Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-02-02
Ten Minutes TO TW6IVo.
By II. G.. MOLELLAND.

He was VeEed and tOrmeuted by q de
lay which threatened shipwreck to his
scheme by depriving him of the time
necessary for explanations and readjust
ments. His sympathy and interest haC
become so involved that he had come t.
feel Il personal pride in carrying the af
fair through to a successful i5sue-tC
feel that he had heralded himself to en-.
ter the lists against caprice and injus.
tice and was in danger of failure. not
through lack of prOwess, but through
extraneOus and exasperating circum.
stances. SO completely did the matter
absorb and possess him that obstacles
instead of daunsing his resolution and
causing him to reconsider the situation
only aroused and concentrated his forces
as though they had been distractions il
the path of his individual hopes and
fortune.
He was anxious also about the patient
he had been compelled to leave in the
care Of an inexperienced young fellow.
downy with graduation hOnors and sell
confidence, whom he had picked up in
the office Of the hotel. The case was sc
serious that the least mismanagement
might precipitate the result.
Held aloof by preoccupation, Royal
failed to appreciate or even note the
grand uplifting of the country round
about, the exquisite tracery of the win
ter forest, the delicate hue of the sky,
or the wonderful harmony of tone giver
by the shading of earth and rocks, tree
stems and fading vegetation. Even the
quick leap of brook escaped him, and
the grace of the curve with which, like 4
queens ObeiSance to a rival power, II
turned aside from the embankment of
the railway and pursued its lovely, muir
murous journey down the mountain,
Higher up the road ran at the foot OF
cliffs covered with laurel and scrub pine
and cedar, whose gray powders jutted
up through dark mold and the brown
ness of fallen leaves, relieved and bright.
ened here and there by patches of par
tridgeberry and teaberry vines, which
grew low, and showed vivid scarlet
against dark green, where birds and
rabbits had left the fruit ungathered,
Against the rocks, in sheltered hooks
where the wind could not despoil them
We're long trails Of bramble vines and
poison oak holding punches of dark pur,
pie berries and tufts of crimson leaves.
Through long cutting whose sides
showed the presence Of iron ore, the
train steamed out into broad valley,
and drew up at small station with de-
ceitful Driskness and q self laudatory
whistle of accomplished duty Royal
lost no time in transferring himself and
his Impotence to the station platform.
anybody here for DR.. Royal"
The question was impersOnally ad-
dressed to little knot of loungers, and
Royal paused for a reply, wondering
what the dickens he should do if thrown
on his own resources.
A thickset man in a gray OvercOat
copiously patched with blue-a relic OF
secession tructed-advanced TO
meet him.
You're Dr. Royal yerse'f, reckon.
Amt your he questioned.
Royal nodded and the man extended
his hand with great cOrdiality.
Done forgot me, | reckon, doctor, but
amt forgot you. We all used to hunt
an fish together back yonder befo' YOU
went to school. Ny names Jim DOdson;
thatll fig you, | reckon. Hurry right
along. You amt got time to talk now.
l know, an we'Il hitch up them six
years arter while. Come this away.
Squire Brandon sDnt the buggy an Spot
driv; but that mar O hiSn can't abide
engines, mother she don't like strangers,
50 Spot he hilt her here behind the depot
an axed me to look out fur you"
He tilted up his hat brim and cast an
observing eye skyward. Royal per
ceived the mans mistake, but had not
time to rectify it. Behind the station
stood a buggy, mud splashed and untidy.
but strong and serviceable; between the
shafts was dark bay with good dea.
of white to her eye and apparently con.
siderable go in her A gentlemanly lad
of fourteen or thereabout stood at her
head and glanced anxiously toward the
train At sight of Royal his counte
nance cleared and he accosted him
cheerily:
All right, doctor! How are you,
Jump right in. thought judgment day
would beat that train coming Halo
| forgot about the ACCIDENT Here, jim
stand by her head please, while l help
DR.. Royal in. We've got to make tracks. =
you have that" observed bystander
The whole group had followed Royal
round the station, and appeared fully
aware of the situation and deeply inter.
ested in it.
Filled with amusement, and feeling
hypocritical, Royal declined the boys
proffered shoulder and took his place in
the buggy. Spotswood sprang in beside