The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-06-01
DAWES BROKEN LEG.
1t Caused a Romance Among the
Berkshire Hills


1t was away up in western Massa-
chusetts Just where the famous old
post road through the berkshire hills
winds itself into New Ashford. The
black vanguard ot an approaching sum
mer storm crept along the valley be-
hind us, and a few stray raindrops al
ready warned that it was time to seek
for shelter. We turned in at the open
gate of the vine covered porch of the
first farmyard, and riding up to
the vine-covered poreh of the quaint
old house lifted our wheels to
protected spots at either side of the
paneled door. 1t may have been pre-
suming upon hospitality as yet unex-
tended. but then no one stops at such
conveutionality in the Berkshires, and
We're we not in the Berl1shires? The
storm burst, and we sat on the porch
beside our faithful stecds. watching
the clouds hurry 10y, the TALL trees
bend in the eddying wind and the cool
ing water fall to the thirsty earth
Somehow the smoke of our cigarettes
seemed strangely out of place, in that
old IA hiOncd spot, and Harvey observed
that he would have felt more comfor-
table with an old bricr and Il package
of plug cut A quiet half hour slipped
away, while the storm increased rather
than diminished. and realizing that we
were to Toe weather bound for few
hours at least the necessity of lunch
con became apparent, and Harvey
arose To the attack. Harvey is an actor.
in season. and what he has learned in
the matter of picking up meals on the
western circuits helps him immeasur-
ably in summer vacations. Repeated
beating upon the door failed, however.
To- elicit the slightest response from
the inmates, and my anticipatory
dreams ofa soft-eyed, rustic Ganymede
went giOomily to pieces.
There must be a corpse in the
house remarked Harvey reassuringly,
leaning upon his bicycle and turning
on me a look OF hungry resignation
was framing in my mind a neat reply.
more sarcastic than apropos, when the
oalzen door suddenly opened inward,
and an extremely pretty girl, with
long, curly, golden hair and big blue
eyes. confronted US Surprise was mu-
tual, but she seemed the most con
fused.
why, why" she faltcred- II
thought To find one of the neigh bors.
but-but'-
There is no cause for alarm" inter
rupted Harvey in the voice of his most
approved stage father I'VE are per-
feet gentlemen. although our appear
ance is admittedly against us We
took the liberty tn use your porch as
shield from the weather, and trust that
we are not intruding."
''Oh, 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
pretty feet were but thinly covered
with light slippers Harvey was at her
side in an instant
Pardon me, he said Where docs
the doctor live?'
Only a mile or So" she replied with
out stopping, up the road" tShe
this in Englishl Harvey caught her
arm and pulled her back to the shell
teriug porch
But you must not run n mile or SO,
he cautioned, in such storm as this,
without hat shawl, or shoes 1t
would kill you. l will go for the dec
tor NV wheel moves faster than
your little feet The girl hesitated n
moment and then, as Harvey stood
ready To start away, thanked him
shortly and gave directions for finding
the doctors house.
''All right Good-by," he shouted,
Ieaping 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
ever run from the villain in the play.
/ thought a reply unnecessary
Perhaps ] might assist you," / ven
tured. Il am a bit OF an amateur
physician. MAY | 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 dripping
caves a great deep chested. sun
burned yo ung fellow lay upon n tiny
iron bedstead, while one muscular leg
hung over the edge, shattered and
bleeding. An old woman 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 entered she turned
to my pretty guide, and, regardless of
strange presence, cried:
''He is dead. Clemmie, dead My
Dave is dead,'' and fell at the side of
the little bed, sobbing and crying The
girl quickly glided 10y me, and placing
her hand upon the mans chest, said
quietly:
He is not dead-only unconscious" 3"
/ drew near and saw at once that she
was right The limb had been injured
in some farming accident and an artery
broken. | set about To stay the flow
of blood. The girl brought me a bit of
tape, and together we bound it tightly
about the bleeding limb, but ii was not
strong enough, and the flow was only
decreased l tore slip from the