South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-09-28


and the green and red lanterns on the
rear platform were becoming DINNER
as the train sped away across the plain.
Blake turned and nearly stumbled over
a boy-a stranger.
"Hello! did you belong on the
train?" he asked.
"No, I'm lookin' for doctor; be
you one?" replied q piping voice.
''Not much; come inside. Here
boys" he called to his comrades,
(Which of you is doctor?"
"Who's sick?" inquired Pierson !;
then, after n closer look, "bless me,
if it isn't one of tn Hawley boys!
what's the matter, my Iad?"
Gregg instinctively knew he had
found friend and quickly told his
errand.
''Poor old Clark" calculated the
postmaster, she's always lookin' for q
letter with money in it. I'm afraid
he'll never get it."
''Well come on, we'll find doctor, ="
said Pierson, rising; land I believe
I'll go out with you myself to see that
Clark don't suffer"
He was as good as his word, and
midnight saw three riders hurrying
through the dry grass, the long, steady
"swish" of the horses feet making e
kind of music Us they cantered on.
1t seemed to Joe that his brother
would never return. Patiently he
bathed the suffering settlers head, and
tenderly as he could he Strengthened
the crumpled sheets. The watch in
the little cabin, 80 cramped and I'LL
tidy, was anything but pleasant; and
it seemed that the whole night had
passed when he caught the sound of
approaching hoofs.
''He is in q bad way" pronounced
the doctor, land must not be left
alone. If he gets much worse he can
not be moved. Is there any place
where we can take him?''
81 know mother will care for him, -
spoke up Gregg. ''He and father went
to war together, and mother thinks we
owe him a great deal of care"
81 don't see anything else to do, -
decided Pierson, although it seems
like big burden to put on these
folks"
''Never mind" insisted the boy sit
is better than leaving him here. We
have taken most of the care of him
and his place this summer"
"What's that? You've helped him
run his farm?'
''Yes. Mother sid we should; he
needed it worse t, IN we did,
'Pve wondered how he got along
now l see. Well, come on; we'll take
him over for a day or two, and then
we'll get some one to care for him"
The little procession of four horse
men made m odd sight as it slowly
moved to the HawIey cabin. Mrs.
Hawley was nnxiously awaiting the re-
turn of her sons.
''Ive got the fork, mother" called
Gregg; and indeed he had remem-
bered that essential implement.
"But there's something else," called
the doctor, rs they lifted Clark down
and carried him inside.
81 ust think of it !" indignantly ex-
claimed the storekeeper, as lie got the
physician to one side when the patient
Ind been made comfortable. ''This
poor family the only one out of this
whole prosperous neighborhood to look
after the old soldier in his troubles |!
I'll stir up the boys ut Chapman so
they'll think judgment has come to
them; and they'll do something, too
see if they don't"
When Picrson left for the settle
ment it WIS after look over the claim
and careful estimate of the family's
situation. His first duty when he
reached home was to call q meeting of
the committee for that night. They
met Mt the depot.
"We were too fnc," he sneered,
with more sarcasm than he had ever
used in his life before, "to let them
into our procession, and yet those
three poor people have cared for that
sick veteran while We let him alone"
Blake WINGED, and the postmaster
clnpped his hands gleefully. 1t was
long after the express went through
when they adjourned, and then it was
with promises "to keep it quiet"
Pierson the next morning sent his
son Charles on horseback in one direc-
ton, while he himself took another.
They bore mysterious message to the
heads of families, and it was nearly
night when they completed their
rounds.
The day which was to mean 30 much
to the community as the day when
labor's achievements were to DO ccle-
brated, dawned bright and clear on
the Hawley claim.
Joe nnd Gregg were in the field
early, struggling with the discolored
sheaves and the rafting kernels.
It'll be n labor day for us, sure
enough, " remarked Joe; and he lauged
OF his own pun.
"1t's been labor day for us oil sum-
mer," answered the other, bitterly.
Mother didn't need to take cnre of
Clark all the time"
"Well, but she thought she ought
to do oil she could. Never mind, we'll
get this wheat all stacked by Christ
mas if we keep at it."
Eyes, unless we wait until next year
and harvest two crops together" with
q feeble smile. Joe was apparently
thinking of something else.
"Itll be q big day. Tho storeman
said last night that they'd probably
have some fireworks"