The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-12-29
Tom turned his white face TO her,

utterly speechless.
Get water-quickl But oh, look
here!-he is bleedingl-he is cut"
"Yes, he fell with the ak in his hand.
The limb must have been rotten; it
gave way" said Tom, Mt last.
"But he will bleed to death; don't you
see? What can we do?"
what, indeed ?" muttered Tom, still
with dazed look in his eyes.
The blood, warm and bright red,
was gushing from the hand. 1t looked
as il an artery had been severed. Cas-
sizes heart sank as she saw Stanton
white and immovable, and Tom trans
fixed with horror. She essayed to
stanch the flow with her handkerchief,
but it was useless. How could she let
her darling brother die for want of
help? Then sudden inspiration came.
She had heard of the tourniquet which
surgeons use when amputation is nee
essary. She made Tom grasp Stan
tons wrist, while she unbuttoned her
cambria skirt and tore it into strips
with these she bandaged the boys arm,
and Tightening the knot by twisting the
stick within it until there could be no
longer any circulation between the hand
and arm. Then she held it up and
watched the success of her plan. Tom
helped her as well as he could, but in u
benumbed sort of way. He seemed to
be in a dream, and the sight of blood
sickened him.
Now go for water-quick quick !"
said Cassie, taking her brothers head
in her lap and gently tanning him.
Tom obeyed. 1t seemed an age to
Cassie before he returned, but her
whole mind was absorbed in watching
the wound. Already it had stopped
the rapid flow, she was sure.
And now there was a change in Stan
tons face-a little culver of the lips
and nostrils, sigma shudder and-oh
Joy boy opened his eyes and
asked: What is the matter? Where
am II"
"You have hurt yourself, dear. Lie
still, whispered Cassie; please keep
still"
But what is this? why am l all tied
up? can't use my arm"
you have fallen and been cut by the
AK" explained Cassie, glad to have him
conscious. but fearful lest any move
ment should start the bleeding again.
"Do you think you are hunt anywhere
else?"
81 don't know. I guess / am only
bruised"
Tom now brought the two drinking
cups full Of water, and after his head
was bathed Stanton tried to get up and
walk. But he was faint from loss of
blood and stiff and sore.
ITS no use; you'll not be able to go
home" said Cassie.
"But what on earth will / do? I
cant stay here"
Well have to rig up an ambulance"
said Tom, now a little more self-pos-
sessed.
"You can not do that" answered
Stanton, feebly, glad to again lay dis
head in his sisters lap.
"Shan't / take you on my back?
No; even If you were able to carry
him all the long distance, he could not
endure it. See how faint he is" Cas-
sic whispered. Beside, / am 80 afraid
the cut may start again. Leave Us both
here, Tom, and go home as fast as you
can; they will find some method for
getting him back"
"And let you be alone with him per-
haps half the night? Suppose-sup-
pose" He could not say the words,
but his anxious glance at the pale face
and CHASTITY spot of blood betrayed his
fear.
at can not be helped. 1 see no other
way"
Aren't you afraid?'
Cassie smiled little as she said
eyes, am. But there's no help for it. I"
"Wouldnt you rather go, and have
me stay?'
NO, indeed; could not leave Stan
ton. Only be as quick as you can, and
tell them not to forget anything
Mother will think of everything,
though, if you don't brighten her. Be
sure and break the news gently"
So Tom went off, and Cassie famed
her brother while he slept. Then she
opened her little book and read page
or two of Longfellow. The afternoon
stretched on in its weary length; the
chirp of crickets and the hum of in
sects were all that broke the Stiffness
Stanton groaned in his sleep, and the
flush of fever succeeded his first pallor.
The dusk came on and the stars be-
gan to twinkle. To Cassie's weary
vision the wood became peopled with
fantastic forms. She ina lined she saw
snake glide stealthily past, and twist
itself in and out of the brake. A
spider made her tremble. The hooting
of an owl sent cold shivers down her
spine; her limbs were cramped and stiff
with sitting so long in one position; and
when the men came with lanterns,
blankets. brandy and the village doctor,
and carried Stanton to the nearest
farmhouse, Cassie was glad to throw
herself in her mothers arms and have
"a good cry"
"That girls presence of mind saved
her brothers life" Tom heard the
doctor say next day; and then, remem-
bering his own speech of girls being
no good anyway" he began to think he
had made q mistake. Stanton soon re-
covered. The cut, though dangerous,
readily healed and there were no bones