Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-28

TO ear. Not from her, however, do these
sounds OF anguish proceed, but from the
stranger, the tramp" as Nelly dubbed
him.
He is lying stretched out at full length
on the wood n settee, his face deadly pale
his eyes cl, sed, his lips white and dawn
with pain. But the face of the man lying
pro trate there is that of gentleman, un-
mistakably.
"What is the matter, Dinah? What has
happened?" inquired Constance.
On hearing her voice the young man
opened his eyes. Seeing lady he makes
an effort TO rise; an effort promptly sup
pressed by the sable divinity OF the kitchen.
Now, you jest keep quiet, chile. Don't
you gwine for to move, nohow. The
gemmen," continues Dinah, address ing
Wound oaTsf IN him 5 chest. Miss Conny sure rs
you're born. Shot hisself acciumdentual-
ly, reckon. Did yer gun go off, and hit
yer honey?" addressing the wounded man.
He shakes his head. "I-was-shot, he
answers, gaspingly.
We'll, well, don't try for to talk, honey.
Jes' keep quiet-that's lamb"
This TO man six feet high is funny.
Then, coming close up to Constance, she
whispered:
Scip, he done gone to the pos offs. and
won't be back nohow until dark. We had
oughter have de doctor, but / must do the
best kin until that lazy niger Scip done
come back. But de gemmen hurt power
full bad, Ise sure. done nuss heap of
sojers in de wah."
"Dinah, exclaimed Constance, sudden
ly, I'll go for the Doctor. l know where
ne hyes-l passed his house only yester-
day."
After an hours ride the Doctors house Is
| reached at last.
lie comes riding after her in a very few
minutes, and they gallop on in silence.
The Doctor drops his macintosh in a
heap on the steps of the porch, and to-
sether they enter the kitchen. Then, to
her establishment, Constance finds her
| aunt seated by the side of the settee where
the stranger is lying. Nelly, who is seated
in n corner of the room directly behind her
aunt, grimmaces and gesticulates ener-
1ticaily at Constance, who stares at her in
amaZement. The Doctor goes directly up
to whore the wounded man is lying.
The patient smiles family, and holds out
laneuid hand of recognition.
Glad to see you, old mani" is his greet
ing TO the physician.
81 must insist" says the Doctor, turning
toward the ladies', ION every ones leaving
WV AZ SAh Ouo RSiB anu Olhuns Il Suull Nuub
YOU.
"Suah rs gwine to stay, Doctor" re-
turns Dinah. II done nurse n heap of
sojers in de wah. l reckon you couldn't
get on without me, sure as you're born"
THE girls will go, of course" says Mrs.
Atkinson, "but, Doctor, surely l may stay.
am his mother"
81 don't know" returns the Doctor, doubt
fully.
Doctor, l must stay. I'll keep perfectly
se-1fs n ssOEE-o 10 Nvssy ssTf s5uIOTy,
You'll not drive me away from my son."
"Well, well, if you insist, of course; but,
young ladies, you be kind enough to go
now-directly."
The girls scuttle away, very much
startled at the Doctors sudden exhibition
of temper.
When they have left the kitchen safe
distance behind them Constance inquiries of
her companion, "How did Aunt Kate hap
pen to go into the kitchen and find Fred
there?"
well, she woke up, and nobody thought
of taking her tea 10 her. was in the
kitchen with Dinah, il was so lonely in the
sitting room, and l was so worried about
you-out, all alone, in that dreadful storm.
AS L sat there, listening ruefully to Freds
groans-he had fallen asleep, you know,
was moaning pitifully-a watching the
hands of the kitchen clock, which really
did not seem to move one bit, the door
opened and Aunt Kate came stalking into
the room, looking for all the world like
Lady Macbeth in the sleep walking
scene. What is all this?' she asked. How
did this man come here? Who brought
him hereY-glaring at me; you know she
doesn't like me.
We'll, that man woke up at the sound |
of her voice. Mother he said, and faint |
ell away. i thought he was dead, then
he was so white and cold, and il was such a |
long time before he came to-
They ars in Constance's room now, and |
Nelly is helping her cousin to exchange |
her wet garments for dry ones.
Constance, what n Judgment it will be |
on Aunt Ka.e if Fred diesl He is her only |
child, and she has not seen him, not spok- |
EN- word to him, fer five long wears. And |
Just because Fred married girl she didn't |
like, who is dead besides and under the |
sod these three years."
La.e in the afternoon of the next day,
Constance, seated at the window, seeing |
the doctor ride up, goes to the door and |
opens it for HIM.
MY COUSIN" are her first words; "will |
he live, Doctor? He il not mortally
wounded? l." in an apologize tone,
have been fast asleep almost ever since"
"Not doubt about his recovery. stnid |
all night with him, and left him to see about |
finding nurse for him. / found n very
good one. Your cousin and are old ac-
quaintances. We met at the Laurel House.
Then went, af or securing the nurse, to
see about having his trunk sent here.
Il have also found out how Mr.. Atkinson
came 10 be shot.
NTt -. ii
lainy. He left the hotel early Yesterday
know it did not come on to
rain until the afternoon, the shower turn
ing finally into pouring rain-on shoot
ing expedition. He took with him as guide
a hanger on about the inn known to every
body by the sobriquet of Slippery Joe. Mr..
Atkinson was warned by several not to 90 |
of alone in company with such character
as Slippery Joe. But he said, laughingly,
he hoped he was not afraid Of any one
man, no matter what his reputation might
be. IL appears they were Joined later in
the day by two friends of Slippery joe
mullatoes these, though Joe is white man
and the three, when they entered the
woods just below here, demanded his watch
aud money of Mr.. Atkinson. He refused
TO give up his property, there was stlug-
gle, and in 10 your cousin was shot and left
for dead. Joe and his companions were at
the hotel this morning. They told
The hotel-keeper Mr.. Atkinson had
sent them back, saying he preferred
to be alone. It is lucky your house was
such a short distance from the woods, for
your cousin would have probably
lied from cold and exposure, il not from
his wound-which / am happy 10 say is not
rs bad as l fir feared-heli pull through
now, thanks, he continued, smilingly, ito