Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-08-13


ting On as well as we had any ground to
hope he would, and that he would be
care fully looked after by the nurses
who had volunteered for the service. /
set out for the house on the knoll. Il
was my plan TO seek johnson after my
regular call upon Lamar. but, fate be-
| ing suspicious, / was saved the trouble.
for the fisherman was at work about his
employers premises. He was very.
willing to let the boat. which, he sail.
was well adapted for woman's use, be-
ing light and handy. easily rowed, and
equipped with a small triangular sail.
available in light winds and on smooth
water. He would bring it that after
noon to the head of one of the inlets.
You're on shore most of the time.
aren't you p asked, when this arrange
melt had been made.
"Ay, ay, sir" he answered.
Tired of salt water?"
''No, s>T; but bed that don't pitch
and roll IS comfortable enough for me,
when I've chance to lie in it,
What are you doing these days?''
I'm none too idle" he answered.
Find him soeiable?" / nodded to-
ward the house.
He seemed to be about to speak, but
after a look about him he changed his
intention, and without a word turned
again to the task which my coming had
interrupted. Smiling at his caution, /
climbed the slope to the door, and en-
tered Lamar, who was reading, laid
down his book-it was his well-worn
Cicero's Letters-and babe me good
morning. He seemed to be rather more
gracious in mood than usual.
Well said l. that fellow Jones'
curiosity is not likely to cause you any
annoyance for some time to come. We
amputated his right leg last night
II supposed it would be necessary"
he answered, composedly
WI at? Supposed it would be nee
tssary?' What did you know of it?"
II judged his hurt mos. serious"
How did you hear Of :oo"
II saw it"
You saw him run oyer?"
yes"
You knew that he was lying there
helpless for hours 2"
1T is true"
And you did not attempt to relieve
him, to go to his assistance?"
The inference is correct"
His tone was as unconcerned as ever,
his speech as deliberate as if he were
discussing the most trivial of matters
In spite of my acquaintance With him,
| was thunderstruck by this fresh evil
dence of his callousness. lie enjoyed
my surprise, | think, as a singer may
enjoy the applause of long hostile
critic. 1t was tribute of the sort he
understood aud appreciated. As coolly
as if he had been giving directions for
a days errand-going in Trent. he told
the story of the accident. Jones, he
said, on his way home from the beach
tried short cut which ran near the
knoll. Leaving his team in the little
hollow where Dorothy Gray afterward
found him, he cautiously approached
the hammock and climbed to its sum-
NIL. Turning a corner of the house, he
came face to face with Lamar What
talk passed between the two | never
learned, but the intruder departed in
such haste that his foot slipped on the
slope, and he fell. From the way he
limped on arising Lamar believed that
his ankle was sprained, but he CON
trived at last to reach his horses. He
had picked up the lines. and was pre-
pairing to climb to the wagon-seat,
when his injured ankle gave way, and
he fell. At the same moment the
horses started. The fore wheel of the
loaded vehicle passed over his leg, and
before he could get it cut of the way
if, indeed, power to move il remained
the hind wheel had completed the work
the ether had begun. Lamar from an
upper window of the house watched
what was happening. and, so far as |
could determine from his account of il
spent most of his time until the girl
appeared gioating over the sight of the
helpless man stretched out ON the
ground at the bottom Of the depression.
When Dorothy hurried TO his house for
assistance. he sat within. listening I'M
moved TO her knocks upon his door and
her cries for help. Moreover. he pre-
vented old Martha from responding TO
trated even her dulled hearing These
things he related as calmly as if they
had occurred at the other end of the
earth. as shamelessly as if there were
no sense of pity in him. What my
opinion of his conduct might be appaT-
emily concerned him not in the least
He SAT there telling the tale of his heart
lessness, with the cold, dispassionate
directness Of man who is his own
Judge and who holds himself blameless
and beyond the need of apology
He viii survive. you say" he asked.
in the same level tone of indifference he
had maintained throughout.
we hope that he will" | answered.
striving to keep all trace of feeling ont
of my voice.
The edds?"
Last night they were against him: