Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-31

stories, which were fully appreciated BY thu
child.
Lottie returned at the time appointed
and was once more domiciled in her room
She was so much better now that she coulc
walk short distances easily without hel
crutch, and her face, sweet and pure al
ways, was illumined with soft glow OF
happiness which rendered it doubly charm
ing.
DR.. Conroy, though an undemonstrauvt
man, could not control his eyes, and
watched her with a devouring look which
plainly showed his heart, and the tenGel
care which the bluff, stalwart doctor showed
toward his fragile little patient was touch
ing; even the gentle little mother had been
entirely willing to surrender her darling
into his keeping when she saw his devotion
and her love for him.
The family would remove to Philadelphia
| in short time, and already neat little
cottage had been engaged for them by
the doctor. who had entered into the life OF
| the little mother and the kind father WITH
the warm interest Of a son.
Pompey was intending to return to Elm
Park with his charge in few days when
an event occurred which materially altered
| all plans in the household. 1t had been rain
| ing, and the streets were in slippery and
uncomfortable state which precluded walk
| ing or driving.
| Chester Carrington was in the gloomy,
brooding state of mind which always, IN
| greater or less degree, accompanied low,
! depressing state of the atmosphere, and
which was particularly aggravated by an
| electric storm.
| Pompey had followed him closely, and
strIven patiently to amuse or turn his mind
upon pleasant topics, but he had shown
himself strangely impatient of control, and,
! sending his attendant upon some fanciful
errand, he managed to slip away unobserved
and wandered out upon the street.
Pompey was greatly alarmed when he re-
turned and found his charge missing and
many moments of valuable time was spent
searching the large house, in the hope that
he had gone into some of the rooms.
Isabel shared Pompey's alarm fully when
she learned the situation. Mr.. Falconer
was not at home and Tom was out on an
errand, so Ponpey rushed out alone upon
his search, eagerly iuquiring of eacn police
man and putting them upon the lookout.
No one had noticed the missing man, and
Pompey started for The police headquarters
in search of assistance. He was fastening
along crowded thoroughfare when his at
tention was caught by the familiar form of
the object of his search in advance of him;
he was crossing a street, and Pompey OBJ
served with horror that he was directly in
the path of a swift-coming carriage, the
driver of which seemed to be gesticulating
and shouting, but poor Chester Darlington,
his white locks streaming in the March
wind, was also gesticulating and talking to
himself, as he often did in his present state
of mind, and paid no attention. The driver
pulled savagely on the lines, the horses
reared and plunged, but their impetus was
such that they could not stop quickly
enough, and poor unfortunate Chester Car
rington, in plain sight of agonized Pompey,
was lying stunned and senselesS on the
crossing.
There were plenty of willing hands to lift
the injured man and help Pompey to
carry him where surgical assistance could
be sent for, and messenger dispatched
for Mr.. Falconer, who was soon on the
spot.
An examination proved that the injury
was on the head, which had come in contact
with the sharp hoof of one of the horses.
''Its a miracle tnat he was not killed in
stantly," said the surgeon, gravely, as he
looked up from the examination; ''you had
better get him home as soon as possible"
"Wil he live, do you think!" Mr.. Fal-
coner asked the question anXiously; he
dreaded the effect of the shock on Isabel.
sit is impossible to predict" replied the
surgeon. eff this was the first injury, and
he was in full bodily strength, there would
be more hope" and he shook his head doubt
fully.
Isabels heart sank within her when
Pompey appeared alone, breathless with his
haste, and with his honest, black face con-
vulsed with grief. 1t was the first time in
her life she had faced such tragical event,
and she almost tainted with dread as Pom
pey told his story, his voice choked with
emotion.
Mrs. Montford came at once to the rescue
with her brave heart and strong hands,
and while Isabel gave way to her uncon-
trollable grief, she quickly made bed ready
for the reception of the poor, limp form,
which now appeared IN sight, borne on
stretcher by strong hands.
''Be brave, my darling" whispered Mr..
FalcOner, as he took his sorrowing wife in
his arms brief moment, after the father
had been laid on his bed and the men had
departed; ''while there is life there is hope,
and every thing which human skill can do
shall be done for him"
There was a discolored bruise on his
skull, near the spot where the first injury
had been received, and this was carefully
shaven and treated in the best possible
manner by the surgeon, who, with DR.. Con-
roy, had accompanied the sad procession.
He lay unconscious still with f1uttering
breath, and faint, irregular beating of the
heart only to tell that he was yet alive.
kilograms were at once sent to Major
Darlington and Mrs. Pembroke, and then