Milford chronicle., 1885-01-30

!
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 Par
sons, who had jumped up on the other
side, produced the slightest effect upon
the sleeper. Cliff 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. 1 know Mr.. Evans will wish it,
Indeed" she added, to the flock behind
her, ''I don't see that there's anything
else to do" and she tripped in, light
footed, and in what, under other circum.
stances, would have passed for state of
ecstasy, to have a cot brought down
into the pretty little reception-room, be-
cause it was nearest the door, the teak
table, the pride of her heart, with its
great elephantine curves, pushed aside,
pillows and blankets brought down, and
hot water made ready. And after the
insensible form was brought in, and the
men were taking off the outer garments,
she herself was tearing bandages, and
stirring up mustard and white of egg,
pausing only to run in with the cologne
bottle, as the men bore him along,
which. however, she dropped, spilling
| every - lie of the contents, and scat
tering about the odors of Araby the
Blest.
And then the poultices we're put on
Stout Parsons arranging one on the pit
of the stomach, and she herself binding
them upon the soles of his feet and the
back of the ankles, upon his wrists, and
| the back of his neck, and that done,
running to dispatch William for the doc.
| tor five miles off. During the whole
operation the man remained lifeless as a
log, but for the heavy breathing, which
had q frightful sound as it ratified
through the house.
ct don't know how to do anything
more, said little Mrs Rose, "till the
doctor comes. The poor man, and his
family utterly ignorant of where he is,
and wondering, and looking out for him
all night Not a letter or anything
about him to tell his name, did you say,
Stout? Well, all we can do is to wait
s'I must say, Rose" said her sister
May, 81 think you were most unwise
not TO let William get into the wagon,
and drive this person TO the first tavern.
Here YOU have him saddled on the house
for an indefinite illness"
t'Nonsense r said Rose, rocking her
self in all the contentment OF duty
done; 81 should have felt his blood on
my head if 1 had done any differently.
'"And a sickness" resumed May,
''that may last for months before he can
be moved, and perhaps death and burial
here. after all, and the house full OF
gloom, and the carpets spoiled, and"
"And," said Sarah, 'ah for an lndi-
vidual nobody knows anything about.
''He may be an angel in disguise"
said Rose, looking up earnestly.
And then everybody laughed enough
to wake the sleeper, if anything could
have walked him.
''Pm sure I don't see what you're
laughing at" she said, Indignantly.
''Suppose he can't be moved for months,
that would be a pretty scrape for him,
then, if he were in tavern, with such
care as he would be likely to have, and
all the expense"
''And nobody knows if he has cent
to bless himself with" said May, who
seemed decidedly of an agnostic tend
ency in relation to the stranger.
"What an absurdity, May And that
superb Abdallah horse and a really fancy
team to speak for him. He may be roll
ing in money"
|He'd have been rolling in mud by
this time. if the Abdallah hadn't
stopped" said Sarah.
II should think you and Tom were
rolling in money" interiected grand
mother.
"But. mother, with no children to
leave anything to, why shouldn't we en-
Joy as we goP"
f"There's Louise's children" was the
severe response.
81 can see as exactly what is passing
in your mind, Rose, " said Sarah, "as II
I were a trance medium. You nave
measured this Abdallah and the fancy
team, and you think here is a millionaire
who is going to be overcome with grati-
tude, and give you diamond necklace,
and a little bank stock, and a govern
ment bond or two, and leave you for
tune in the end. "
Gas if millionaires were ever taken
that way I" said Belle. ''For my part,
I had rather have our dances.
And thereupon Rose burst into tears
and ran out of the room.
She ran into Toms arms, Tom just
opening the door and of course the
hvsterical tears had to be explained.
sAnd dca' you think did just right,
Tom ?" Mrs. Rose ended.
Exactly right.
nThere i'' cried Rose, the tears and
smiles and bushes sparkling together.
"Onlv. perhaps, you had best take the
silver upstairs" continued Tom, with
gracious condescension.
"PreciseIy what say I" cried grand
mother. "And I sha'nt sleep wink to-
night with a person like that in the
house. Who can tell but what he is
counterfeiting."
"Counterfeiting n replied Rose, in
dignantly.
Eyes, counterfeiting apoplexy now, to
rise in the middle. OF the night and
cut our throats IN our beds ]"
"Why should he do that?" said Rose,
seriously. 'I will let all the silver stay
down stairs, and let him make off with 1t
and leave us safe. "
Gan the silver down stairs !" cried
the elder lady. "The silver that in
herited from my great-grandmother,
heirlooms in the family for almost two
hundred years It was good enough for
me to use all my life, but l suppose you
want some new, Not a spoon OF 1t do
YOU leave down stairs. Rose, you take
| The silver to your own room, and take
| the consequences of it afterward.
"Mother, mother" said Tom.
Gas for my part" continued his
mother, disregarding his voice, 81 am
going over to Louise's where they don't
give tramps the best room in the house.
And you may wait upon me, Tom.
Driven out of my own sons house by the
whims and vagaries of my daughter-in
IawV And grandmother hustled about