The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-03-05
A BERKSHIRE STORY.

ChuSettS Just where the famous old post
road through the Berkshire hills winds
itself into New Ashford. The black van
gnard of an approaching summer storm
crept along the valley behind Us. and a
few stray raindrops already warned that
1t was time to seek for shelter. We
turned in at the open gate Of the first
tarmyard. and riding up to the vine
covered porch of the quaint old house
lifted our wheels to protected spots at
either side Of the paneled door. 1t may
have been presuming upon hospitality
as yet unextended, hut then no one
stops at such COnventiOnality in the
BerksilreS, and We're we not in the
Berkshiros: The storm burst, and we sat
Oh the porch beside our faithful steel
stceds, watching the clouds hurry nv.
the tall trees bend in the eddying wind
and the cooling water fall to the thirs-
ty earth. Somehow the smoke of our
cigarettes seemed strangely out of place
III that Old fashioned spot. and Harvey
observed that he would have felt more
comfortable with an old britr pipe and
d pacKas" IF plug cut. y quiet half
hour slipped away, while the storm in
creased rather than Diminished. and :t-
aiming that We were to I've weather
bound for a few hours ut Least the ni-
cesslty Of a luncheon became apparent.
and Harvey arose to the attack. Har-
Vey Is an actor III season, and what n"
. has learned III the matter Of Kicking w
meals on the western circuits helps him
UNNECESSARILY IL summer vacations.
Repeated beating upon the door failed.
however. to elicit the slightest response
from the inmates, and my anticipaturv
dreams of Il soft eyed, rustic Ganymede
went gloomlly to pieces.
There Glust be a corpse in the
house, remarked Harvey reassuringlv,
leaning upon his bicycle and turning
on me a look of hungry resignation. |
was framing in my npind a neat reply
more sarcastic thar apropos when the
oaken door suddenly opened inward, and
an extremely pretty girl with long cur
ly golden hair and big blue eyes CON
tronted us. Surprise was mutual, but
she seemed the most confused.
"Why, why,' she faltered, II
thought TO find one Of the neighbors.
but-but'--
''Ihere is no cause for alarm" in
terrupted Harvey in the voice of his
most approved stage father. I'VE are
perfect gentlemen, although our ap-
pearance is admittedly against us. We
took the liberty to use your porch as a
shield from the weather and trust that
we are not intruding."
ION, nO-no,' she answered con-
fusedly. You will excuse me. Dave
Is hurt. must go for the DOCTOR" and
she ran by us and down the steps into
the rain, lifting her calico skirts just
high enough for Us to see that her pref
ty feet We're but thinly covered with
hight slippers. Harvey was at her side
in an instant.
"Pardon me, said be. Where does
the doctor live"
'Only a mile or SO, she replied, with
ont stopping. up the road tShe pro- |
nOunced 1t "rud," but | am writing !
this III English.) Harvey caught her
arm and pulled her back to the shell |
terlng porch.
'' 49, l H4t " INV VI 50, |
he cautiOned, in such a storm as this. |
without hat, shawl or shoes. 1t would
Kill you. | will 90 for the doctor. Ny
wheel moves faster than YOUR little
feet. Inc girl hesitated a and
then, as Harvey stood ready to start
thanked him shortly and gave
directions for finding the doctors house.
All right. Goodby," he shouted.
leaping into the saddle. You take care
of Dave"
"Oh, dear, | hope he'll hurry" said
the girl. turning to me as Harvey shot
out on the road and sped away through
the mud and rain faster than he had
run from the villain in the play.
4 thought a reply unnecessary.
"Perhaps | might assist you," | Ven
tured. II am a bit of an amateur ply
May l see Dave"
She led the way into the narrow hall
way, up the creaking staircase, wall
papered at the sides in imitation of
white marble, and into a stuffy little
chamber just under the dipping caves.
A great, deep chested, sunburned young
fellow lay upon a tiny iron bedstead.
while one muscular leg hung over the
shattered and bleeding. An old
with soft gray hair and the eyes
Of the girl bent above him and called
his name again and again in tones of
The most piteOus tenderness. As We en-
tered She turned to my pretty guide,
regardless of a strange presence
He is dead, Clemnie, dead! Nv
Dave is dead..' and fell at the side of the
little bed, sobbing and crying. The girl
glided by me, and placing her
upon the mar S chest said quietlr:
He is not dead-only unconscious"
drew near and saw at once that shs
vas right. The limb had been injured
n some farming accident and an artery
| set about to stay the flow of
The girl brought me a bit of
ape, and together we bound it tightly
bout the bleeding limb, but it was not
trong enough. and the flow was only {
decreased. | tore a slip from the coun-
erpane n wound it over the tapc, and !