Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-05-19

was more likely to arrive at the bottom
of the gulch, where my poor horse is
nov"
The doctors voice trembled and his
eyes were wet with not unmanly tears,
for, as the little company well knew,
the horse was pet and a beauty
''Ah, woes the night" walled Kitty.
"Ye'n niver find betther haste nor a
handsomer wan-and so proud he
samed to bear we, the poor faithful
creature
Yes, we've pulled through many a
tough place together, and he never
flinched nor failed me. The almost
human cry he gave whel he went
down that horrible place will ring in
my ears as long as | live" said the doc
tor, shuddering. "But who's going to
show me the way to Fraser's? There's
trail over the mountain, isn't there?"
'Begorry, there was wan" said
Mike, with great hesitation "but
very deuce of a way ye'll FONT it now
the traes do be crackin and fallin' and
the rocks a rowlin' down in Jest an in.
iarnal manner. It's as much as yer
loife is worth to we to get there"
And who's ailin' over there, amy
way p asked Kitty.
~ think it's the baby. Some one
left word at my office that they feared
one of Fraser's children was dying"
Blamed if I'll risk my neck for one
Of Fraser's kids" said Jake, emphati-
cally, going back to his seat by tha
fire.
''No great risk, thin," retorted Kitty.
Chin AS is born to be hanged'll niver
be drowned"
can sure" said Mike, glancing at
Kitty, I'm thinkin' we're as safe out
side as in afther this. We're in for it,
anyhow but DANCED if Pm anxious to
drag my old rheumaticky legs over any
trail tonight
The doctor looked at Bat. Maria
too, had looked at him, and that look
had fired his soul with the courage of
an old warrior, whatever the risk or the
terror.
"Well guess know dat way pretty
we'll an if anything is happen | got de
doctor, amt it?" said Bat, gayly brush
ing back MS brown curls, and drawing
over them IA veritable blue toque that
he had worn in the backwoods of Can
ada. Then, in his droll wa he took
solemn leave of Kitty and Mike, i'm
ploring them, if anything should pre-
vent his return. to be good to Jake.
Over Maria's little brown hand he
fingered long enough to say, unheard
by all but her:
81 come again to thee-je tame"
Il all
the dark eyes answered:
IL love thee"
And in language known and taught
by the Father of Evil, sullen Jake re-
piled to his laughme Goodbye, my
Jake pray for me- with a look of
hatred and a sullen GO to the deuce"
Behind you my dear answered
Bat, with profound bow.
Out into the black and terrible night
went the two men-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 glowing
with chivalric passion to prove himself
Il hero in the eyes of her he loved
followed by the voluble blessings of
Mike and Kitty by the half proud,
hali-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 ook.
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 furiousiy against it, and Mike and
Kitty speculated anXiously upon the
chances of their safe arrival at Frazer's.
Maria studied Jacks face as he gazed
intentIy in the fire, where, from pine
knot, the In ed jets of flame darted out
and leaped wildly up in the black
vault, as if eager to JOIN their kindred
spirits III the storm.
Suddenly Jake arose, and, mutterng
something in the way of goodnight,
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 trees and raging wa
tiers, went the two men, Bats jubilant
heart OVERLOOKING in droll speeches and
songs that he sang at the top of his
voice. to scare away evil spirits, he SAID
and the doctor said he should think
il would But it did not, for behind
them crept one whose intent was black
er than the night, more cruel than the
angry streams. Yet on they went along
the narrow path, with the overhanging
rocks on their right, and on the left the
fearful precipice; yet gaily onward,