Middletown transcript., 1881-04-29

| ty. "'Thim as is born to be hanged
niver be drowned
CAM sure,' said Mike, glancing a
Kitty, 'I'm thinkin' we're as safe out
side as in, after this. We're in for it
anyhow; but DANCED if I'm anxious t
drag my ovid rheumaticky legs owe
any trail tonight y
The doctor looked at Bat. Maria
too, had looked at him, and that lool
had fired his soul with the courage o
an old warrior, whatever the risk of thr
terror.
LIE ciel en- est lie prix, " thought Bat
thrilling beneath that look.
''Well, a guess a know dat way pref
ty well, an if hany thing is happen
got de doctor, amt it ?'' said Bat, gay
ly brushing back his brown curls, anC
drawing over them the veritable blut
toque that he had worn in the back
woods of Canada. Then, in his drol
way, he took solemn leave of Kitty ant
Mike, imploring them if anything
should prevent his return to be good t.
Jake. Over Maria's little brown hand
he fingered long enough to say, un.
heard by all but her.
II come again to the-je t'aime. =
And in language understood by all,
the dark eyes answered
Il love thee. -
And in a language known and taught
by the father of evil, sullen Jake re-
piled to his laughing. "Goodbye, my
Jake-pray for me, with a look of
hatred and a sullen $50 to HI
"Behind you, my dear answered
Bat, with profound bow.
Out into the black and terrible night
went the two women-One Obeying the
mandate of his noble profession, filled
with the sympathy it had taught him
to give to sorrow and suffering every
where the other, his heart aglow with
chiyalric passion to prove himself a
hero in the eyes of her he lOYed-follow-
ed by the voluble blessings of Mike and
Kitty, by the half-proud, half anxious,
and altogether loving gaze of Maria,
and also by the malignant glare of
Jake's evil eyes.
"And Satan came also, . thought the
doctor, observing the look.
Maria, too, turned in time to see the
expression. 1t was just as Mike was
telling them to look out for the bridge
over Fraser's Creek. Then the door
closed, and while the wind and the rain
beat furiously against it, and Mike and
Kitty speculated anxiously upon the
chances of their safe arrival at Fraser's,
Maria studied Jake's face as he gazed
into the fire, where, from
pine-knot the lurid jets of fire famed
out and leaped wildly up the black
vault, as if eager to join their kindred
spirits in the storm.
Suddenly Jake arose, and, muttering
in the way Of a good night,
slouched out of the room. Maria, too,
went softly out, retiring to her own
apartment.
Meanwhile, safely on their way
through wind and rain and thick dark
ness, over fallen tress and raging
waters, went the two men. Bats jubi-
ant heart overfowing in droH speeches
and songs that he sung at the top of his
voice to scare away evil spirits, he
said-and the doctor said he should
-hink it would But it did not, for
behind them crept one whose intent |
was blacker than the night, more cruel
han the angry streams. Yet on they
went along the narrow path, with the
1verhanging rocks on their right, and
)n the left fearful precipice yet gaily
with cautious steps, until they
reached the cottage, whose light shone
)ut like star in the black night.
''By gOlly we've got here, don't it?'
said Bat, drawing a long breath as they
paused at the door.
Is there anything, l wonder, that
'tirs physicians heart more deeply |
han the look of mingled thankfulness
md mute appeal that greets him on his
irst arrival where life and death are
together
''God bless you ?'' cried Fraser, who,
llone with his wife, was watching the
title one that lay flushed with fever
md moaning with pain. "God bless
7Ou, doctOr-we didn't think you would |
yet here
"There's a special providence for
loctors, you KNOW" he answered,
imiling.
The mere sound of his pleasant voice
eemed to give the courage, and the
mother with CLEAN of hope in her
yes, and deep sigh of relief laid her
,aby in his arms, that clasped and bore
he tiny burden with the tenderness of
woman. When a man has a gentle
leart, tender not merely toward his
'wn, but with sympathy that reaches
0 all helpless, suffering creatures, how
.reat it is.
''I was thinking" said Bat, gravely,
bot dot providence you been spekin'
bot, why it amt take care of doctors
Iorses de same time. y
After the doctor and Bat had crossed
Traser's creek, the stealthy figure that
ad followed them thus far, with some
hing in his hand, stopped, covering
eneath a fir tree, till the gleam of their
antern was like FREELY in the distance
hen he approached the bridge, and,
nth eyes grown accustomed to the
examined the end that lay ]
pom the bank. He could see sufficiently
yell for his purpose, which was soon
pparent, for, taking up his pick, he
ommenced digging into the bank, and
iSDlacino the rocks. working with a