The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-03

up an went home. Cal does sometimes
seem 10 have a bit OF spunk In him, but
you'd think he'd be snamed 20 let his
mother work so hard an ne DO nothin.
Why say the washings that little old
woman III do in one oay are sometimes
ZIG enough Ter two or three like her.
Nobody kin see how she kin do IT, Some
thinks she has machine, but nobody
can't git no further into her house than
the front room, late years. and nobody
can't find out nothin'.'
Al about u O'Clock one night the
next week my door-hell rang furiously
and when 1 went down ! found Cal
Nanport waiting for me. His face was
pale and he was evidently much excited.
lie said his mother was very ill and be
hoped I'D hurry. found her not nearly
SO bad off as Cal mad feared, though she
would have 60 stay abed some days
and, preparing some medicine with my
own hands. l gave Cal instructions Tor
giving it and started TO go. Col Vol
lowed me into the yard
Nobody must know mother IS sick,
ne said earnestly, "and I'm going to tell
you why. Doctors havs TO keep good
many secrets. and gSss you can keep
mine"
Then Cal Vanport told me his own
story. 1t took him an hour or more,
but it made him more interesting to me
than ever. and il won Tor him de-
voted friend 4 month or six weeks
later-along i'm the fall-all North Pisa
knew Cal Nanport's story as well as /
did and when the facts came out he
took a new position in the community
~ once.
II all happened at party given an
Square Woodmansic's home IN celeDia'
4
engagement 10 marry that had at last
been arranged between Helen and Billy
Kitchener. the fruit farmer. Everybody
of any standing in North Pisa and
around about for miles was invited,
and everybody came, for such social
gatherings were rare enough there. or
course 1. being the village doctor was
invited with the others and OF course.
! went. though / arrived late and went
away early. being called TO attend pa
tent In spite Of the rumor, there was
no formal announcement, though all the
men winked knowingly whenever they
saw Billy Kitchener in his Sunday-go-
to-meetings and the tight boots, from
which he was suffering severely. The
supposed hride-to-be seemed quite ont
OF sorts when / saw her, and Won
dercd H. down I'm her heart she was
thinking of Cal Nanpoft.
u was an hour past midnight when !
returned to the village from the drive
10 attend my patient. and / noticed, as
j drove past the Woodmsnsic house.
that its windows were stll brightly
lighted though the guests were rapidly
going home. As l drove slowly by.
caught sight Of a TAN broad-shouldercc
figure, standing in the deep shadows or
some shrubbery. II was the figure o.
Cal VanDort.
Suddenly there was q cry from the
house. then bright light and loRg
tongues OF flame began 10 leap from the
windows In an incredibly short time
The entire upper part OF the house was
ablase In an instant there was the
widest confusion Men and women ran
screaming from the burning structure,
and there were frenzled inquiries foi
this one and that one. All seemed t.
be accounted for when suddenly the
cry. Where's Billy Filchenerg' was
raised. The ne<t minute he was see
in sccond-story window. 10 which Do
had struggled. gasping for breath ani
with his clothes on fire In half "A dozen
places. if he had not been scared out
Of his senses he would have jumped anu