Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-02-03

Show luckyl You're wanted just as QUICK
as possible. Drive to -"
eyes, yes" I interrupted: "You know
the way, don't you!"
eyes,
"Well, then, jump in with us and drive. >
The boy did as requested, and we ratified
through the streets at lively gait. Thus
had most fortunate circumstance come to
my aid, in the form of an actual call for a
| physician, and we were now proceeding to a
definite destination. John seemed to think
the proceedings a little irregular, but man.
aged to quiet his uneasiness by various de-
! vices of prevarication.
| We soon left the lighted portion of the
city, and plunged into dark and narrow
streets. Nothing could be distinguished in
the gloom but the towering shade trees on
either side, and an occasional night lamp
cleaning dimly from a window.
"Here we are" exclaimed the boy, draw
ing the horse up so suddenly that we all
pitched forward. We alighted, and the
urchin conducted us from the street into a
narrow alley, on each side of which solid
brick walls loomed up. They were barely
discernible in the darkness, and had not the
remotest idea of the quarter of the city to
which we had come.
Suddenly we turned, in obedience to our
small sized guide, and halted before a low
arched door set in the brick wall The boy
gave a peculiar knock, which elected a
whistle from within, this in turn being re-
piled to by another and slightly different
knock. We were ushered within, and the door
was closed behind US.
| Inky darkness was all about. A voice
commanded us to move forward, and we did
so cautiously. The dark passage was not of
great length 1t led to another door, which,
on being opened, led to dimly lighted apart
ment Into this we proceeded, and peered
| cautiously around, at first being unable
clearly to discern the contents of the room.
| Becoming accustomed by degrees to the
| semi-darkness, we at length observed that
the place was one where poverty, if it did
| not actually reign, at least had obtained a
strong foothold The furniture was scanty,
the walls were dingy and hung with cob
webs, and sickly flame from tallow candle
sent forth faint and uncertain rays of light.
"There's no money in this job," growled
| John.
Then came, in a sorrow laden voice, from
| an obscure corner of the room:
ooh, my daughter!"
The place had been profoundly quiet up to
this point. l was indignant at Johns heart
less remark. 1t was not at all like him. l
also was somewhat disturbed in mind, for
there was something so decidedly real about
our night adventure that began to fear it
would be impossible to pass it off as a dream.
ooh, my daughterw
The words broke on the silence with start
ling distinctness John advanced to the
quarter from which they proceeded, and I
followed him.
"Bring the light" he said
The tallow candle was set in an old bottle,
and this I seized and carried with me. The
light disclosed an aged woman, on whose
face were the unmistable lines of struggle
and hardship. She was nliserably clad She
sat in rocking chair by the side of a cot.
On the cot, covered with an old shawl, lay a
girl whose age might have been 10 years.
Her face was in startling contrast to its sur
roundings, for it was fair and excessively
white Her eyes were large, dark and bril-
liant and her hair was jet black. She took
no notice of our presence, but seemed to stare
into vacancy.
''Is this your daughter" asked John.
eyes, sir; can you save her?" The sharp
ness of an intense anxiety was in the woman's
voice.
John, without replying, placed his hand
on the childs brow. He was always very
deliberate, and for moment his touch lin
gered while he studied the young face
'She can make so much money for me if
she lives" whined the old woman.
This surprising remark caused both John
Ill oo1r IL
''She is my seventh daughter, and am my
mothers seventh daughter. She can look
into the future and tell all you want to
know!"
eyes," responded John gravely; s;I thought
there was something peculiar about her."
"Ho, no! John Gorham," thought I, ''do
you believe in any such nonsense as that
you who are so very practical and level
headed?" But kept my thoughts to myself.
"Tell me, can you save her?' repeated the
mother.
''rll try" replied John. "When did you
first observe her peculiar gifts?"
ssThere was no need to observe them. She's
the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter,
and that's enough. Why don't you give her
some medicine to bring down the fever?"
'sShe has very little fever. Her trouble is
low state of vitality. I will not conceal
from you that her condition is serious"
As John spoke he took the child's hand in
his own.
''Upon my word" he exclaimed" she has
a surprising amount of nervous strength.
Her grip is as strong as mans. l cannot
loosen it without hurting her."
At this juncture the child looked at him
attentively and intelligently. I was still
standing slightly in the rear, holding the
candle over Johns shoulder
"Hush" exclaimed the old woman, in a
warming whisper. ''She is going to speak"
A faint voice from the bed now spoke these
words:
"Beware of the man with the light! Let
me think. He does not seem to be your
enemy, and yet he is trying to deceive you.
But he will not succeed"
Twas thrown into CONSERVATION by these
words. OF course they meant me. How had
this strange child penetrated my designs? l
was about to protest that she was delirious,
when she relinquished her grasp of Johns
hand, turned her gaze from him, and re-
lapsed into her former state. AS for John,
he favored me with single, swift and search
ing glance, which threw me into state of
guilty confusion. But if he had any sus-
picions, he gave no expression to them in
words He opened his medicine chest, Sc
lected some remedies, and gave the old woman
directions for administering them.
'sThere will be no need of my calling
again. he said. ''If the child is no better by
tomorrow, take her to the hospital. See that
she has perfect quiet, and, above all things,
do not let her exert her peculiar powers until
she is fully restored to strength. Such things
are great strain on the nervous system,
and the girl cannot afford for the present to
waste an atom of energy. The medicine I
have left will help her, and perhaps success
fully bridge over this period Of depressed
vitality"
Che old woman thanked him, and then to
nj! establishment produced shining $40 gold
piece from some recess of her tattered gar
ments, and rendered it to John. He accepted
it gravely, and then we withdrew from the
apartment. Once in the open air, the voice
of the small boy was heard:
Jump in" he said, ''and will drive you
home"
We obeyed, and were conveyed through
the streets at rapid rate.
"What do you think of the case John2"
asked.
''The child may not live until daylight, or