The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-30
Nathan watched her tripping away

with h vague pain at his heart. lie was
a very quick boy, and he had noticed
and felt the look of disgust when her
eyes fell OF his hands.
He held them UP and gazed at them
critically. They were black, sure enough;
flthier than he had ever seen them be-
fore, for his poor, overworked mother
had always ket It them clean. A strange
feeling of shame came over him as he
ran to the back of the wagon.
"Dad," he whispered, seeing that his
mother seemed asleep, sis thar q piece
of soap handy you kin give me? want
ter wash my face and hands, they're so
awful dirty"
"Here's solnc," handing it out to him.
"What bees stung you, that fust time
in your life you want to be clean?"
"Wcll, a little gal tolt me her par, DR..
Mayberry, what lives in that thar big
brick house, is a fust.rate doctor, and he
kin cure ma if l goes fur him. Maybe
he wouldn't come eff / went thar dirty"
"Maybe he won't come whether you
went there clean or dirty" Allan Ross
said, with the impatience Of great trouble.
Them big-bugs don't go no whar whar
they can't get fees"
"pll try" Nathan said, resolutely.
"She tolt me I wos to say Lily sent me.
and he'd come quick as winkin'."
When the CRIME was washed from his
face, you saw what q clear-skinned,
brisht-eyed little fellow Nathan Ross
was. He had a frank, winning face,
white teeth and q smile which made
him actually handsome. He started off
at a run. which he kept up until he
stood in front of the house where a horse
and buggy were hitched. A gentleman
was Just coming out of the gate.
swell, little fellow, what do you
want?" he asked. "Idon't know your
face;. you must be q stranger here
abouts."
"We've jest come outer Texas. Our
wagon is back there a piece. My ma she's
awful sick, and a little gal tolt me you
wos a good doctor, and you'd come and
see her when I tolt you Lily said you
wos to come"
The gentleman laughed.
"Thc saucy little mink She's forever
picking up patients in the highways and
byways. Very we'll, my little man: 1
must obey Lily, of course; and after I've
seen a very sick patient, I'll ride out to
your camp. In half an hour III be
there"
He drove off, and Nathan sauntered
back, believing firmly that now he had
q doctor, his mother would recover
instantly. He had walked about half
the distance when he saw in the middle
of the road an immense black bull,
paving the ground, his shaggy head
lowered, and uttering every now and
then a deep, stifed roar which shook the
ground. -.
spears like that fellows awful mad, y
he muttcrcd. II reckon Id better give
him q clear track, fur I don't feel like
skinnin' up a tree this mornin'."
He started on q circuitous route, but
had not gone far when he heard the
merry voices of children coming down
the road. He knew they could not see
the bull until they came right upon him,
as the road took a short turn just at the
point of danger. .
He pressed through the bushes, and
saw at some little distance three or four
girls, and among them the red cloak OF
his little friend of the morning.
ooh, my Masters" he cried aloud,
"the bull will make arter that red thing
sure as shootin'. Halloo, you, thar! turn
back! turn back"
The children heard him, and at that
moment one of the number, looking
down tho road, caught q glimpse OF the
furious monster. He had turned, and
his red eyes we're glazing at them.
Uttering scream after scream, the
children fled, all but Lily, who, panic
stricken, felt her feet glued to the
ground. She could not even utter a cry.
With bounds like a deer, Nathan
seized her as the bull made his
| charge. The boys Texas training stood
him in gosd stead at that moment.
Hetore the red cloak from the child's
shoulders, and as the bull dashed upon
them, threw it over his head. The in
turiated beast, completely blinded
dashed around madly.
"Run, Lily, rum" Nathan cried; and
half dragging. half-carrying the almost
insensiblc child, he ran toward the
wagon. When they gained it., he
stopped to breathe.
"Don't be scared" he said Re. assur-
ingly, 'he can't git at US here, nohoW.
We can jump in the wagon, and dads
got a rifle that don't miss. Look at him
tearin' down the road the other way.
He's arter the fellar wot threw the red
thing over his head. I'm feared it's
clean spilled now" apologeticalIy, but
if l hadn't done that, he'd have hooked
you, sure"
"Oh, I don't %care," Lily sobbed, hold
ing on tightly to her preserver. sit
was too awful to see those big eyes just
like blazin' fire. Oh, you must be such
brave boy" looking at him admlringly
through her tears.
A buggy drove up, unperceiyed by the
excited children, and DR.. Mayberry
jumped out.
"Good heavens, Lily! what are you
doing there 2" he cried. "Where is your
cloak, and what are you crying about?'
With a cry Of JOY, Lily threw herself
on her astonished father, and in spite Of
sobs managed to make him understand
the situation.
"You are a brave boy" he said, hold,
ing out his hand to Nathan. IL Will
speak to you after I have seen your
mother. Here, Lily, get in the buggy
and wrap up in the blanket. You
mother is in the wagon, l supposeY'
and he made his way in the crowded
vehicle.
She was lying motionless as the doctor