Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-01-22
lnt three days. when what h.rpened

! becoming the drudge meanwhile. d,
/ high wall surrounded the garden il
which the cottage stood. it having beer
a neat little box in Its day. quite in tli,
| uitrv. An old and now almost dis
used road ran along one side Of this wall
which had door init among some thicl
| trees.
Well. it was early in September. The
weather was close and sultrv. and on the
thlrd evening. rs it was getting dusk
she strollcd out ard sat down on a bench
under these trees, near the door. leavin
him sulkily smoking in the house.
. Sad and miserable indeed I was as
sat there, went on INV friend. thinking.
thinking, thinking, in the silent glOam-
ing. Everything was still as death in
that drearv neiehborhood. 50 that when
the sound of footstep coming slowly
along the road by the side Of the wall
caught my ear. I almost started; but
when | heard the footstep suddenly tot
ter, then stop close to the door. and some
one staG8er against it. [ rose from sheer
nervousness. When to this sound sue
ceeied lonG-drawn gasp and moan. and
then heavy thud as of the person falling
TO the ground, with an instructive pity /
flew to the door. and drawing hack the lock
gently opened it, There on the step law.
as we'll as | could see by the twilight. a
young. wcll-dresscl 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. All this was but the work OF a
moment, and now thoroughly alarmed,
and hardly knowing what | did. closed
the door and rushed iuto the house. Nv
husband met me Oh the threshold.
What now? What's all that scrim-
mqc, ahout?' he asked.
"Timidly | told him.
You fool, are we not hard-up enough
already, but you must lie 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 tie soft. unknown lawn.
Gently turning him over, my husband
went on:
why. he's dying, if not dead: we
must fetch doctor. 4 pretty mess Won
have got us into. but we must go through
1t honestly. or else who knows what we
may lie charged wi:h-mur,ler. perhaps3
BE off and get a doctor: there's red
lamp at the second turning on the lef,
down this road.
- | few to do his bidding. terrified bv
his words, which I saw had some reason
IL them, and had nearly reached the |
house when lie called out:
Here, go out this way, by this door
here into the road; its nearer
l returned and was about to omen
the garden door. close TO which he was
sui bending over the body, when saw
ne Was examining the contents of a large |
portemonnaie, which he had taken from
ne pocket OF the PROSTATE, unconscious |
nan. Itseemed to be full OF notes and
gold. l hesitated, but fearing to remon-
trate. was drawing back the bolt, when
ie whispered:
=" 'Stpp-wait n minute. Did any one
sec you let him in: 2
No one: there is not creature
lbout, and the roads is not overlooked
answered.
"'No, nor this corner of the garden
yIora We arc-lo, it's too much shut III
y ;rceS. and it's getting too dark.
"" hist speaking he was looking
round - assure himself that he was
and, seeming satisfied. be-
ran to further examine the contents of
hc )chetS and to transfer the porte
loadain, a letter or two, a handsome
odd watch and chain, and scarf pin to
is own.
What are you doingY I timidly
sksd.
Mind your own business" he said,
10 as | tcll you and hold your tongue.
Il 90 for Tie doctor myself; hut first Of
Il we must get him into the house.
iora. catch hold OF his feet
Then. without listening TO nv pro-
ests. my husband raised in his arms the
lin. helpless form of the Young man.
I'd, with my assistance. carried him
long the path. under the shadow of the
aga wall aud trees, into the house, and
All him on a sofa in the little breakfast
arlor that gave upon the lawn by an
pen sash-window.
Lighta candle. pull down the blind.
~ some water and brandy; he is not
mite dead, said my husband, whilst ex-
mining the mans pocket handkerchief
no initials. nothing to identify him
y Good Now I will go for the doc
Or: You stay with him. Put a little
iore brandy to his lips from time to
me. loosen his necktie-so, and now.
mind. when I return with the doctor. if
here have been any signs Of conscious
ess, or ii the poor fellow speaks at all,
eep it to yourself; don't say word. You
an tell me when the doctor is gone.
he man is not dead, but he will die. I
hink, and if he does die without speak
we shall lose nothing for our
ospitality; it's worth risking. Mind.
ow, what / tell you,' he added. with a
cree look at me, If you don't III be
ne death of you
''Then he went ont through the front
oor and gate. ostentatiously in hurry.
nd L heard him running down the silentI
oad- turned to my patient. and found
i'm still breathing, but quite uncon-
,ious.
Terrified and bewildered I hardly
new how long it was. before I heard