Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-05-26
insensIble husbana,s fses. Torethcr shs

and her boy forced his mouth open and
poured brandy down his throat, at least
half Of the fiery liquor being split on the
pillow. The chimney fell with q crash,
but they worked on and needed II not
The drift ON the floor had been getting
higher and an occasional furry Of snow
came In between the rattling sashes And
still the mother and boy fought against
the black angel whose wings were hover.
Ing over the insensible figure on the bed.
Mrs. Firms face was bathed In tears, but
no cries escaped her lips. Little Mike.
with shining eyes and pallid lips. ran back
and forth between the bedroom and the
kitchen, carrying hot fannels, now rub.
bing his fathers Icy hands. and then
cheering his mother with hopeful words
until the reluctant blood began to flow.
and faint color, such as heralds com.
ing dawn, flushed tho pale face upon the
pillow. But Mrs. Finn knew that the
crisis was not yet passed.
Whisper, Mickey" said she, closing
the bedroom door softly behind her. Plac.
Ing her rough. red hands upon his shoul.
ders. she told him to look into her face.
And there they stood In that darkened
room. looking into each others eyes witk
the freight throwing it's hickering
shadows over them. Whisper: Dye
think could 20 got tn doctherf He's
cowld around his heart yet. and he'll die
agin tn mornin' II th' docther's not here
wild his drugsl''
"Yis. mother. yis. Ill git him" said
little Mike. simply. the color on his face
deepening and his heart beating q wild
tattoo against his ribs.
Now. quicki put on yer fathers boots,
wrap this shawl round yer shoulders. put
on yer fathers gloves. an'-an'" (Mrs
Finn's voice trembled) "God DO wild ye.
me by"
Mrs. Finn stopped down and kissed her
son. She pressed him to her heaving
bosom In an embrace which was SO close
that he gasped for breath. Then he went
out into the night and the door was shut.
Mickey stepped into snowdrift up to
his neck when he left the stoop. As he
fioundered out Of this feecy 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 tho wind had car.
romcd down from tho Catskills and swept
the road Us clean as barn floor after
thrcshing. But that awful gale beat
upon him like hail Of carpet tacks. It
stung his flesh even through his trousers
But Mickey set his teeth together hard
and zigzaggcd up the old point road like
vessel beating in head wind until
he reached the shelter Of friendly hill.
Here he encountered the snowdrifts
again. They rose before him like success.
sivc cscarpments. lie scaled those packed
hard by the wind. He struggled through
others like lifeboat through the pillows
When he reached tho doctors door he
was so nearly exhausted that he could
only reach the bell by crawling on his
hands and knees He jerked the bell cord
so vigorously that the bell rang like fire
alarm through the silent halls. Then hc
listened For five minutes there were no
sounds of life In tlc house. Then n lamp
twinlilcd at the bead of the stairway.
which he could see as hc pecred through
the keyholc. There was patte- OF slip
pcrcd feet In the hallway The big door
swung open and the vicious wind dashed
in and blew nit the light.
who's thcrey' said u voice.
"li's me-" was the reply.
Who's mc?"
Mickey Finn"
"Why. my little fellow. what aro you
doing out on such an awful nigh, AZ thisy'
said the doctor. as he closed the door be.
hind the snow boy who entered.
Mickey couldn', reply at first. he shivcrcd
80. Besides, his eyclids were fringcd with
Ice work. and mask of ice was over his
face. There was big lump in his throat.
tod. as he siaInmercd cut:
"M.m.m.c fa,icrs d.d-dyin'. sir. An
would yc Gomez"
Mickey brushed The lee from his lashes
aud looked ut the doctor with his soul in
his big brown eyes. The physician's eyes
grew moist as he gazed upon that eager
'ar. bai out side he heard the throbbing
aud the howling Of tho tempest. He hest.
tltcd.
Couldn't you wait till morning.
Mickey"
mo. sir; me fadcr'll be dead agin tn
mornin', nv yez don't come, SIR"
The doctor looked again at the patient.
cNpcctant figure before him, with its
frozen ears standing out WHITLEY on either
side Of the head. with its shoulders GOV.
cred with a thin Paisley shawl. and con-
,rastcd his big brawny figure with tina.
I..f 81 LII t..f h. gaf1
"ycs, Mickey, I'll 60"
The doctor drew on his rubber boots.
lie mufled his neck with shawl. His
hands were encascd In scalskin gloves.
Before they went out. however. the doc
tor made Mickey drink two cups of hot
coffee. which the boy swallowed at gulp.
50 anxious was he TO return. How they
reached the shan,y the doctor has never
been able TO tell clearly. lie only knows
now that the boy was always ahead and
ever shouting encouragement.
Day was breaking when they reached
the shanty and tumblcd inside. accom-.
panied by an avalanche Of snow. The
doctor had arrived In the nick of time. BY
the aid Of powerful stimulants Mr. Finn
was brought up out Of the shadows. and
~ w NAN'N wa taNsASSsAs~A NNN ~ ss.sssN
diaic danger.
When Mrs Finn and her son heard
these glad tidings they had another hug.
ging match In the kitchen. while the doc
tor looked smilingly on. As none of his
comrades could be reached to whom he
could impart the joyful news, Mickey re.
paired To the cellar to inform the billy.
This grim. silent. bold fellow had been
standing at the cellar door all night long.
ing for his liberty. AS Mickey advanced
toward him with caressing hands the goat
reared ON his hind legs and
When Mickey 10 entered the shanty a
few minutes later his ears were full Of
snow and there was cash in the knee Of
his trousers.
A look Of indignation came into Mrs.
Firms face. She said:
THAT black divvlc's at his ould tricks
wild his wicked horns. Mickey. where's
tn Gxr''
Tho sun kissed the King Pine. the south
wind brcathed gently upon him. and his
voice was as soft Us the doves when Il