Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-12

cure conveyance or some kind. Then
] dispatched another with an urgent
summons to the local doctor. while the
rest Of Us took q gate OF its hinges and
placed the injured man upon it.
He recovered consciousness before we
reached home, but had evidently very
confused idea Of where he was and what
had happened to him told him it was
AL right, only be mustn't talk. Ofcourse
was by no means sure that it was all
right; could but hope for the best, and
Mira Robertson, to do her justice, be-
haved admirably when our melancholy
procession arrived at the door. 1t was
no small relief to me to hear the report
of rosy checked little DR.. Bowles, who
was soon upon the spot, and who made
a long and careful examination of his
patient
HE will pull through, Miss Selby,"
the excellent little man said confidently
HE has had nasty squeeze and three
Of his ribs are broken, but so far as can
ascertain there are no internal injuries.
OF course there are cuts and bruises and
the shock to the system, but these are
comparative trihes at his age. He will
want careful nursing for time, though
I'm afraid"
Well, if that was all, his requirements
could easily be met. myself knew very
little about tending the sick, having had
no experience in that line, but Mrs
Robertson was as good as any hospital
nurse, and asked for nothing better than
to be given an opportunity of displaying
her capacities. This she did with such
happy results that in three days time
Mr.. Longfeld was pronounced to be out
Of danger. There could be no question
of removing him, DR.. Bowles said, and,
indeed, should not in any case have
sanctioned his removal to Colonel Whar-
toms bachelor establishment, where he
would have had no comforts nor any
competent person to look after him.
scarcely saw him until he was able to
leave his bedroom, Mrs. Robertson be-
ing decidedly of opinion that it would
be improper for me to do so, and being
also, think, little jealous of any pos
sible interference between her and her
charge. He was a dear, good young
fellow, she told me, and most patient
and cheerful; only he was much dis
tressed at the idea of inficting so much
inconvenience upon strangers.
sent him a message to the effect that
| should have been at least equally dis
tressed if had inflicted the inconveni-
ence of sudden death upon him, and as
cam n, he 1x,oo mall a10,7ob 70 ba corr;aI
down stairs to the drawing room made
him the apology which believed to be
his due.
ooh, but indeed, Miss Selby," he pro-
tested. sit is | who ought to beg your
pardon. One has no business to fall
down all of heap just under another
persons nose, and it's the greatest mercy
in the world that you weren't more
hurt
Now. it was obvious that another per
sons nose had no business to be so
near him when he fell, and that if she
had had it broken for her pains she
would have deserved little pity; still l
could not help being grateful to him for
his magnanimity. nor could have help
ed liking him, even if had wished to
do So
He was very young in his ways, very
simple and natural. and ready to tell me
anything about himself that | might
care to hear learnt that his home was
in the adjoining county; that he was the
only son of his mother, who was a widow;
that he was barrister by profession,
though not by practice, and that he had
vague hopes of some day obtaining a
legal appointment from somebody or
other 1t would have, he admitted, to
be an appointment which did not neces-
state much knowledge of law, but he
had been given to understand that most
legal appointments answered to that de-
scription. Meanwhile he seemed very
we'll contented to live down in the coun-
try and amuse himself with field sports.
We became great friends, as was only
natural. suppose, seeing that our views
and pursuits were so much alike, and
after the lapse of few days | discovered
that we had yet another taste common
in the shape of love of music.
My instructors have never attempted
to deceive me with regard to my playing
of the fiddle. They are unanimous in
saying that possess but an elementary
knowledge of that art; yet they admit
that my ear is keen enough to keep me
in tune, and if | can't do anything won
derful with my beloved instrument, /
can at least do the little that is within
my compass respectfully. ! dare say
that may have been why Mr.. Longield
declared, with every appearance of sim
cerity, that he had never in his life lis
tened to so divine a performer. When
he was able to sit up he took to playing
my accompaniment for me; so that,
upon the whole, we found a spell of cold
weather less wearisome than frozen out
fox hunters usually do.
One morning he announced to me, with
some unnecessary apologies, that his
mother was coming over to see him. He
said that she intended to take up her quar-
tiers at the village inn; but that was Of
course absurd, and in response to the tele-
gram which | dispatched to Mrs. Long
field received a grateful acceptance OF
my profered hospitality. Well, | can't
honestly say that liked the woman She
was one of those juvenile widows who
always impress one with the idea that If
they have not married second time it
has been no fault of theirs. She was
profuse in her thanks to me for the care
that had taken of her son; she vouch- |
safed no notice to Mrs. Robertson; she |
kissed me good deal more than l liked |