The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-07

along the road by the side OF the wall
caught my ear, / almost started; but
when / heard the footstep suddenly tot
ter, then stop close to the door, and some
one stagger against it, l rose from sheer
nervousness. When to this sound sue
ceeded long-drawn gasp and moan, and
then heavy thud as Of the person falling
to the ground, with IN instructive pity ]
flew to the door, and drawing back the lock
gently opened it. There on the step lay,
as we'll as l could see by the twilight, a
young, well dressed 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 n
moment, and now thoroughly alarmed.
and hardly knowing what | did, / closed
the door and rushed into the house. My
husband met me on the threshold.
"'What now? What's all that scrim-
mage about?' he asked.
"Timidly told him.
"'You fool, are we not hard-up enough
already, but you must be playing the
Good Samaritan, and let the man inp 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 the soft, unknown lawn.
Gently turning him over, my husband
went on:
"'Why, he's dying, if not dead; we
must fetch a doctor. A pretty mess you
have got us into, but we must 60 through
it honestly, or else who knows what We
may be charged with--murder, perhaps?
Be off and get a doctor; there's red
lamp Mt the second turning on the left
down this road
II flew to do his bidding, terrified by
his words, which | saw had some reason
in them, and had nearly reached the
house when he called out:
"'Here, go out this way, by this door
here into the road: it's nearer.
Il returned and was about to open
the garden door, close to which he was
still bending over the body, when saw
he was examining the contents of large
portemonnaie, which he had taken from
the pocket of the PROSTATE, unconscious
man. Itseemed to be full of notes and
gold hesitated, but fearing to remon-
Strate, was drawing back the bolt, when
he whispered:
'Stop-wait n minute. Did any one
see You let him in?
"'No one; there is not n creature
about, and the roads is not overlooked,
/ answered.
"'No, nor this corner of the garden
where we are-no, it's too much shut III
by trees, and it's getting too dark
whilst speaking he was looking
around to assure himself that he was
unobserved and, seeming satisfied, be-
gan to further examine the contents of
the'pockets and to transfer the porte
monnaie, letter or two, a handsome
gold watch and chain, and scarf pin To
his own.
"'What are you doing'' I timidly
asked.
"'Mind your own business" he said
do rs tell you and hold your tongue
I'll go for the doctor myself; but first Of
all We must get him into the house.
Here. catch hold of his feet
"Then, without listening to my pro-
tests, my husband raised in his arms the
slim, helpless form of the young man,
and, with my assistance, carried him
along the path, under the shadow of the
high wall and trees, into the house, and
laid him on n sofa in the little breakfast
parlor that gave upon the lawn by an
open sash-window.
Light candle pull down the blind
get some water and brandy; he is not
quite dead, said my husband, whilst ex-
yak h..
a" No initinls, nothing to identify him
by Good ! Now will go for the doc
tor; you stay with him. Put little
more brandy to his Ii ps from time Ia
time. loosen his necktie-so, and now
mind. when I return with the doctor, if
there have been any signs of conscious
ness, or ii the poor fellow speaks Mt all.
keep it to yourself; don't say a word. You
can tell me when the doctor is gone
The man is not dead, but he will die. /
think, and if he does die without speak
ing-well, we shall lose nothing for our
hospitality; it's worth risking. Mind
now, what tell you. he added, with a
fierce look Mt me, If you don't I'll be
the death of you
''Then he went out through the front
uoOi ulu Shtc. OSututhtlOltSlN III nllTrV.
and 1 heard him running down the silent
road. l turned to my patient. and found
him still breathing, but quite uncon-
scious.
Terrified and bewidered / hardly
knew how long it was before I heard
hurrying footsteps again on the road, and
presently, having let himself in by the
latch key, my husband appeared with a
stranger, the doctor, seedy, needy
looking man.
Rapidly examining the patient, he
said, with his finger on the pulse.
"'About twenty minutes since he was
seized, eh? HIM your younger brother,
you say?'
Yes, answered my husband prompt
ly, with a significant look Mt me as ]
started at his reply
'The doctor had his ear on the mans
chest, while my husband continued with
assumed emotion:
My Youngest. my favorite brother.
Dear sir, pray tell me-Ah! I fear by
your face; but say, is there no hope?'
THE doctor shook his head.
ooh, will he die?
"T'he doctor bowed his head. and nv
huaband buYia1 his fona Ia HE handle 10,