The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-08-06

He was telling them of his arrange
ments for the picnic, amid bursts of
applause and peals of laughter, for the
young master was "always readywit
his joke
On the outskirts of the little group,
unnoticed in the excitement of the
moment, stood the tail man in the
grey tweed suit
Suddenly he raised his eyes to the
scaffolding above Victor's head, and
then, no one knew quite how it hap
pened, but strong men were thrown
right and left, as by giants strength.
There was sickening crash, and
Victor was thrown, as though he were
a child, far out OF harms way.
But where he had stood a moment
before, lay man they oil knew, pinn-
ed down by heavy beam across his
chest.
And while they stood horror-strick-
en- and appalled,, graceful woman's
form was in their midst
Men, she said in voice so unlike
her own that those who heard it never
forgot, "can you do nothing but stand
and stare like idiots? Victor, he has
given his life for you, can you do moth
ing to relieve him? Go to the house
and sec that a room is made ready to
J receive him. John Stiles, saddle the
fleetest horse in the stable, and ride
for DR.. Jackson as you never rode be-
fore; and the rest of you, put forth all
} your strength and lift this beam"
And they succeeded in rescuing
: the man, and bore him slowly and
7 silently, with all the strong vitality
crushed out of him, up the road he
| had trodden SO oftefi-up the broad
: walk that had echoed so drearily to
t the sound of his footsteps less than a
Y year ago-into the house he had been
}, forbidden to enter again and before
!, them walked a woman, with wild eyes
and white drawn lips
When the doctor came out of the
= room, after all was done that he could
s do, she met him at the door,
d "Is there any hope, doctor?"
81 cannot tell yet. He has u strong
constitution, and we will hope for the
n best" said the good old doctor, while
0 tears stood in his eyes.
For he had known and loved Steph
}, Ell Walker all his life.
IS Doctor" she said, grasping hi
4 arm with passionate force, "you mus
save him-you must, you must Takt
all have-money, lands, everything
r, but save his lifew
l. "You forget my child, that the ISSUE
:. of life and death are not in my hands
If any skill of mine can avail to say,
i Stephen Walkers life, think yol
n know | need no bribe."
4 Forgive me, doctor | scarcely
knew what l was saying. Iknow yol
! will do all you can, and | am gooC
- nurse-papa always said So"
he "Helen, you must not think of nurs
r ing him. This strain on your nerve
is too great you are i'll already"
:. She laid slim cool hand gently il
~ ~ his.
I'd "Put your finger on my pulse, doc
Is tor. 1t beats evenly. l must be BRAY
ty and strong for his sake. If | gave m
: life for him it would but poorly rC
quite what he has done for me-"
II The doctor looked into the whit
k pitlful face, in which no trace of tn
20 old pride remained, and read her 81
- cret.
at shall be as you WISH" he sal
W. briefly "but you must let a nurse hel
he you. 1t will be a terrible ordeal eve
he if he RECEIVERS"
Mt She went into the darkened room
La where he lay in a heavy stupor, an
nc knelt beside the couch. Presently i
opened his eyes and saw her there.
yn glad smile lighted his face.
ds "Nell, Queen NellW he said softl
=, and then, "Victor, is he safe?"
'" "Safe and unharmed, Stephen, bl
at what a cost"
i'm "It is better so-better and easier
die thus for your happiness than
i, live through the weary years of exi
~ / looked forward to-"
Ike "Do not talk Of dying" she moane
I'VE "You must live for my sake for, 0
ow my darling, | cannot live witho
es you"
.'' A sudden gladness transfgured h
w face.
tor "Do you know what you are sayin
er, Helen2 Did you care for me lit
tor after all?"
: ), $50 much, Stephen, that if you a
e. taken, there will be no good thing Il
aid in life for me but to lie down and d
in too-so much that could never ha
,ev married Victor, though like cowa
~. ~ | shrank from telling him so"
ere II must live, DEAR" he said 81 ca
rse not die nowW
nts And then drifted away into uncc
his sciousness.
fan 1t was long days before he knew h
ioi again-long, weary days, while t
iron constitution did battle with t
;to- fever that consumed him, and Oft
n a when it seemed the battle was hol
~. less.
'iiN And through it all she never
ans him, In that dark time, all that "
best and sweetest in Helen Vinto
she nature came to the surface She
- no thought then OF concealing
~ love but her whole being went out