The Van Buren press., 1895-02-16

len, and runs In the center with q
strong, fierce, silent current Upon
the opposite side Hillocks stood to give
directions by word and hand, a. the
ford was on his land, and none knew
the Tochty better.
They passed through the shallow
water without mishap, save when the
wheel struck Q hidden stone or fell
suddenly into q rut, but when they
neared the body OF the river MacLure
halted to give Jess q breathing.
ut Ill take ye a yir time, lass, an q
wud rather be on yir back; but ye
never failed me yet, an wumman'a
life is hangin' on the crossin'."
With the first plunge Into the bed OF
the stream the water rose to the axles,
and then 1t crept up to the shafts, SO
that the surgeon could feel 1t tapping
in about his feet, while the dogcart be-
gan to quiver, and it seemed as II II
were to be carried away. Sir George
was as brave as most men, but he had
never forded a Highland river In food,
and the mass of black water racing
past beneath, before, behind him, at
fected his imagination and shook his
nerves. He rose from his seat and or
dered MacLure to turn back, declaring
that he would be condemned utterly
and eternally II he allowed himself to
be drowned Tor any person.
"Sit DOOM" thundered MacLurej
condemned ye will be suner or later
gin ye shirk yir duty, but through the
water ye gang the day."
Both men spoke much more strongly
and shortly, but this is what they In
tended to say, and 1t was MacLure
that prevailed.
Jess trailed her feet along the ground
with cunning art, and held her shoul-
der against the stream; MacLure
leaned forward in his seat, rein in
each hand, and his eyes fixed on Hill
locks, who was now standing up to the
waist in water, shouting directions and
cheering on horse and driver.
"Haud tae the RIGHT, doctor; there's
hole yonder. Keep oot OF for ony
sake. That's 1t; yir daein' fine. Steady,
man, steady. Yir at the deepest; sit
heavy In yir seats. Up the channel moo,
an yeill be DOT O. the swirl. Weel
dune, Jess, weel dune, auld mare!
Max STRAIGHT for me, doctor, an all gle
ye the road cot. Ma word, ye've dune
yir best, bath O. ye this mornin'," cried
Hillocks, splashing up to the dogcart
"Sall, 1t ives itch an 20 for q
meenut In the middle; Hielan' ford Is
1t Il n, nrI cN In ha oxvv
time, but ye're safe moo.
''Gude luck tae ye up at Westerton,
sir; name but richt-hearted man wud
hae riskit the Tochty in food. Ye're
boond tae succeed after sic a graund be,
ginnin'," for it had spread already that
famous surgeon had come to do his
best for Annie, Tammas Mitchell'a
WIFE,
Two hours later MacLure came out
from Annie's room and laid hold Of
Tammas, a heap of speechless misery
by the kitchen fire, and carried him of
to the barn, and spread some corn on
the threshing floor and thrust q fail
into his hands.
moo we've tae begin, an we Ill no
be dune for an oor, and ye've tae lay on
withoot stoppin' till a come for ye, an
all shut the door tae haud in the noise,
an keep yir dog beside ye, for there
maunna be a cheep aboot the hoose for
Annie's sake"
"A'll dae onything ye want me, but
if-if-"
"All come for ye. Tammas, gin there
be danger; but what are ye feared for
WI queens ain surgeon here?"
Fifty minutes did the fail rise and
fall, save twice, when Tammas crept to
the door and listened, the dog lifting
his head and whining.
1t seemed twelve hours instead Of
one when the door swung back, and
MacLure filed the doorway, preceded
by great burst Of light, for the sun
had arisen.
His face was as tidines of great Joy,
and Elspeth told me that there was
nothing like it to be seen that after
noon for glory, save the sun itself In
the heavens.
"a never saw the marrow, OF Tam
mas, an all never see the like again;
It's a over, man, withoot hitch frae
beginnin' tae end, and she's fan asleep
as fine as ye like"
IBIS he think Annie IL
live?"
"Of coorse he dis, and be aboot the
hoose inside month; that's the guide
O. bein' a clean-bludded, weel-livin-
preserve ye, man, what's wrang wi
ye? It's mercy a. keppit ye, or we
wud hev anither job for Sir George.
"Ye're q RIGHT moo; SIT doom on tho
strae. All come back In while, an
yell see Annie juist for meenut; but
ye maunna say word"
Margaret took him in and let him
kneel by Annie's bed.
He said nothing then or afterward,
for speech came only once In lifetime
to Tammas, but Annie whispered, ma
ain dear man."
When the doctor placed the precious
bag beside Sir George in our solitary
flrst next morning, he laid check be-
side it and was about to leave.
mo, no." said the great man. MRS
Macfadyen and l were on the gossip
last night, and know the whole story
about you and your friend. You have
some right to call me a coward, but
I'll never let you count me q mean,
miserly rascal" and the check with
Drumsheugh's painful writing fell in
fifty pieces on the floor.
As the train began to move voice
from the first called so that all in the
station heard:
"Give's another shake Of your hand,
MacLure; I'm proud to have met you.
You are an honor to our profession.
Mind the antiseptic dressings"
IL was marlraf-dau hut nnlu Iarnio