The Penn's Grove record., 1885-07-04
T EMBARRASSING.

"NOW come 10 Jhlnk Oh IL, 'ldie
say | don't" | answered in eegone
accents about as unlike my usual loud
impertiuently healthy tones as possible.
The truth was | felt literally done
M" II was not that | was not used
to it. | was mostly on my legs from
morning till night; so was Jerry-we
liked it. But, when a fellows gun
goes off by accident and emptles itself
into him. when you are fourteen miles
from everywhere and have to get the
fellow home by a process Of dragging
and pushing which takes about four
hours-after all this, | say, | think
was to be excused for feeling pretty
well used up.
1t had certainly been IN awful day.
Jerry was my chum. And now | was
sitting in JerFy's armchair, III his own
little smOkiDg-roOm; and across the
passage. through the haif-opentd door,
| could see the door where Jerry lay SO
still, so unlike himself.
was sitting 50 quietly all by myself
in the dusk that when the Doctor EN-
tered the room lac did not at fist know
| was there. He was not the Neither
Hall Doctor, but a young new Doctor
-Fairholme by name-who had only
Just come in to my neighborlood. For
these reasons he did not know who |
was, and started in surprise when my
meek VOICE inquired out Of the dark
ueSS-
"Wlll be live, D0ctor?'
"EhP WHAT" said tue doctor .strik-
ing a match and applying 1t to ID cagdle
on the mantlepieGe,
Then he gazed, apparently IN some
establishment, at my six feet of muscu.
lar humanity overwhelmingly out across
the hearth rug.
''I'm Hal Shirley of Neither Halt"
said, III explanation.
"Ohl Ali a friend of Mr.. Castle
main's?"
l nodded, by way of answer.
GLOW is hep" | asked again. "WtlI
he live2"
"He is badly hurt, but, as far as
| can see not dangerously.''
l almost laughed aloud i'll the excess
| of my relief at these tidings.
"He'n be all right-he has u consti-
tuition of cast ironl' | cried enthusi-
astically.
| glanced at Doctor Fairholme by the
light of the candle; he was an undeni-
ably handsome young fellow. not much
over thirty, | should think, broad
s%houldered, and dark, with bright Clever
eyes.
well, now" 1 continued, al don't
think | need wait any longer; because
must go home, and | have to walk ten
miles,
'Must you go home tonight" he
said.
nodded rather dismally.
THE poor old mother makes such a
point of it." 1 answered. "You see
i'm the only boy she has reared out OF
! five, and for her not to know where
was all night would brighten her tc
death, | believe. | can't stay here,
either; it would be adding to Grace'S
trouble"
Eyes; 1t would be a shame to trouble
Miss Castlemaine's," he answered
thoughtfully.
THAT is | suppose you are going
to stay all night2" / asked suddenly
"Oh, yes-I shall sit up with Mr..
Castlemainei'
"In that cas- then l should be only a
hindrance. I'll walk home, rest a bit.
and drive over early to know how the
poor old chap 1871 said, pulling my.
self rather YEARLY out of the arm.
chair.
"Mr. Castlemaine keeps no horsesi
Intercepted Doctor Fairholme.
l shook my head.
won't run to it, Poor old Jerryi'
l should like to have a look at HIM be
fore / go, ~ said wistfully.
He led the way across the passage
into the sick room. Grace Castle,
maine was sitting by the bed, her usu-
ally bright face pale with crying. She
rose and came over to nae, whispering
in a choked voice
81 have never thanked you properly
Hal, for bringing him home"
poor dear old fellowl lcould hardly
do less than that, Oracle" | answered
taking her cold little hand between my
two great paws. Don't grieve too
mueh,p | whispered reassuringly; ''lhe
doctor says he'll be all right; and I'll
drive over with the mother first thing
tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Hail." she whispered
tearfully.
Then | crossed the room and stood
over jerry where he lay-sO very pale
and still that it seemed hard at first to
believe that the great, strong, joyful,
buOyant soul had gone out of him.
should have liked to kiss him, but
could not with the doctor in the room
talking to Grace; so l mutely rubbed
my cheek against his palm. like a fool
ish old retriever, till the water in my
eyes had disappeared. Then We all
left the room, and | fetched my hat and
gun and rejoined the doctor and Grace
who seemed to have a great deal to say
to each other.
"Mr. Shirley" suddenly cried Doc.
tor FaiTholme, ~mterruptiug my adieux
to Miss Castlemaine, u am inspired
with an idea. My brougham is still at
the gate, and ! am gong to remain here
all night. win you do me the honor
TO drive back to Neither Hall in it, and
then tell the man TO go home to my
houseY'
1t was a kind offer; my aching swol-
len feet aud weary limbs cried out in
gladness, yet hesitated.
sit is so late-so far out of the way
You are very good; but indeed | could
not think Of
"Pooh, nonsensel There is the
brougham; it hasn't done much work
to-day-more's the pity" added the
young doctor, laughing. II shall be
only too glad If YOU will avail yourself
of it.n
The coachman started up, doubtless
from blissful dreams. He had been
waiting in the light of the harvest
moon for more than two hours.
/ sank down into a delightful nest OF
rugs and cushions, when, 10, my heart
gave a great bound, for had a com