The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-10-20

we're, but she sought to scramble to
her feet and try it over, only to fan
BACK again almost fainting with agony.
She had sprained her ankle, and sprair-
ed it badly at that. .s.@'
j She looked about her. The road was
one that was little travelled; not a soul
was in sight-saYe Meg, after the mis-
chief she had done, comfortably graz
ing on spruce-gum sprouts and Wend-
ing her way homeWard like corpulent
angel and with the sun already low
| down on the horizon. %# -
| She waited awhile longer, the pain In
her ankle growing sharper and shurper
with every moment, calling aloud at in
| terVals and then, at last, in utter des-
pair and exhaustion, she, the proud
heiress and city belle, sobbed piteously
like 4 great forsaken baby. She sob
BID with such abandon and hearty good.
will, that she did not even hear the ar,-
| preaching roll of wheels around the
| curve Of the road till the vehicle was
there upon her and the driver Of the
| buggy, tall, well-dressed gentleman,
with an unmistakable distinction of
manner, leaped to her side
| A few words explained the situation;
she had turned her foot in mounting:
had fallen; Meg had trotted off and left
her; she couldn't reach the saddle and
had been afraid she would have to stay
In the woods alone all night.
And she looked so pretty, pitiful and
pleading as she poured out her story,
that the gentleman had all he could do
to resist the temptation to take her to
his heart and kiss away the tears. as
one does with a grieved or hurt child
'You have sprained your ankle,
doubtless" he said gently, "and should
get home as soon as possible. Lean on
my shoulder and let me help you to the
carriage"
But Kate, as'we know already, was a
lady of her own mind, and she refused
his assistance.
"she could go that little way aione,"
she said.
And she stood erect, put her weight
on her foot, staggered, screamed and
fell-this time into the strangers out
stretched arms.
1T is useless" said he firmly, a
twinkle, quickly subdued, showing it.
self IN his blue eyes; you cannot walk
and l simply must carry you-there is
no other way
And before Kate could say him nav
a second time, he lifted her tenderly
and placed her in the carriage. But
really, in the limited space Of this
story, we cannot be expected to 20 into
the details of that homeward drive,
the reception they met, or the agony
Of fright into which the Jansen house
hold had fallen when Meg strolied Sc
diately up to the gate, chewing still on
a gum-sprout and the saddle empty.
The surprise and JOY of the family,
when shortly afterward the buggy and
it's freight also arrived there, just in
time to prevent the village from turn
ing Oh for general search, was only
equaled By Kate's' amazement when
the minister grasped warmly the hand
Of her companion and introduced him
to her as DR.. Winthrop, old DR.. Cor
don's substitute, while he was absent
in Europe.
"The people," added Mr.. Jansen
laughingly, ''already like him so well
that DR.. Gordon may stay abroad for
ever if he has mind to and no one
will care''
Next day, Of course, and for several
days afterward, it was necessary for
the young doctor to call and see that
the ankle was getting along all right.
Then a new book was out and Miss
Drayton would naturally be pleased to
see it; imported fruit, too, was an ex-
cellent tonic for invalid maidens, till.
what with one thing and another-a
splendid baritone, for instance, that
blended wonderfully with Miss Dray-
toms mezzo-soprano, the young doctor
was as great favorite at the parson-
age as in the village, and Kate did not
make her usual complaint Of this new
and ardent sutton.
'But, indeed, DEAR" said she, as they
down the lane togther, that soft fall
evening, when, the summer gone, the
old, old tale was told and she had
frankly admitted that being doctors
wife was one Of the things that would
make her happiest, 'indeed dear, for a
young professional man, with a name
and fame to make, is it exactly world
~ wise wise for you to take a girl for
wife who has only her love to give
your
"And is it worldly wise, Kate DEAR"
Winthrop returned, Ito mortgage your
self to the struggles and privations of
a doctors early career? Are you sure
| you are content, and that you will nev-
| er regret it?
| And Kate was more than sure, as she
| smiled a tender little smile to her
| self that DR.. Winthrop did not see, and
| would not have understood if he had.
| But such fuss and hubbub as there
was when at last the news had to be
told to her family. Letters and remon-
strances and protests poured in by the
bagful and nearly drove the little Rux-
ton postmistress crazy with curiosity.
Finally even Hates sister, her firm ally
always, lost patience and telegraphed
her that "Jim" the rebel brother-in-
law, would be up to reason with her
by the morning train. But Kate was
rock even to Jim Thornton's elo-
quence. Furious and helplss, for Kate
was Ie' own mistress and could do as
she pleased with llar millions, jim, de-
feated and enraged was pacing the floor
and growing invectives against needy
Adventures, when suddenly a laugh
ing voice said quietly behind him:
'Thanks, Jim, old boy; ought to be
much obliged" -.
Jim wheeled, stared FIRST at Kate
then at the doctor, for it was he who
had spoken, and then with long
drawn whistle off blank astonishment,
as a sudden light seemed to dawn upon
him, he dropped into chair and be-
gan to laugh like mailman.