Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-07-03


youf gloves. Put your best foot fore
most"
We rolled out of the yard and down
the dusty road Hitherto We had tried
to ride in style that might be generally
considered consistent with good deport
ment we had sat straight, and even
composed our faces 80 an expression
suggesting ''pf, he's and prisms. Now
however, when | s,iw Daphne bending
to her work in true professional style, ]
q so tried to turn all my energies into
foot power. We did not speak breath
was not plentiful enough to waste.
We found that Mrs. Simmons's S mile
was a long one, but not many minutes
had passed when, dry Tipped and pant
ing, we rode into the Burrage's yard,
where man was pumping water.
"Uncle Melcher has fallen in the barn
and hurt himself" began Daphne
"Will you and your brother go and help
him up' And will you please give lis
some water?"
He slowly filled the rusty dipper, and
passed it to us.
pected What's the old coon want to
go climbin' round for, anyway Z"
"Will you go non :" insisted Daphne.
"He may be dying"
"Oh, yes, I'll call Eph, and we'll fetch
up there i'll the course o fifteen minutes.
But what under the canopy do you call
that thing you're ridin on2"
"It's tricycle." said 1. "Have you
a horse, to go for the doctor2"
mo, l aint, but"
The pedals began to turn, and so did
Peggy. | knew what Daphne had de-
cided, and l was ready to do my part.
Out of the yard we went, and on until
we reached trim little cottage near tho
road.
"Has your father horse?" called
Daphne, to bnre- headed and bnre-
footed boy who snt on the fence, gazing
at us, in what we hoped was admiring
awe.
"Yup."
els he at home-the horse, mean2" !"
"No, he amt"
On we went without another word. At
the next house there wasa horse, feeding
in neighboring orchard. Daphne gave
it one glance.
"Madge," said she, 81 could run
faster than that barebones. Are you
good for six miles more "
''For twenty!" L cried, with more
zenl than accuracy.
AS to the work that followed, can
still declare that l never knew anything
so wildly exhilaratiug. Our breath came
fast, and our cheeks were burning; but
we gained on time, and annihilated dis
tance,
Two more triumphant girls could
scarcely have been found that day than
we, as we rode up to Doctor Miller's
house and certainly no hearts ever
sank lower than ours, when we We're
told that the doctor had driven away
five minutes before.
''He took the road to Greensboro"
said pretty Mrs. Miller, "but / am al
most sure he meant to stop at Mrs.
Moore's cottage, about mile and half
from here" Away we toiled, working
almost against hope, for the Greensboro
road was terribly sandy. l heard moth
ing and saw nothing l only breathed
and struggled.
"Hurrahl" " cried Daphne, at last.
"There's the house, and there's the
doctor "
But alas for u.s. He had just put the
weight in his carriage, and was pre-
parng to step in after it. Foot-power
was no longer of Use, and we lifted up
our voices and shrieked.
'Doctor we called. 'Dcctorl
Wait wait P"
He paused, he looked, and the day
was won.
"Well if you're not two crazy girls :"
he began, as we rode up to him; but n
glance at our faces must have shown
him that no spirit of fun had prompted
our chase.
"Can you go to Uncle Melcher's?" |
asked, with what breath L had left.
"He's broken every bone in his body "
Then Daphne took up the tale, and,
after brief explanation, the docter
turned his horse about.
"Now, you girls have had exercise
enough for one day." said he, "and l
shall stop and tell my wife that you'll
spend the night with us. Then, after
I've seen your uncle, I'll drive round
and explain everything to your mother.
Good -by.p
''Shall we?" asked Daphne, when he
had gone.
I'VE must-or lie down and cover
ourselves with leaves. ! don't believe
l could ride five miles more to save the
nation.
Then we toied back through the sand
to the doctors house, and sweet Mrs,
Miller gave us royal welcome. When
the doctor came home, he brought the
news that Unc'e Mel had broken II leg.
' - hn1 hnat, To
nurse him.
"And you are to pack up your clothes,
and ask one of the neighbors to take
you over there, also," he said, adding,
with Gemure twinkle of the eye,
Though, what your mother wants you
for, | can't imagine, unless it's to ride
on errands and chase inofl'ensiye doctors
about town."
Uncle Mel was i'll for many long
week, and we had dull and quiet time
i'll taking care of him. One day in Au
gust, as mamma was sitting with him,
lie said, suddenly, "Call in them girls ,
We appeared, little doubtful of oul
reception.
"The doctor says, if it hadn't ha' beer
for your ridin' on that thing, should
ha' been wuss ott'n L was," he began
abruptly. "Where is it!"
cat home, unc'e," said l! "You tolt
us it wasn't to come within mile"
"There, there, don't twit " said he
"Do you want to go to school? "
80 unclel"
"Now, don't % uncle me! Tn goin
to turn your mother out of her houst
and live there myself. I'm too old to be
so fur away from neighbors."
This looked serious Poor MS the
house was, we had, as yet, no Other
/ chaltnr