The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-11-23

So there was not often man in a
worse humor than this man was, when
the low, white cottage he was seeking
at last came into sight. And now, as
he suddenly hastened his footsteps, he
somehow slipped and fell heavily,
striking his head and doubling his left
arm under him. But he made no mur-
mur at this misadventure, but lay still
and quite unconscious on the ground
When he again opened his eyes, he
was on the bed in small, neat room;
but all that he thought of at first was
that his head was paining him ter
ribly, while his arm was hurting him
even more. Some one whom he could
not see was fussing with his head and
making the pain still worse. He felt
so desperately cross and i'll that he
impatiently ordered the unseen med
dler to leave him and his head alone.
81 beg your pardon" said pleas
ant voice, "but it's a bad cut, and il
should be dressed at once. I'm per-
fectly competent to do it, but your
harm will have to wait until the doctor
comes"
"What's the matter with. my con-
founded arm?" He tried to move it,
and groaned outright with the pain.
"It's broken, I'm afraid but the doc
tor will be here to set it soon.'
Then the hapless stranger fell to
rating the place, the storm and his
accident so soundly, that another
voice, from another as yet unseen in
dividual spoke up in sharp rebuke:
"Aren's you ashamed of yourself to
I'talk so-when we're doing our best to
help you!"
"Oh, hush, Susan" broke in the
pleasant voice. "He's suffering dread
fully; he really don't know what he's
saying"
"Yes, dol" said the stranger, gruff-
ly, "anl beg your pardon; but you've
been hurting me like the deuce!"
"Ah, here's the DOCTOR" said the
pleasant voice in tone of relief And
then the stranger found himself trans
ferred into the skillful hands of the
rofessional-whose treatment of his
wounds was much more rigorous than
that of the deft and gentle fingers he
had rallied against but now.
When at last his head had been ban
daged, and his arm had been set, the
physician gave some brief instructions
to his new patient. He would have to
remain where he wasfor several days.
and must keep very quiet, on account
of the wound in his head.
"But must return to town to-day"
the stranger said, peremptorily. 81
have an engagement for tomorrow
and Thanksgiving dinners are not to
be put OFF,
"All right, CO." said the doctor,
"and the consequences will be brain
| fever"
The stranger was silent for mo-
ment. Then he said, shortly: 81 see
that I must submit. But how did this
thing happen? Where am I? And
who was fussing with me until you
came?"
"You slipped on the icy path. Miss
Mary North saw you fall, and when
she reached you you were insensible.
She ran to get help. Fortunately it
happened within q few yards of her
home, and she and her sister together
managed to carry you in; and they
must have found you heavy load!
Then Mary ran to my house-full
quarter Of mile away-and left word
for me to come here as soon as got
home. / found her working over you,
and your scalp was all ready for the
stitches when l came. She's clever
girl, was studying to be a nurse, but
unfortunately the money gave out,
and she couldn't go on. She had to
turn nursery governess, instead"
"And the other, the sharp one, who's
sheP"
''The elder sister, Susan. Her tongue
is sharp-but her hearts all right
and she's seen trouble enough to turn
sweet grapes sour. That's all the fam
lily left now, except the mother, Grip
pied with rheumatism, poor soul. We'll
then, I'll tell them you are to be OF
their hands here for day or two
III see you again, toward night, ant
bring you some things you will need
/ until you can get back to town. Any
thing can do for you? Any message
You want to send?"
The stranger dictated telegram
. explaining his detention to a mem
Der OF well-known firm in the city
When the doctor heard the name
! he looked up in surprise. Then yol
came here from them-about thu
: mortgage, suppose?'
"I did-confound the entire bust
nessi"