The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-08-06

boot. He had lotions and bandages in
his pockets, having carried supply with
him to the camp.
"Gwine to set her, doctor?"
"No. l haven't the proper appliances,
and there isn't stick in sight fit to
make splinter. I'm going to make a
cradle of this bootleg and bandage it up
bit, and see if can't get you into town
to my Office. Do you think you can
rider
II guess so. 'Twon't be no worse'n
settin' here an cussin' for comply while
you ride into town an send arter me-"
He evidently considered that, Royal
having laid his hand to the case, he him.
self was exempt from further concern
about arrangements.
Royal bound up the leg in such fashion
as to prevent further mischief, admin
istered drug to allay the pain and help
ed his patient to mount. 1t was not &C
complished without a groan or two and
a deepening of the gray pallor, but he
was plucky soul and used to rough ex-
periences, so he made the best of it with
fortitude that won on Royal. Nor was
he deficient an frratit1lde or a SanSa of
courtesy, which he evinced by word or
two of thanks aud regret for the trouble
he was giving.
''If I'd knowed how drunk | was I'd
ha' staid in camp" he remarked peni-
tently. 1.-The boys had birthday up
thar, or ruther kid from ole Virginny
had, an he's a green hand an lowed
| we'd all got to drink luck to him. An
! Il. 1, L. l. - Ill
| hands; so time we got aroun' the camp
| guess I'd more on board then could
carry"
To Royal the conclusion admitted Of
no doubt.
"rd promised Mollie I'd come down
this week." the man went on, IAN twas
on my mind even whenst got drinkin
with the fellows, an sort'r stuck by me,
for drunk as | was I started for home,
not wantin' to disapp'int her"
"Your sweetheart
my wife"
Royal was walking beside the horse
with his hand on the rein.
''This will be bad job for her" he
observed gravely. This sort of thing
comes hard on n woman
|
shanty," the miner said, seeking sell
justification. "She needn't poster about
money if Tn laid up six months" Then
more humbly: She'll mind about my
bein' drunk. She's always arter me tl
quit, an I've good as promised / would
hun'ed times, but the devil gifts aroun
me somehow. Idon't spree nigh as much
as l used to, though it looks like it hurt
her SO bad. She's sensible woman, il
Mollie, an can make allowance for {
fellows not bein' game to choke off al
at once. She don't bile man to rag
with temper every time he gifts in trouble
mother. I'm sorry, Jack. that's about al
, she'll say; an she'll be sorry, too, RICH
down close beside you, lot ON house
top, O bein' better'n you. She's rar,
good un, is Mollie."
The pain, combined with the action O
the drug, excited his nerves and mad.
him loquacious.
Eyes, she's good un," he repeated
eff you deal squar' with her, that is
just go plumb to her an own up wha
you've done manful, an don't let her gi
knowledge O it second hand. A woma,
II stand most anything from man i
so be he loves her tight an true an dom
keep nothin' hid from her. Ifhe double
y an twists an aims to kiver up his track
she'll git it into her head he's afeard {
!. her, an she'll despise him worse'n dea
buzZard."
!, They had entered the city. The shad
ows were gathering, and electric light
had begun to flame on street corners an
= through shop windows. Royal compile
c with the miners request and took hir
o straight to his home. 1t was nea
c little frame building on side street
d The wife must nave seen them from
4 window, for by the time the horse stoppe
d she had the door open and stood ready
help Royal bring her husband in
II Its bad business, Mollie," he sal
e at once, his face contorted with pair
a 81 got drunk ag.in an fell III a hol.
!, worse luck. My fault, wife"
- Eyes, Jack" she answered patientl,
le I'm sorry"
:, Then she put her arm around him an
= helped Royal lift him on to the bed. SI
], was a pleasant looking woman, with
"a quiet voice and manner, and seemed
1t trifle older than her husband, and ais,
Of In some indefnable way, superior to hi,
ii due, as Royal found out later, to Il
es fact of her mother having been lady
al After the patient had been made con
" Portable, Royal took his leave, tellir
"a the woman that he would look in earl
4. the next morning. As he left the roo
!. the miner called after him:
If ever you gets married. docto
don't keep none o your meanness b
)" from your wife. 'Twont look nigh
low lived If won do fl,o 4ol,;r, T-a,