DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-05-15
.FREDDIE'S FORTUNE.
|e Romance That Grew Out of
a Nearly Fatal Accident.

was a young doctor, not oyerbur-
bed with practice, when | sat half
ling in my surgery one sitting August
ernoon and was reused by a hustle in
street and cry: Here's doctor!
bg the bell"
By the time the ring was answered l
| wide awake and had my ''profes-
bal expression" on. Two men came
and one held in his arms limp,
seless figure, boy, about three years
covered with the blood flowing from
ash in his head. l took the little
Ow in my own arms and carried him
rhe sofa, while the men brought me
Ter and seemed deeply interested in
my movements.
broken arm and the deep cut on the
bd kept me busy some time, but at
tmy little patient was made as COM
Fable as possible and was moaning
th recovering consciousness.
f'Have you far to carry him?' | asked
4 Of the men.
1--WE don't own him." was the answer
tewaS a-running across the street and
borse kicked him over. Jim, here"
ficating his companion, ''he picked
|m up and come along to help find a
lctOr cause Jim can't read"
CNeedn't a-shoved that in" growled
|m, turning red. Poor little chap,
pw he groansn ...
Twill give him omething to quiet
Nn presently" said, "and will send
Orc to the station house, if his name
mot on his clothes"
lhe men departed and I lifted my
arge once more and went upstairs to
mothers room over the surgery.
II dld not take many minutes to en-
her sympathies, and we undressed
e child and put him in her wide bed,
ping to find some mark upon his
'thlng There was none, and when
thls spoke frankly: Mother,
ere Is just one chance for the little
low life, and that is perfect quiet.
Will have fever, probably be deliri-
D. and to carry him to a hospital, or
IN ~ 10 his own home, may be fatal. I
Il Sena to the station house and
'n-n
lou know ! will nurse him, John"
mother said. "If his mother comes,
must do as she thinks best, but un-
'he does come leave him to me-"
wrote description of the child's
: brown curls and brown eyes, Of the
lcate suit of clothes in which he was
'Sed' and sent tito the station house.
=, V"ll being made in three days, l ad-
USED him for week, and still he
:. not claimed. 1t was very strange,
'le chlld's pure, delicate skin and
nty clothing seemed to mark him as
child of wealth.
u. "nlle ne lay unknown, my little
!ent was struggling hard for life
inSt lever and injuries. He was de-
'a, Jus lor many days, calling pitifully
Mamma-pretty mammal" begging
hoV to go away, and making our
% acne BY often crying: "Oh, Aunt
y oont beat Freddie! Freddie will
o De good" Or, Grandma, grandma,
" uont" in cries of extreme terror.
other would get so excited with in
laClon over those cries that l saw
Onilo had won a fond place in her
n heart.
le mas been ill-treated, John, the
" darling!" she would say. 'T hope
0fal people who would hurt such a
Will never find him again"
ie second week of his stay with us
and Freddie had regained
Jason and was on the road to recov-
Wnen one morning a carriage
leu up to my door and two ladies
lted. SI
ny Wore rustling silks of the latest
!, ipl ana were evidently mother and
nser' 1i The younger lady was very
Vaai, q perfect blonde and dressed
,quisite taste.
I Mo'fill2" inquired the elder lady.
owed.