The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-09
inscnsibIs husbands feet. Together she


poured brandy down his throat, at least
half of the fiery liquor being split on the
pillow The chimney fell with crash,
but they worked on and needed 1t not.
The drift on the floor had been getting
higher and an occasional furry OF snow
came in bet ween the raftling sashcs. And
still the mother and hoy fought against
the black angel whose wings were hover
ING over tho iuscnsible figure on the bed
Mrs Firms face was bathcd in tears. but
no cries escaped her lips. Little Mike
with shining eyes and palIid lips. ran back
and fovth between the bedroom and the
kitchen, carrying hot fannels now rub
bling his fathers icy hands, and then
cheering his mother with hopeful words
until the reluctant blood began 10 flow,
and faint color, such a5 heralds com
ing dawn, flushed the pale face upon the
pillow. But Mrs Finn knew that the
crisis was not yet passed.
Whisper, Mickey" sand she, closing
the bedroom door softly behind her Piac
ing her rough, red hands upon his shoul
ders. she told him 10 look into her face
And there they stood in that darkened
room, looking into each others eyes with
the freight throwing its iickering
shadows over them. Whisper Dye
think could ye get tn docthery Hes
cowld around his heart Jet, and he'll die
agin tn mornin' If tn docther's not here
wild his drugs"
"Yis mother, yis III git him said
little Mike, simply, the color On his face
deepening and his heart beating a Wild
tattoo against his ribs.
Now, quick put on yer fathers boots.
wrap this shawl round yer shoulders, put
on yer fathers gloves, an-an' " (Mrs
Firms voice trembled) God be wild 20.
me by"
Mrs Finn stopped down and kissed her
son. She pressed him to her heavulg
bosom in an embrace which was 50 close
that he gaspcd for breath. Then lie went
ont into the night and the door was shut
Mickey stepped into snowdriit up to
his neck when he left the stoop, AZ be
foundered out of this Acecy quicksand he
rounded the corner Of the shanty and was
banged against the fence, stunned and
breathless How he got into the road he
never knew. Here the wind had Car
rolned down from the Catskiiis aud swept
the road as clean as barn floor after a
| threshing. But that awful gale beat
upon him like hail OF carpet tacks. Ii
| stung his flesh even through his trousers
But Mickey set his teeth together hand
| and zigzagged up the old point road like
vessel beating III head wind unit
he reached the shelter OF a friendly hill.
| Here he encountered the snowdriita
again. They rose before him like success.
sive escarpments lie scaled those packed
hard by the wind lie struggled through
others like lifeboat through the pillows
When he reached the doctors sfor he
was 80 nearly exhausted that h9 could
only reach the bell by crawling Oh his
hands and knees He jerked the bell cord
so vigorously that the bell rang like a mo
alarm through thc silent halls Then Le
listened. For five minutes there were no
sounds OF life III The house Then lamp
| u
which lie could see a. he peered through
the keyhole There was a patter vi slip
pered feet in the hallway Ihe big door
swung open and the vicious wind dashed
in and blew out the light
Who's there" said voice
It's me, was the reply
Who's me-
Mickey Finn
why, my little fellow, what are YOU
doing out on such an awful night as this
said the doctor, rs he closed the door be-
hind the snow boy who entered
Mickey couldn't reply at first, he shivered
so Besides, his eyelids were fringed with
Ice work, and a mask of Ice was over his
face There was big lump in his throat,
too, as he stanmered ont:
MINNIE fader's d-d-dyin'. sir. An
would We come?
Mickey brushed the Ice from his lashe,
and looked III the doctor with his soul IN
bis big brown eyes. The physicians eyes
grew moist as he gazed upon that eager
face, but outside he heard the throbbing
and the bowling of the tempest He hest
tated.
Couldn't you wait till morning,
Mickey"
NO sir; me fader'll be dead agin tn
moInin', av yeZ don't come, sir"
The doctor looked again at the patient,
expectant figure before him with lis
frozen ears standing out whitley on either
side of the head, with its shoulders COW
cred with thin Paisley shawl, and con
trasied his big brawny figure with thai
of the lad before him Then he said
Eyes, Mickey, III 20"
The doctor drew on his rubber boots.
He mufIied his neck with shawl His
hands were encased in sealskin gloves.
Before they went out, however, the doc
tor made Mickey drink two cups of hot
coffee, which the boy swallowed at a gulp,
so anxious was he to return How they
reached the shanty the doctor has never
been able to tell clearly. He only knows
now that the boy was always ahead and
ever shouting encouragement.
Day was breaking when they reached
the shanty and tumbled inside. accom-