River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-06-03


little air there 's with their vile pipes.
They will not 90. she answered.
1T is not customary with my people to
trust the worlds people"
With an ejaculation, expressive of
disgust, DIR. Hoyt turned to his patient.
| shall not attempt diagnosis; there
were broken bones and CHASTITY wounds.
The boy was fast weaking from has
more than mortal agony.
ChlOroform, that angel of solace 10
the sufferer, was first administered; and
the lOng-bearded men, gathered close
around the bed watched the immedi
ate effect of the medicine, and saw that
the boy gasped a little, grew more
quiet and lay dead.
The enlightened reader viii not find
it easy TO comprehend Ignorance such
As theirs; but these men had only the
evidence of their senses, with no past
experience, or even knowledge. IL
was only natural, therefore, that they
should Jump 10 quick conclusion, and
that hatred of the alien stranger, al
ready strong enough, should, with this
added provocatiOn, call forth every
mans Knife with intent TO kill.
DIR. HOyt was too taken by surprise
10 be more than dismayed at tiIst. The
threatening glanees at the bed, the re-
doubled howls of one of the women,
made plain the cause of the mnTderous
+ preparations. He turned to the girl by
the bed, whom he had thought of a
I higher grade of intelligence than the
rest; but her face showed only panied
distress.
1T is chloroform. Don't YOU know9"
he said appealing to her. 1T will
make him sleep while l set the bones.
Then he will awaken. Tell them quick
or 1t will be too late.
She looked at him long before she
/ spoke. and the rest waited breathless.
+ for her words. She noted the deX-
/ terity, the certainty of his motions and
/ her faith rose above her judgment.
'.He SAYS it will be right" she said
/ in Russian, that he will sleep only till
I the wounds are dressed. | do not I'M
derStand but think he knows. See
+ he works in a good way Its the Gus
/ tom in America, perhaps. Do no. Kill
/ him yet.
/ The doctor worked rapidly, and the
+ men fell back into one corner and mum
/ bled together. One of them spoke pre-
sently. gesturing agreat deal and point
ing to his knife.
/ He says, Translated Maria, that
/ they will not kin YOU if your words
are true. and the boy lives. If he dies
you will not leave us alive. That is
but just.
4 She spoke in a tone of calm convic-
I ton, and seeing that to argue was to
/ waste breath, the doctor turned again
/ to his patient, upon whose chance of
/ life his own depended He was not
religious man, but | think he prayed as
well as labored, during the next half
/ hour: for humanity speaking, there was
every probability that some of the
wounds were fatal, and that the sick
one would never revive.
/ Marie watched more intently than
any OF the others. Her confidence in
\ creased and every few minutes she
/ turned to the group with an imperious
nod.
He is right: he is right. she said.
When. finally, the boy opened his
eyes, and knew pain again, the men
and women wished to bring altar gifts
( TO lay at the physicians feet; but
Marie only said tearfully:
I I'VE did not know that America
I held so wise a man. | will never
think. hereafter. that am called to
nurse the sick.
Everything depends upon YOU
now" he answered Nursing must
I do the rest" and leaving directions,
\ he drove away, meditating seriously,
( for so light-hearted a man. upon his
strange escape from death.
For two weeks he was a daily caller
at the cabin: and long before the end
OF that time his interest in the boy
/ hat become secondary TO his
interest in the nurse, who developed
/ a.tonished ability She seemed to eX-
paud and humatize from day to day.
''Sbe would be a fortune to any com
munjty. he said. in speaking ~ her.
/ Such gifts Of voice, touch aud man
ner. rarely come in one person. Her
hands were his especial admiration;
I he held the right one in his own, one
i dav, and looked at il steadily; it was
+ large and flexible, perfect in shape,
and imbued with strength that made
simple contact with it pleasant. He
/ looked at her face. and its expression
made him drop her hand.
You must be very strong he said.
Yes she said. My ancestors,
you know. killed oxen with their fists.
I | am very strong.
/ The rest of the community were I'M
\ accountable in their behavior. After
/ that first day, when they were dis
posed to crown his head. and lay doves
at his feet. and make him feel alto
I gether like a fool. they seemed to re-
/ turn to their first state of suspicious
dislike, tempered only with some
/ dread of his mysterious power.
/ 1t was a week after his last visit.
that a ring ut the Office bell, one
morning. announced Marie Won
/ Sulevitch She had walked far, for
She breathed hard; but her face was
white. and showed that She was sus-
/ tanned by moral rather than physical
strength.
DIR. Hoyt sprang to get chair; but
/ she leaned against the door.
No she SAID. i will not sit
down. | wish you to tell me where to
J 90, because You said | could be a nurse,
and it is no longer possible for me to
stay ut hOme.n
The doctor walked the length of the
room. and turned before he spoke.
Tell me all of it," he said. am
your friend
She sighed YEARLY.
There is nothing TO tell. You would
not understand. 1t is Nicholas this
time. II is the same whether it is Al
exis or Ivan. They do not care who,
but they will make me marry. They
say am of the world. If ] will not
marry Nicholas. they will east me off
to the worlds people. / am no longer
OF them. | come to ask you what YOU
of the world do with your women who
do not marry.
DR. Hoyt looked out of the window
and there was a queer smile on his
face.
"Why not?' he whispered. "She is
beautiful and good, more capable,
every wav, than the best of their book
crammed girls; more nearly in the
image of her Maker, too. Why not?'
Marie" he said aloud, turning
toward her. care you sure it is not
that YOU do not wish to marry NichO-
las and Alexis? | ask you now to be
nv wife. VIII your resolution lie
still the same?"
Vivid color rushed over her face,
and she put up her hands dcspairingly.
They said would be lost among
the worlds womeni" she cried, "Oh,
they were cruel to cast me away