The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-07-11

a burly, go0d-natured young farmer; intel
ligent enough too, but one who found the
"Stock-book" great deal more to his taste
than either Milton or Shakespeare. But
to little Ruth he was as demi-god; fol
had he not been enshrined in her heart fol
two long years, ever since she paid long
visit to his sisters on her leaving school
And as both Mrs Martindale and Joe
looked with favorable eyes on his suit
Master Dick had very pleasant time OF
it that weekend, you may depend upon it.
1t was short stay, though, after all; for
he had to go back home again on the Mon
day evening; but before then he had seen
the owner of Riggfeld and made arrange
ments to enter upon that, under the cir
cumstances, most desirable farm, at
Candlemas, on a fourteen years lease.
"Why, Dick " said Ruth, when he re-
turned to report progress, ''by the time
the lease is up I'll be quite an old woman .
"Nay, Ruthie, lass, rejoined Dick; ''it
will be time to talk like that when three
such leases are up"
Joe drove Dick to Carlisle, and prayed
that Blossom might fall lame or take some
temporary ailment that would afford him
an excuse to stay later in the town, and SO
give him another opportunity of seeing
his fair enslaver; but no such good luck
fell to his lot, and he had to take his way
homeward long before the hour at which
the theatre opened. And as this was
positively the last week" of their per-
formance in Carlisle, he quite made up his
mind that he should never look upon her
again. But on the Friday an event hap
pened at Linthwaite which reused that
drowsy hamlet from its normal torpor, and
it came about in this wise. About 4 o'clock
in the afternoon, while Joe was overlook
ing the harvesters in one of his fields that
lay short distance from Knowecroft, in
an angle where two roads met, he heard
the clattef down the main road of runa-
way horse and cart. He made rush for
the corner of the field, in the hope of being
able to stop the runaway, and leaping the
gate, was just in time to see the horse turn
into the byroad at full speed. His heart
gave sudden bound, for between him and
the excited animal stood, in the middle of
the road, and apparently paralyzed with
fear, young lady in pink dress. Now,
in Joe's mind for the past week, the con-
junction of young lady and pink dress
had been suggestive of one thought onl "
of the adorable Phyllis; and now he felt
assured that it was she who was going to
be killed before his very eyes. The bare
idea of this gave him the speed of an ath-
lete and the strength of a madman, and he
tore down the road like one possessed.
But he was too late to save her, for before
he could grasp the bride, she had been
struck down senseless; and he was just in
time, by exerting all his force, to twist the
animal round and prevent the wheel of the
cart from passing over her helpless form.
The men from the harvest-feld were by
this time running with all speed to the
scene of the accident, and to one of them
Joe turned over the care of the frightened
horse, while he stopped over its victim, to
see how much she had suffered from the
blow And it was Phyllis May Her
eyes were closed and her cheeks were pallid
as death; but Joe could detect the flicker
of pulse in her slender wrist, and lifting
her in his arms, he carried her into the
house. 1t was only couple of minutes
walk, but what minutes they were to Joe
alike blissful and terrible. Her dainty
head lay on his shoulder, and the light
autumn breeze blew stray tresses of her
bright brown hair against his cheek. To
clasp her thus was ecstacy; but the fear
lest those pale eyelids, white as twin
snowdrops, should never more unclose in
life was agonizing.
Mrs Martindale attended poor Phyllis
with motherly anxiety; and as soon as Joe
had borne the injured girl up to Ruth's
bedroom he left her to the care of his
mother and sister, and saddling his best
horse, rode off at full speed for the country
side doctor, who lived some three miles
away. Fortunately, he found that gentle
man at home, with his sturdy cob standing
at the door, ready to carry him ON distant
visit; so they were enabled to reach Knowe-
croft without delay. Meanwhile the
patient had been PLACED in bed, where,
notwithstanding all Mrs. Martindales rustic
appliances, she still lay unconscious. But
as the doctor entered the room feeble
moan was heard, and the injured girl began
to move about, as though in pain. The
kind-hearted old doctor, after carefully ex-
amining her condition, gave instructions as
to her treatment-above all things enjoin-
ing perfect quiet-and assured them that
there was no cause for alarm; for although
she was suffering from concussion of the
brain, it was only slight, He, however,
said that he would call again in a few hours,
on his way back from visiting some patients
at distance, and then took his departure.
Long before this time, the party in
whose company Miss May had come to
Linthwaite had arrived at Knowecroft in a
state of great alarm, having heard of her
accident. Itappeared that Mr.. Nelson, the
principal of the dramatic company to which
she was attached, had taken his wife and
Miss May for drive from Carlisle round
by Linthwaite; and shortly before reaching
that place their horse had cast shoe, and
they had stopped at the village smithy to
have it fastened on. Mrs Nelson had re-
mained seated in the conveyance, but Miss
May had taken advantage of the halt to
saunter on ahead, and it thus happened
that she was alone when the accident oc-
cured As may be imagined, her friends
awaited the result of her examination by
the doctor in great trepidation, and it was
with feeling of relief that they heard his
report as above mentioned. Having to be
in Carlisle for that evenings performance,
and as a substitute for "Ph@be" would
have to be got even at the eleventh hour
they could not prolong their stay at Knowe'
croft; but Mr.. Nelson promised to drive
back as soon as his duties at the theatre
were over for the night, to ascertain how
Miss May was progressing, and if neces-
sary to procure additional professional as.
sistance Dr. Graham. however, assured
him that this would not be required, and
that, although the recovery of his fan
patient might be slow, he had every conf
dence that she was not in dangerous condl-
tion.
Joe was oyerjoyed at this declaration
and was almost wicked enough to feel that
this accident, which might have been
fraught with such serious consequences to
one who had been in all his thoughts for
a whole week. was most happy one for
r IL ~ h acfe,If