Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-06-30

Bewildered still more by the
courteous words and cultured tone,
Delicia turned in the direction the
stranger pointed with his left hand,
and saw within the yard a dusty
buggy and painting horse.
81 am trying to overtake my
young sister, who has eloped with
a scoundrel,' said the man, who
was both young and handsome,
"and my horse broke down help
lessly Just before | reached your
door. Otherwise, in less than an
hour should have probably over
taken my sister before she was
married and her life ruined. So
near the object Of my long and
desperate drive, could not be
baked of its object for want Of a
horse. l knocked three times at
your door, intending to beg or hire
yours, which l saw, fresh, standing
at the gate, but for some reason l
could summon no living being
Knowing that my horse was more
than equal to yours in value, though
now almost killed by hard driving,
| resolved to take him, and after
overtaking the man who is running
away from me, to instantly restore
your property to you; but'-with
little bitter laugh-"you have eff
fectually prevented that. l think |
am bleeding to death"
His voice closed family: the
blood was squirting from his wrist.
He sank upon the step at her feet.
Delicia's cheek grew white, for
she knew the danger Of that ter
rible bleeding. Unless it would
stop, the man in a few minutes
would be dead.
Springing to the side Of the now
unrespoDsive stranger, who seem
ed unable to utter a single word,
she snatched her handkerchief
from her pocket, and tying it
about the wounded arm, inserted a
stick picked from the ground, thus
making an effectual ligature, and,
TO the abatement of her terror,
saw the frightful jets of blood sub
side.
The strangers white face, the
deluge Of red blood, the sudden,
relief from squirting terror, turned
Delicia faint. Then she struggled
hard against a terrible Keeling SEN
sation, and held her own.
She thought wishfully of the
glass of cordial upon the hall ia
table, but her feet refused to
stir.
Suddenly steps sounded at the
gate. To her inexpressible JOY
aud thankfulness, Aunt Thankful
and Bob appeared.
Delicia explained to the former,
briefly, though her voice sounded
far away to herself.
"Wounded-hurt-bleeding aw-
fully! Bob, ride for a doctor as
fast as you can go!" cried the
old nurse, instantly in her element.
The wounded man was making
visible efforts to keep from swoon-
ing, but when Aunt Thankful had
administered a cordial and bathed
bis temples in cold water, he rose
and walked weakly into the house
where, at her solicitations, be
stretched himself upon a sofa, and
then unexpectedly tainted.
~ don't in the leest understand
who this man u.s." remarked Aunt
Thankful steadily applying resto-
ratives, "but such ragged coat
and fine shirt / never saw together
before. Wanted to hire horse
did hei What did you shoot hin
fort OF all strange actions"
The driving of the doctors bug
gy into the yard stopped her re
marks, when Delicis returned Il
Alta Vannevar to find her in ,
wandering delirium.
Three strange days were devoted
to nursing the invalids. A burn
ing fever made young girl uncon
scious.
Aunt ThankfuPs charge was con
scious, but very weak and silent
Indeed, he seemed to himself to b
J 10 a dream half full Of delights
but pervaded by great troubl
, which he could scarcely name.
Ne radiantly lovely face Of De
> licia, the rustic Of her dress, tn
sound of her steps pervaded hi
consciousness like n BLESSING