River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-05-26

broken loose from their fastenings, had
left the ravine and were tearing away
across the level prairie.
what have done?" moaned Hester,
her nervous strength vanishing as she
saw the chaos at her feet.
groan from the heap of wheels,
boards and canvas at the foot Of the
little bluff aroused her.
Going to the heap Of debris she tore
away the cloth from the top of the
wagon. mans form lay beneath it,
pinned down by a heavy cross-board
which had been a part of the wagon
box. A brass button on his coat told
that he was not a stranger to the flag
she had waved, and with stouter heart
she set TO work 10 drag him from his
position.
At last she succeeded and had laid the
now fainting form on patch of grass
dimpled with violets that lurl1ed in the
recesses of the ravine. She turned the
form over and wiped the dirt and blood
from the clean-shav face.
With cry she started back and sank
for moment helpless beside her
charge. Then with an effort she pulled
her strength together and went on with
her task.
Reverently she wrapped the stars and
stripes around the stranger, and some
how managed to lift him into the old
surrey. Then with one arm steadying
the unconscious man she turned the
horse homeward.
Stretched out ON the scrupulously
clean bed in the plain yet comfortable
cabin he was not bad looking 4 frank,
boyish expression was ON the still face,
and vet gray hairs told of n mans
years. Sickness had evidently made
ravages in the faces fullness and the
thin hands were almost CHASTITY in their
nervousness.
Having seen that the stranger was
lying quietly, Hester closed the door
behind her and taking her buggy set
off al the old horses best pace across
the prairie after the individual who
combined the professions of agriculture
and medicine for a livelihood.
us that YOU, Miss Hester?' asked
the Jolly doctor as she rode mp to his
cabin after a three miles journey.
Not sick, / hope" he added before
she could answer.
NO. but" then she stopped, the
delicacy of the situation davBed upon
her sensitive mind and the faintest sus-
picion of a blush freshened the wind
tanned check. You see it was this
way" she began, resolutely. Il took
man from a runaway an he's over To
tn house. unconscious. You must come
an fix him"
In a moment the two were jogging
along over the plain. As they APP
preached the shack Hester grew Wis
IDLY nervous. but her companion made
no comment, and as they found the
stranger still oblivious to the world and
its happenings, they soon had other mat
tiers to think of.
''Do You think he will-that it is seri.
ous?" anxiously asked the woman, look
ing into the physicians face.
mo, 1 guess not, though he had mighty
close shave was the reply. Hes like
ly to come ter his senses any time now,
an then it will depend on how he stands
it. If he's wanderin' when he gets con-
sciOus, there's danger. If not, there's
hope"
II StiitI AlAC Pos npti AAohfh NSA III NAtS
evening" he called. as he started out
for home. ian mebbe I'll be here my
self"
Hester went quietly to work at her
evening tasks, taking now and then an
anxious look toward the bed. The old
horse was feed and the stable door
closed against the damp spring air.
Il didn't deckerate tn graves after
all, did To- exclaimed the owner of the
claim, talking to herself IAN tn flow
ers is all in tn wagir. I'll take EN-
in fer him ter look at-it'n be jest as
we'll"
A tender expression came into her
face at the words.
Loaded with the wild blossoms-ths