Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-01-30

tween. two hills. The tops Of the high
pine trees. which grew down In the
valley below the cliffs. reached nearly
- tho. rails Of the bridge. and II was
. thrilling sight to sec the trains crawl
along In the air over the trce.tops. twist
about like a serpent. and then thunder
down the slope on the left side Of the
ridge.
But the passing trains had anotxcr
interest for the young Mowrics be.
sides this picturesque one. Now ana
then q passenger threw newspaper
out Of the window. and to Alvlra md
little lame Hiram such Q "hnd" was
always acceptable.
Since her mothers death the house
hold duties and the care Of Hiram had
dev0lved on Alvira. preventing her
from taking advantage Of the short
school term. Mr.. Mowric was employ
cd on one Of the river boats. and his
trips often compelled him to remain
away from home for three or four
weeks at a time.
The Mowries did not own o farm.
Their place was n scrubby half.acre on
the top Of the elf. and their house Q
mere hut of Wnhewn logs with two
little loft chambers above the single
downstairs room.
To the newspapers thrown from the
passing trains Alvira and Hiram were
much indebted for what they knew
OF the world beyond the cliffs. and the
village Of Cresswcll, about four miles
distant. How they enjoyed the stories
that occasionally fell into their hands!
When these were Of the continued"
kind they would amuse themselves
imagining the conclusions.
At present the story that Interested
them most was one about lame boy.
who had seemed to be In fair way Of
getting well when the story broke on
In the latest number Of the paper.
''Say, viry." Hiram would sometimes
ask with a wistful look on his face, do
you s'pose that lame boy ever got
wellT'
"Ycs. I thought It was working round
that way, Hiram" Alvlra would an
swcr hopefully.
Hirnm's lamcncss was tho result Of a
fall over the rocks mt the railroad
bridge. and the village doctor had pro-
nounced II incurablc. The knee was
bent ut an angle. and the boy could
move about only on crutches. - -
Ono summer afternoon. a. tho sound
Of the locomotives whistle echoed In
The distsnoe. Alvirn came into the
house with single page Of ncwspa.
per In her hand. 1t Ind evidently held
some ones luncheon. but Alvira brush
ed away the crumbs carefully and
smoothed out tho wrinkles.
II guess. Hiram" she said In her
motherly way. glancing over the pre-
cious bit Of paper. you'll And two or
three whole pieces here. and some nd.
vcrtisclncuts."
Tho boy took the bit of newspaper
from his sisters hand. and was soon
quietly absorbing it, contents. Mean.
while, Alvira lab0red over q garment
that she was trying to cut and fashion
without any pattern. She was Q tall.
strengthening girl Of II, straight % an
arrow, and pretty In spite Of her III.
atting clothes. Presently Hiram broke
out with . cry Of delight:
20. viry! Hurrahw
"What 10 Il, Hiram" asked Alvisa
eagerly, dropping her scissors with Q
rattliug noise. 1T Isn't the continuation
Of that story about the lame boy, 10 itr'
Its better than that. Why! Just
lookl Here's piece about q real doc.
tor that cured q real boy! o. Viry, II
! could only get well!'
With q. great hope stirring In her
heart, Alvira took the page and pro-
ceeded to read the article that Hiram
had pointed out. II was entitled "A
Triumph Of Modern Surgery" aud Il
detailed how a certain DR.. Delmore
had performed successfully q difiicuit
and dangerous operation on q lame
child.
"Why, this Is tho best thing I ever
heard Of, Hiram" she said delighted
", when she had finished reading.
"I'm going right away to Mrs. Cap
ncr's to ask her about this DR.. Del
more. guess Mrs. Capner'N know"
And she put away her sewing hastily,
and set forth without delay. The Cap
ner house was situated on the other
side Of the woods, about half way be-
tween tho Mowrle house and Cress.
well. Alvira had great respect for
Mrs. Capner and for her opinions.
When she was IN perplexity about any
thing 1t was always to Mrs. Capncr
that she went.
She found her nelghbOr seated on
the back porch, and she Mt once opened
up the subject OF her errand. Mrs,
Capner was not a little surprised. She
supposed that the girl had come to
borrow something, for now and then
Alvira asked for the loan Of an "easy
pattern" or for the weekly paper that
Mrs. Capner subscribed for.
slave ! ever heard OF DR.. DelmOrey
the woman repeated. "Why, he's that
heightened doctor from the city that
the Baineses got to set their Jacks
arm when 1t was broken SO bad! But
sit down. Alvira, and make yourself
a home"
Alvira sat down on the edge Of the
chair that Mrs. Capner had placed fol
her. Her cheeks were red from run
ming. and her eyes were brilliant aud
eager as she continued:
"Mrs. Capner, does DIR. Delmore
charge high? You see, was thinking
OF getting him to look Mt Hiram's leg
"GoOd gracious, Alvlra MOwrle!
cried Mrs. Capner. "yOu don't know