The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-27

but his overdrawn breath assured me
he was sleeping. 1 felt that 1 had
no right TO call him back from that
mysterious realm OF sweet unrealities-
L, who had spoiled the possible beauty
of the real-so 1 quietly descended the
stairs and inv ed my merry guests to
partake of the supper L had prepared
for them. My face / wreathed in
smiles and none knew that the miller's
wife did not join in the gayety of the
hour.
After supper the lovers went out
again, in pairs, into the moonlight, the
older folks returned to the parlor, and
L, being left to myself, went upstairs
laden with good things-a peace offer
ing to my Jamie.
L opened the door, / could never make
you comprehend the terrible loneliness
and emptiness of that little room
Jamie was gone.
l alone knew of the dangerous
somnambulistic habits of my son-a
habit that began in infancy, and that,
in boyhood, made him cripple for life
and now in heartrending tones /
called to my friends to aid me in my
frantic search from garret to cellar
but to no avail.
Suddenly the belle of the village-a
miss full of nerves and f:lncies-came
rushing into the house exclaiming: ga
ghost n ghost ~
"Where"' 1 cried, feeling sure it
was Jamie she had seen.
Moving in short, slow steps along
the scaffolding Of the mill-oh, | am
sick with fright"
"Save him, OH, my God, save himp'
| cried, rushing out 10 the mill, follow
ed by crowd of awe stricken men and
women.
Yes, there he was, high up on the
outside scaffolding of the mill, walk
ing with wide, unseeing eyes along the
moonlit plank. My very life-blood
seemed elogged about my heart;
could not stir or beseech the men to go
after him-my tongue cleaved to the
roof of my mouth. On he came to-
ward plank that was laid far out over
the deep, sluggish waters of the race
the noise of his crutches ringing out i'm
the awful silence as each step brought
him nearer to death.
rrapnn ba mas D.
the end now yet We dared not move
lest We should wake him and make
death a certainty. Nearer, nearer
every wrong l had done him, every
sharp word | had unwittingly given
him, came crowding now upon my
heart and soul like so many accusing
devils, torturing me to agony as | stood
there watching him draw slowly to-
ward the end of the scaffolding.
One more step will bring him to his
deaIh-oh, my darling! my darling
l clutched Toms sleeve-Tom, who
stood there, numb and almost paralyz-
ed. Suddenly over the roof, with cat
like steps, crept the lithesome figure
of a woman, who came to the edge,
swung herself down to the scaffolding,
and was close upon him as he stood
upon the verge Of eternity. With
wonderful presence of mind she wrap
ped her strong right arm firmly around
projecting beam, then quickly seized
him with the other. / knew from his
sudden tremor that he had awakened
i saw him turn confuse'lly and look
about him, then down, far down into
the black line of the deep sluggish race.
With a cry he reeled like drunken
man, his crutches fell from his uplifted
hands, his poor crippled limbs tottered
beneath the unaccUstomed weight of
his body, and, though she strained
desperately to support him, the one
single left arm was too weak for so
great burden, and down they fell-he
and the woman-down, down into the
deep, black water.
When l opened my eyes again the
men were carrying Jamie and Dora,
dripping and water-soaked, but still
living, thank God, into the house.
fell on my kness before them rs they
lay glistening with water drops on the
little hOrsehair sofas, and kissed the
dear ones who were saved for me and
cried like baby for their forgiveness.
Dora drew my face to hers and whis-
pered softly in my ear: ''Our motherr'
and then / knew | was the happiest
old woman on this fair earth. BY and
by her pretty color all came back and
she slipped away from us to change
her drenched clothes for dry ones.
And Jamie? When he was warm
and dry he lay upon the sofa, his face
lit up with smile that gloriiied the
little room; it spoke voicelessly of his
sudden blissful happiness and the eyes
that he turned upon his foolish old
mother were brim full of tender love
and thankfulness.
Thus ended one Thanksgiving Day
and when the next one came my
daughter Dora was the sweetest, most
sensible little bride that ever gained
her mothers love by her unselfish he
roism.
Invalids' Hotel and Surgical Institute.
This widely celebrated institution,
lncated at Ruffalc \ Y l. nr,ranized