The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-09-20

room the night after her return to talk
about q certain piece Of land that was
fof. sale:. 1t s.cdynered on to the .dea-
CONS farm, and a Stream OF water ran
across IL.
at will be worth a mint of money to
me-" he said, '.for I can turn that field
into a pasture, and all my stock will
water itself. But the man who's sellin'
wants 3 hundred and fifty dollars down
He's soin' West and must have tha.
amoiint this Week. t don't see the Wal
clear to pay it; for EXPENSES have beer
snS Hired Eeip aHd iii into considera:
tion, and my ready money has run low.
Do you think of anybody that'n be
likely to lend us that amount for three
months, Davep"
But before Dave could reply Dawes
wife spoke.
"Father Somers," she said, N can
let you have the money-not as a loan,
but as a gift. l have been of so little
use to you, and have made you so much
expense, I shall be very happy If. YOU
will let ME do this for YOU" And rising
up, she came and laid d little siiken
purse id Deacon Somefs' hands:
"Brt. Where did you. Yet it, ehild?"
asked ths wondering Deaedn, 16oEihg
from the plethoric little purse to her
face, which had flushed a rosy red.
II sold my paintings" Dawes wife
see a little thing 1 painted, and he said
he knew where I could dispose of any
quantity of such work. And sure
enough 1 sold every one Of those
things I painted when was sick for
good prices. And decorated some
plates for q lady, who paid me. well
for It. So I have more than S175 Id
that purse, which you are more than
welcome to-" !
Deacon Somers removed his specta-
Giles and mopped them with his silB
handkerchief. 81 can't do it, my
child" he said; sit wouldn't be right.
You must keep your W money!
'.Hht / have I'D use for It," cried
Dawes wife. 81 intended to spend it
all in Christmas gifts for the family,
but this is better. l have everything
1 need. All 1 ask or desire is to be Of
some use-and to have you all love
me-" she added, softly.
ga hundred and seeentysHve dollars
for that trash! Well, the world is full
of fools!" Mrs. Somers calculated,
when she was told of what had oc-
Cured. But she looked at Dawes wife
with an expression of surprised interest
after that, as if it was just dawning
upon her that one might be of use in
the world who could neither cook nor
make cheese.
Deacon Somer's farm boosted a fine
stone quarry, and he was very busily
at work every spare moment; quarry
ing stone for the foundation of d new
barn he was to build. One day Dave
drove to town, ten miles distant, with a
load of grain for market: 1t was Sep
TENDER, and the market had risen dur
ing the last few days. All the neigh
boring farmers had turned out and
hurried their grain away. Deacon
Somers remained at home, q~uarrying
stone. Mrs. Somers rang the great
bell at noon-time, but he did not come.
Then she grew alarmed.
'sSome one must go UP to the quarry
and see If anything has happened, :" she
said. And Dawes wife was off like q
young deer before the words were out
of he: mouth.
1t did not seem three minutes before
she stood at the door again, with white
lips, her dark eyes large with fright.
s'Father is wedged in under a great
bowlder," she said. You and the girl
must 60 to him. Take the camphol
and ammonia; it may sustain his
strength until 1 can bring relief. 1 am
going to ride the dappled mare to the
village and rouse the whole neighbor
hood"
"We have no saddle" gasped Mrs.
Somers; "and the mare will break you
neck"
81 can ride anything" Dawes wife
answered as she sped away. sit was
taught me with other useless accom-
plishments."
A moment later she shot by the dool
and down the street toward the village
She had bridled the mare and bucklet
on a blanket and surcingle. She sat
like a young Indian princess, her face
white, her eyes large and dark, looking
straight ahead, and urging her mare to
the highest speed. Faster, faster she
went, until the woods and fields seemed
flying pictures shooting through the air
Halfway to the village, which was
more than two miles distant, she met
Tom Burgus, the blacksmith. She
reined up the mare so suddenly she al.
most sat her down o. her launches.
deacon Somers has fallen under a
bowlder in his quarry" she cried. sc
to ~him-quick! Dave is away" Their
she rode on.
At the village she reused half {
dozen men, and to the strongest anG
most muscular she said: "Take this
mare and put her to her highest speed
Tom Burgus is already there. Yor
two can lift the bowlder, perhaps. ]
will ride with DR.. Evans"
The man mounted the mare, and was
off like a great bird swooping close to
the earth. He swept away and out o
sight.
When DR.. Evans refined his reekine
horse at the quarry, Tom Burgus anc
Jack Smith, who had ridden the mare
from the village, were propping up the
bowlder with iron bars, while Mrs
Somers and her help were trying to re
move the deacon's inanimate form
The doctor and Dawes wife sprang tt
their assistance. In another moment
he was free from his p~erilous position
and DR.. Evans was applying restora
tives. "He will live," he said, ''bu
in five minutes more, if help had no
come, he would have been a dead
man. 1t is very fortunate you had /;
swift horse in the stable and a rider
who could keep her seat" and hi
glanced around at Dawes wife Just in
time to see her fall in a limp hoap.
Deacon Somers was quite restored
to his usual health the following morn
ing. '.Dave's wife and the dapplec
mare saved my life," he said to Deacon
Bradlaw, who came to call. $50 the
boy didn't make SO poor a bargain
either time, neighbor, as L once
thought" ~.
The deacon recovered rapidly, and
just as rapidly Dawes wife lost strength
and color. She faded before their eye:
like some frail plant, and at last ont
day with a tired sigh she drifted GU
into the Great Unknown; and with he
went the bud of another life, destined
never to blossom on earth,