Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-26


scramblin' out'n that hole" he observed.
81 had to let her swing-wantin my
hands for elmbin'. That let the blood
down, an felt like I'd got bootful o
hell fire, an every time she struck ag in
the rocks IAN she struck pretty often)
seemed like the devil had poker an
was chunkin' her up"
Royal had the leather leg laid straight
along the ground, and was busy cutting
the upper from the sole of the mans
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
ride?"
u 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
stered a drug to allay.. the pain and
helped his patient to mount. 1t was not
accomplished without groan or two
and deepening of the gray pallor, but
he was plucky soul and used to rough
experiences, so he made the best Of it
with fortitude that won on Royal.
Nor was he deficient in gratitude or a
sense of courtesy, which he evinced by
word or two of thanks and regret for
the trouble he was giving.
'If I'd knowed how drunk | was I'd
ha' staid in camp" he remarked peni-
tently. THE boys had a 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
we done it, an then drunk luck to all
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.
I'D 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 l was 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 a bad JOB for her." he
observed gravely. This sort OF thing
comes hard on a woman"
Were a good bit ahead, an own the
shanty," the miner said, seeking self
justification. "She needn't poster about
money If I'm laid up six months Then,
more humbly: "She'll mind about my
bein' drunk. She's always arter me to
quit, an I've good as promised | would
hun'ed times, but the devil gifts aroun'
me somehow. don't spree nigh as much
as | used to, though it looks like it hurt
her so bad. She's sensible woman, is
Molhe, an can make allowance for a
fellows not bein' game TO choke OIL all
at once. She don't bile a man to rags
with temper every time he gifts in
trouble, mother. Pm sorry, Jack, that's
about all she'll say; an she'll be sorry,
too, right down close beside you, not on
house top, o bein' better'n you. She's
i rare good un, Is Mollie.
The pain, combined with the action OF
the drug, excited his nerves and made
him loquacious.
yes, she's good un," he repeated,
''if you deal square with her, that is
just go plumb TO her an own up what
you've done manful, and don't let her git
knowledge o. it second hand. A woman
II stand most anything from a man If
SO be he loves her tight an true an don't
keep nothin' hid from her. II he doubles
an' twists an aims to kiver up his tracks
she'll git il into her head he's afeard o.
her, an she'll diSpiSe him wors'n dead
! buZZard."
They had entered the city. The Shad-
ows were gathering, and electric lights
had begun to flame on street corners
and through shop windows. Royal com
piled with the miners request and took
him straightto his home. 1t was meat
little frame building on side street.
The wife must have seen him from a
window, for by the time the horse
stopped she had the door open and stood
ready TO help Royal bring her husband
In.
Its bad business, Mollie," he said
at once, his face contorted with pain.
81 got drunk sg'in an fell in hole,
wors luck. Ny fault, wife"
yes, Jack" she answered patiently
"Im sorry
Then she put her arm around him and
helped Royal lift him on to the bed. She
was a pleasant looking woman, with a
quiet voice and manner, and seemed a
triae older than her husband, and also,
in some indefnable way, superior to
him-due, as Royal found out later, to
the fact of her mother having been a
lady.
After the patient had been made COM
Portable. Royal took his leave, telling
the woman that he would look in early
the next morning. As he left the room
the miner called after him:
If ever you gets married, doctor,
don't keep none OF your meanness hid
from your wife. 'Twon't look nigh so
low lived if you do the tellin'. Treat
I'her sQaur', an she'll make shift to for
give you drunk now an then. Won't
she, Mollie?"
The miners idea OF the proper founda-
ton for conjugal happiness arrested
ROYALS attention. 1t threw new light
on his own affairs. He knew himself
that he had been held back from telling
the story to Phyllis by other conSidera-
tions than fear of her anger. She would
understand that, too, of the past But
now that she was better, now that the
cure was well nigh complete, cootinned
silence would be open to miscOAsiruc-
| ton.
lie had sent his horse to tho stable an
hour before by the ubiQ litous boy who
baunts street corners, and instead OF
going home he turned aside from the
main street and walked over to a new
norton of the city building out on the
hills. Here the electric lights were
fewer and the streets less. ireqnented.
On every hand tasteful cottages already
stood in pretty yards or were In process
of erection. These were homes for men
whose desires and incomes were both