Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-03-02


windows.
"What is the matter p'
We had no need to ask. for there right
before our eyes. in the hot and dusty
road, lay the figure of q man. apparently
Lad, with small bundle and stick beside
him.
We were all nut in a moment. and the
driver. assisted ny Mr. Catiii,. lifted + in
animate form and bore il. IT, the shade of the
pine trees by the roadside. He was quite
unconscious. though not dead, as W. had
at 6rst thought; and while ran for water
from neighboring brook, Miss Allison
prpduced tile Of smelling-salts. and
the driver Il fisk of spirits. Mr.. Catlin
meanu lille stooped down and carefully ex-
amined him.
lies not hurt anywhere" he said
eravely, but he's i'll, very ill, poor fell
lowl''
"What ails him ?" we inquired, anx-
iously.
The grazier looked up and solemnly Ut
tered one word:
OtUTCtLsOU
An exclamation of horror and compass
sion uroke from Miss Allison. She hur.
ried to the coach and returned with lit
tile h2sk of luncheon. Her hands trem-
bl. d and her ewes were blinded with tears
as she stopped down and placed a few
crumbs OF bread mo,s'eLed with currant
wine bet ween the white lips.
The sight was enough o draw tears fro M
any one let alone the warmheartpd lIttl-
old maid. There he lay, young m IN of
not more than three or four and twenty.
with regular. clear cut features, clustering
brown hair thrawn back IN damp and
tangled mass from his white forehead. and
clothes which. though shabby. w,rn and
travel soiled. bespoke him not of the I'M.
mon or tramp class. And he was
starved-w0rn out and nearly dyln. for
want of fond, and from the he 1t anil IA
tigue of travelling on fo,t throuyl the
burning summer norntida.
AS we eazed his ewes slowly opened =
beautiful eyes they were-large adj dark
and pathe ic in their Wis FIJI half c,nsci-
ousness. The sight drew a fresh burst Of
tears from Miss Priscil'a's eyes. which
were assuming an untecoming rednfss.
"What are we to do with him?' l in
qnired. anxInnsly.
I'LL carry him on to Atlee's,f replied
the driver. 1--WE can't leave him alone
on tie road to die. But don't know rs
ANYBODY there'll take HIM in. He's only
a tramp. though genteel looking one -
II will take him in" spoke up Miss
Priscilla. promptly. "We're only SIX miles
from my house, and there he shall stay
until he's able t. take care Of himself. II
his mother could see him nov! "she add
dead. III take her place and be mother
to him AS v ell as can, poor young man. .
In the coach she continued to tend him
most car.fsi|ly, every now and then insist.
! irg upon his taking tew crumbs of roll
| and a sip OF or cnIrant wine. lie was
| conscious now. hut too weak even tt
! speak. al d we all forbore to force him I.
that exertiDn.
In little over an hour we stopped at a
! white gate opening on the road. and lead.
ing by Il short carriage way to pleasant
comfnrtabe looking piazza in front cover
| I'd with vines. Here we AL alight.d. anf
while Miss Allison FASTENED forward Il
prepare things, the men assisted our inva
lid to the house, taking charge of the ole
maids umbrella. which in her haste sh.
had nvesln,'ked and left in the coach.
The, laid the new guest OF a snow
white hid in the coolest and neatest oil
chambers. ana motrLrlv old colorpd wn
man vent to prepare chicken broth. ]
observed Mr.. Catlin sreak 10 Miss Allison
| aside. and saw him take out plethora
packet te<sk. but she rercmptorily pnt II
away. TM n he carefully pinned bill il
the Young Ssan's breast pocket, and he anf
the driver derarted. proming to send tn.
doctor from Atlee's
remained, &E the urgent request q
| Miss Allison. 81 g had learned hat wa
goin~ t" a que little farm house only /:
few miles distant. u here l proposed Il
| spend the hot summer moths, and sh.
would not let me continue my journey
through the hi .zing no ntid. sun. In I've
evening. ~hen it beca e COO, she drove
me over in her old -fas' loned Gig, bv
shaded woodl,rd road leading direc,l
from her house to the farm. and she ex
pressed the hope that would often com
and see her wi ie / remained in the neigh
bnrhond.
was glad to avail myself OF This invi
tatinn. had from the first lived tn
bright. lively. kind hearted little lady
and liked her the better the more I knew
of her.
Nv first visit to her was made cstensihl
TO inquire after her patient. lie had baa1
very i'll. she told me-, with tonch of brai
4 fever, and she was still anxions ahnu
him. Her Whole heart seemed stirred Will
compassionate tenderness as she relate
to me- what she had gathered concerning
him. He was poor artist who had faile
in his business, and without home, friend
or means, was making his wav IN foot
the North. in the hope of finding som
kind Of an opening there. What littl
money he had possessed was exhausted
and. having been refused fOni nr a night
lodging by nle or another on the wav " h
never took in "tramps,'' he had final!
succumbed to hunger and fatigue. an
you'd probably have died, Miss Priscill
said, with choking sob. if we had moi
fortunately fund hi q in time.
When again called, found Mr.. A
thur Field so far improved as to be sittin
: up. and even moving about his room lii
Tile. Mis- Allison took me in to see hin
charging me not to talk to, much. An
how assidunus she was in her attention
, how carefully she watched even b
looks and words in her anyi9 to do a