The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-03-24

finched nor failed me. The almost hui
man cry he gave when he went down
that horrible place will ring in my ears
as long as I live" said the doctor, shud-
dering. "But who's going to show me
the way to Fraser's? There's trail
over the mountain, isn't there?"
"Begorry, there was wan, said Mike,
with great hesitation, "but very deuce
of way yell FONT it now-the traas dc
be crackin' and fallin' and the rocks 9
rowlin' down in jest an infarnal manner
It's as much as yer loife is worth to ye
to get there"
"And who's ailin' over there, amy
way" asked Kitty.
"I think it's the baby. Some one
left word at my office that they feared
one of Fraser's children was dying"
"Blamed if I'll risk my neck fur one
of Frasers kids" said Jake, emphati-
cally, going back to his seat by the
fire.
"No great risk, thin" retorted Kitty.
"Thim as is born to be hanged II nivel
be drowned"
can sure" said Mike, glancing at
Kitty, "I'm thinkin' we're as safe out
side as in afther this. We're in for it,
anyhow; but DANCED if I'm anxious to
drag my ovid rheumaticky legs over
amy trail tonight"
+. The doctor looked at Bat. Maria,
| too, had looked at him, and that look
had fired his soul with the courage of
an old warrior, whatever the risk or the
terror.
"Well, a guess know dat way pretty
well, an if hanyting is happen / got de
doctor, amt it 2" said Bat, gayly brush
ing back his brown curls, and drawing
over them the yeritable blue toque that
he had worn in the backwoods Of Can
ada. Then, in his droll way, he took
solemn leave of Kitty and Mike, i'm
ploring them, if anything should pre-
vent his return, to be good to Jake.
Over Maria's little brown hand he lin
gered long enough to say, unheard by
all but her:
II come again to thee--je tame"
And in a language understood by all
the dark eyes answered:
Il love thee"
And in language known and taught
by the Father of Evil, sullen Jake re-
piled to his laughing, "Good-bye, my
Jake-pray for me, y with look of hatred
and sullen SEQ to the deuce!"
Behind you, my DEAR" answered
Bat, with profound bow
Out into the black and terrible night
went the two men-one obeving the
mandate of his noble profession, filled
with the sympathy it had taught him to
give to sorrow and suffering everywhere;
the other, his heart glowing with chiyal-
ric passion, to prove himself hero in
the eyes Of her he loved-followed by
the voluble blessings Of Mike and Kitty,
by the half-proud, half-anxious and
altogether loving gaze Of Maria, and
also by the malignant glare Of Jake's
evil eyes.
" And Satan came also," thought the
doctor, observing the look.
Maria, too, turned in time to see the
expression. It was just as Mike was
telling them to look out for the bridge
over fraser's creek. Then the door
closed, and while the wind and the rain
beat flriously against it, and Mike and
Kitty specialized anxiously upon the |
chances of their safe arrival at F'raser's, |
Maria studied Jake's face as he gazed |
in the fire, where, from a pine
knot, the l1ried Jets Of flame darted out |
and leaped wildlyup in the black vault,
as If eager to join their kindred spirits |
in the storm.
Suddenly Jake arose, and, muttering
something in the way of a goodnight, |
No &c I,
went softly out, retiring to her own
apartment.
Meanwhile, safely on their way
through wind and rain and thick dark
ness, over fallen trees and raging waters,
went the two men, Bats jubilant heart
overfowing in droll speeches and songs
hat he sang at the top Of his voice,
20 scare away evil spirits, he said-and
he doctor said he should think it would.
But it did not, for behind them crept
one whose intent was blacker than the
hight, more cruel than the angry streams.
Yet on they went along the narrow path,
With the overhanging rocks on their
light, and on their left the fearful preci-
oice; yet gayly onward, with cautious
teps, until they reached the cottage,
whose light shone out like a star in the
lack night.
Bygolly, we've got here, don't it ?''
aid Bat, drawing a long breath, as they
'aused at the door.
Is there anything, I wonder, that stirs
PHYSICIANS heart more deeply than
hat look of mingled thankfulness and /
1ute appeal that greets him on his first
rival where life and death are
together? +
"God bless you" cried Fraser, who,
lone with his wife, was watching the !
title one that lay flushed with fever and :
loaning with pain. Good bless you,
octor-we didn't think you could get
ere"
g There's a special providence for a
octors, you know" he answered. '
Milling. Y
The mere sound Of his pleasant voice a
eemed to give them courage, and the V
lother, with a CLEAN of hope, in her S
yes and deep sigh Of relief, laid her II
ably in his arms, that clasped and bore
he tiny burden with the tenderness of v
woman. When a man has gentle \
cart, tender not merely toward his d