Nevada County picayune., 1891-08-13

l ''I-l'm iist too weak to swallow the stuff" she whispered, faintly, ''and vet my own husband talks like that. l might as well die at once and leave such an onfecling world. "
 Good Lord, Malindy, no, fll send for 'em right straight. Here, Easter, tell Jim, to fly ar und and saddle np, and fetch Peprerpill. I'll go for SIambang myself. Cheer up Malindy. Dr. Sampson, with Eas- ] tcr's help, will keep ye alive till we git back"
 Mrs. Boddle looked the thanks she seemed too weak to express in words, as Uncle Billy hurried away. Dr. Sampson went below to smoke a pipe, leaving Aunt Easter with the sick woman.
 Easter" said Mrs. Boddle, after a long silence; seams as if another plate of that kraut l could hardly eat this morning would help me some. You needn't tell Sampson doctors are so peculiar. But ef three of 'cm are going to set over me, I'll surely need something strengthening
 Aunt Easter departed rather un- willingly, with her nose in the air. She understood that Mrs. Boddle's ailments were largely in the nature of humbugs. In little while the smell of smoke began to permeate the room, and the sick woman, after snuiling suspiclously, began to re- viye.
 Dr. Sampson and Aunt Easter, be- low, heard shrill cry over their heads.
 Fire, Fire. Fire H-e-l-p! Mur- der, F-i-r-eu"
 The tones were so shrill, strong and startling, that the two, utterly mystiiied, ran upstairs to find Mrs. Boddle with a wrapper thrown loose ly on, strlding about the upper rooms as vigorously as if she had never been in sick room in her life.
 Bring up water, Easter" she exclaimed, rummagng in closet near the chimney. The house is a. fire under this upper floor. Hits caught from s llue, 1 reckon. Doc tor, you must help me down with the things. We can throw the beds cut of the windows-Oh, Lord .- that 1 should live to see this day l'
 The doctor, though greatly star tied, proceeded to lug down the fur niture. Aunt Easter stood as if paralyzed at first, then she actually crinned as she hurried away. Mean while Mrs. Boddle was throwing bed ding and clothing from the windows, and making frantic attempts to dis cover where the flames were located. and also shouting continuously to the full extent of what now seemed to be q vigorous pair of lungs. The fire was somewhere between floor and ceiling Smoke was bubbling up here and there through the chinks, in increasing volumes.
 The doctor and Aunt Easter also added their shouts, and soon the ncighborhood came running. Many willing hands were now removing the furniture and other household tiXlngs, while others tore open the floor and began to drench things generally with water from the well.
 Amidst all this, up rode Unle Bill ly, accompanied by Drs. PepperpilI and Sambang, who had been easily found. The first sight that greeted the alarmed husband as he looked to sec if his half-dying wife had been rescued, was that of her figure bent under a load of clothes that would have sorely taxed his own strength. She flung them down in the yard, turned back, and without stopping, called to the amazed Mir. Boddle:
 "Come! Stir your stumps, old man. I'll get out the rest of the bedding while you help 'em with the furniture.
 There was no time for comment then; and all hands worked with 2 will until the fire was suhdued , though hl that time most of their things lay helter skelter all round the house, Then did Mrs. Boddle bethnk herself of her illness, and amt quietly withdrew to the shelter of some friendly currant bushes, where she found a fcathcrbed and lay down with an appearance of ut