The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-14
A BERKSHIRE STORY,


road through the Berkshire hills winds
itself into New Ashford. The black van
guard 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 III at tho 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 NAV
have been presuming upon hospitality
as yet unextended, but then no one
stops at such conventionality in the
Berkshircs, and were we not in the
Bcrkshires? The storm burst, and we sat
on the porch beside our faithful steel
stecds, watching tho clouds hurry by.
the tail 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 brier pipe and
~ package Of plug cut. A quiet half
hour slipped away, while the storm in
creased rather than diminished, and re-
allzlnS that we were to be weather
bound for Il few hours at least the ne
cesslty of luncheon became apparent
and Harvey arose to the attack. Har-
Vcy Is an actor in season, and what he
has learned i'll the matter of picking up
meals on the western circuits helps him
UNNECESSARILY i'll summer vacations.
Repeated beating upon the door failed.
hn\VpVnr IN l,n 1i,,1
from the inmates, and my anticipatorv
dreams of Il soft eyed, rustic GanylRede
went gloomily TO pieces.
There must be corpse in the
house, ~ remarked Harvey reassuringly.
leaning upon his bicycle and turning
on ne look of hungry resignation.
was framing in my mind Il neat reply
more sarcastic than apropos when the
oaken door suddenly opened inward, and
an extremely pretty girl with long cur
~ golden hair and big blue eyes CON
| fronted us. Surprise was mutual, but
she seemed the most confused
why, Why" she faltcred IL
thought to find one of the ncighbors,
| but-but"- -
There. is no cause for alarm" in
terruptcd Harvey i'll the voice of his
most approved stage father ''We are
perfect gentlemen, although our APP
| 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
nigh enough for us to see that her pref
~ feet wero but thinly covered with
light slippers. Harvey was ut her side
III an instant.
Pardon me-. said he. Where does
the doctor live:'
only mile or so, she replied, with
out stopping, up the road" (Shc pro-
nounccd it "rud," but | am writin..
this i'll English.) Harvey caught her
arm and pulled her back to the shell
tering porch.
But you must not run mile or so, >
he cautioned, lin snch Il storm as this.
without hat, shawl or shoes 1t would
kill you. will go for the doctor. NV
wheel moves faster than Your little
feet" The girl hesitated a moment and
then, as Harvey stood ready to start
away, 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, | hopo he'll hurry!" said
the girl, turning to me us Harvey shot
out on the road and sped away through
the mud and rain faster than he had
ever run from the villain in tho play.
| thought reply unnecessary.
" Perhaps might assist you," ven
tured. Il am Il bit of an amateur ply
stefan. May see Dave"
She led tho way into the narrow hall
way, up tho creaking staircase, wall
papcred at the sides in imitation OF
white marble, and into stuffy little
chamber just under the dipping caves.
a great, deep chestcd, sunburned young
fellow lay upon tiny iron bedstead,
while ono 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 pitcous tenderness. AS we en-
| tered she turned to my pretty guide,
and regardless of strange presence
| cried:
| Ho is dead, Clcmnie, doad My
Dave is dead" and fell at the side of the
little bed, sobbine and crying. The girl
| quickly gidcd by me, and placing her
hand upon the MAJ 5 chest said quietly:
| He Is not dead only unconscious. =
l drew near and saw ut once that she
was right The limb had been injured