The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-04-03
A FRAGMENT FROM TWO LIVES

One Wild, clustering night not many
Years ago a stage coach made a detour
through one Of the mountainous regions
Of Pennsylvania, and stopped at the
house Of n preacher. 1t was an old
brown mouse at the foot Of a sterile rock,
seemingly as remote from from civiliza-
ton MS the heart Of an Arabian desert
The Rev Paul Hume had already spent
here, Sc far as vitality went, the best
years Of his life He had OF late been
glad To find the old rebelli0us lodgings.
tha fierce ambition and latent hope of the
future, becoming more dim and dull, and
began ID believe as the years went by he
would be able to liyeou those allotted to
him houorablv and in measure resign
edlv IL had given up the old foolish
fouduess for putting fire and fervUr in a
long Sunday discourse. He was quite
content that some OF his congregation
should sleep quietly through the sermon,
ami others rGmIuate over whatever flesh
" agErayatlou or lov was uppermost in
their minds Probably his sole spiritual
companion, even III the degree suited to
her capacity, was his serving woman
Hagar- bIach, straightforward, reticeut,
but given to bursts OF RELIGIOUS enthusI-
a-m that It'll a measure relieved the dull
mouotony Of the life they lived alone
together
Hagar ought to have known her mas
ten better than to believe he would refuse
sJcaor to any helpless fellow creature,
and it WAS foolish for her to shorten the
chal0 that barred the door that night in
March whom the driver of the coach
begged that they should take temporary
care If i sick passenger. She lad been
getting worse and worse, the driver said,
for the Inst tou miles. aud. - seem there
vas ao hotel nor hospital nor nothin'
handy, Is had made bold to bring her
to THE parsou' house But Hagar shook
the crimson turban on her fine Egyptian
heal aud deelaredit was not the parsons
business TO risk his life with presidential
feyers
Even as she spoke, however, the par
son had Embossed the chain. and goneout
In his scaut gown and close cap to the
coach, and lifted the poor woman out in
his strong arms Hagar followed HIM
and his burden up the stairs, and the
light from her candle fell upon tangled
eurIs AMI braids, bits Of ribbon, and a
strip Of embroidered lace that hung from
the head OF the sick woman, gold chain
bout her neck. and other personal gew-
lews that appealed to the contempt OF
Haglr
The ladv's trunks had been bumped in
after her. and presently they had 10 he
priei open, for the lady's lips and eyes
vere closed, and she couldno tell Hagar
where the key lay to these fine treasures.
But Hagar went to work with a VIII,
tnd tie preacher had saddled his gray
rs. and started of on his ivemile Jour
nav across the mountain for a doctor.
Hagar had put aside the ribbons and
alts Ut travelling adornment for a long
white muslin robe, which struck the
preachers heart with chill somehow,
"a. made him speed the pony on his way.
The doctor had some broken bones TO
set. .ud told Mr. Hume, frankly, that so
tar is levers and disorders Of that kind
vent, tlat black woman Of his was worth
..a1.n ordinary practitioners, and that
Ae ma loug counted upon her IL extreml-
.g, =. that sort, ana trottIng over 10
Af hume tile next morning, the doc
Tor ea..>l gut Is the parsou to know II he
WIS lot right about the capabihty OF
Haalr. HE sick Iady's wrists and an
as@ We're blldaged up with cooling
?, aal the strength Of some cooling
o1tl0a of Hagar's reached the sur
lostuls. The pupils OF the eyes
Hated q little. crimson flush
II the cheeks OF the unfortunate
but the doctor declared that
1rr vas doing well. and, with good
II a week or IS tile journey could
pursued
u vet the parson had been alone con
0.aed for her safety; for many days il
-. not occur to him that the condition
ID MS guest appealed to a tribute OF his
s-tare save pity and reverence. Hagar,
however. strongly dsapproved Of femi-
alle charms, especially when the owner
saieavored t. add to them by frlvohtv
/ dress or demeanor. The poor lady.
waofeIt that she owed, perhaps, her very
life to these good peoples care and skill,
opened her heart 10 Hagar, and told her
a.l about her long journey from the Pa
cite coast. where she had lost her hus-
band many years: since she had longed To
come home to the east, but dreaded, as
Well she might the dreary waste OF miles
between. Hagar knitted stolidly on,
~ listened, bat not with that absorbed