u u MY poor brother was supposed to hs
VI disease of the heart; it was the opini
40 expressed by physician two years ag
n' "This is not the heart, said t
10 doctor, feeling the pulse again. This
cerebral morrhage-apoplexy, in ia
u, He is all but gone; nothing can be dor
nI "Then there was slight convulsi
ne and the doctor continued:
"1 fear I can be of no further
In professionally; but can help you to
en- what is necessary now, or do you kn
he any
is "'No, we know no one in the neight
III, hood; we are strangers here, interrup
ok my husband. we are from Cornw
he have only been in the house three da
;he NV dear brother came to stay with
SIX, yesterday. He has been out all d
lch The moment he came in he faint