Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-02-26
IN DISGUISE.

! IN DISGUISE.
A happier, prouder little woman thai
Mrs. Rose, when at last the deed of /;
house and home in her own name wal
given her by Tom, you never saw. To b
sure, it had been bought subject to /,
mortgage held by wealthy up-countr!
stock raiser, who let out his money tha
way; that, together with the fact that il
was liable to foreclosure now at anJ
time, was the only drop of bitterness in
the cup; and when that was paid off
bliss would be running over. But, mean,
while, what a model house and home il
was to be; outside, blessing to the eye
of the passer-bp; and inside, paradise
to the dweller; and all its work to run
on perfect system, and the servants tC
adore her! Then as for the neighbor
hood. in what hospitality Blossombank
was to glory-always fork laid at the
table for an otherwise unexpected guest
always welcome ready, the house a
refuge for all the human race who should
claim it. And if baby should be hung
in basket On the door handle, oh, heav'
ems! what joy! And if a traveller should
break his leg in the street. and be brought
in for weeks of healing. then joy again
it might be an angel in disguised and
in truth, much of her purpose was full
filed; the place abounded in hospitality
the peighbors did love to run in; the
servants did adore her. The sisters and
brothers and husband chaffed Mrs. Rose
little, but, on the whele, Blossembank
for all its mortgage was nest of happi'
ness. Yet when the traveller did come
he did net look at all like an angel in
disguise.
They were at tea-one of their ordi+
nary teas, at which, when the table was
full, the rest sat about where they could,
and all was gay and happy as if there
was not a mortgage in the world-when
Mandy, the table girl, whispered in Mrs.
Roses ear some words that made that
laughing lady's face grave moment,
and then irradiate with ineffable happi>
ness.
oh, what is it now, Rose ? cried Belle,
L know you've just heard of some horri-
BILE case of distress by your face
Awful said Rose, rising-'Awfull A
poor man struck with paralysis in his
wagon out here by the gate
Paralysis in his wagon p said Sarah,
who was always amused by Roses ago.
nies.
.Paralysisr said Belle.
4 suppose SO. Mandy says his horse
stopped at the brow of the hill
That he did, mem, and won't bulge
and there's dozen men and boys out
there, and two of them has climbed the
wagon and shook him, and he's as sound
asleep as log. The Seven Sleepers
couldn't wake him.
The poor, poor fellowP said Mrs. Rose
Just thiuk how dreadful! Away from
home, nobody knowing who he is or
where he belongs, struck down in the
dark. Oh. it makes my blood run cold
And we mustn't stand talking about it,
and he perhaps dying And Rose was
hurrying to the door and out iRtO the
May night chill and dusk, without hat
or shawl, and everybody was hocking
after her.
'Ohl he has certainly had a strokeT
said Rose, as she clambered down from
the wagon where the figure sat bolt up.
right, iron, immutable, the head fallen
on the breast, the only sign of life being
the heavy stertorous breathing. Not
all the shaking and hauling of Stout
Parsons, who had jumped up Oh the 9TH
er side, producing the slightest effect
upon the sleeper. Lift him out, Stout,
said Mrs. Rose, you and the rest Of you,
as gently as you can, and bring him in,
and then lead the horse into the yard,
and call William to take care of him.
know Mr.. Evans will wish it. Indeed,
she added to the flock behind her, j
don't see that there's anything else to
do; aud she tripped in, light-footed, and
in what, under other circumstances,
would have passed for astate of ecstacy,
to have a cot brought down into the
pretty little reception room, because it
was nearest the door, the teak table, the
pride of her heart, with its great ele+
phantine curves, pushed aside, pillows
and blankets brought down, and hot
water made ready. And after the in
sensible form was brought in, and the
men were taking off the outer garments
she herself was tearing bandages. and
stirring up m ustard and white of egg
pausing onlyto run in with the cologne
bottle,as the men bore him along which
however, she dropped, spilling every
particle of the contents, and scattering
about the odors of Araby the Blest.
And then the pouitices were put on =
Stout Parsons arranging one on the pit
of the stomach, and she herself binding
them on the soles of his feet and the
back of the ankles. upon his wrists and
the back of his neck, and that done, run
ming to dispatch William for the doctor