The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-05-24

said no word, and stood perfectly still
while she was being wrapped up.
Then her mother set the lamp in the
window and went to the door with
her, aud held her for moment so
tightly that it hurt her.
Now go, dear" she said-''go. aud
don't be afraid. Remember that you
are not alone, and that Mother will
be praying for you every minute till
you get back"
As the door closed behind her
mother the child ran back to the
threshold with cry of terror. She
was timid little thing, and she had
never been alone before. Then she
turned sharply. Her mother had told
her to be brave-she must be brave.
The tears rolled silently down her lit
tie white face and waves of fear beat
up in her throat; but she did not fall.
ter, she went steadily on into the
darkness and emptiness saying over
and over her ono little prayer: God.
don't let anything hurt me-help me
to be brave; don't let anything hurt
me-help me to be brave" And
gradually Gods tender hand hushed
and she went quietly on under the
golden stars.
In fifteen minutes she reached Dea.
con Garnett's and stood knocking at
the door; there was no answer. She
Knocked again; then az the truth
dawned upon her she beat at it in n
fierce terror; but nobody came, and
the sounds seemed 10 thunder nightly
about her in the still. sharp air. She
was very cold now; but she sat down
on the step moment to think. There
was but one thing to do; her mother
had said that the medicine must get TO
Cassock's that night; she must 90 to
the town herself. Choking back her
sobs she struggled to her feet: even
the few minutes on the doorstep Ind
made erstif. She stood moment
looking pitifully back at the home
light; then she turned away and ran.
ran-into the shadows of the great
night.
Nearly an hour later n man, hurry
ing from one OF the saloons in the
town, was stopped by childs voice.
Please, sir, can You tell me where
Mr. Cassock lives?"
The man had not been drinking
much; he stared down at her in amaze
ment. eff faint the parsons kidr,
he cried. '!What are you doing here
this time of night?"
The child's weary face looked
whitel y up at him from the old blue
hood. ''Papa's SICK" she said; land
this medicine had to go to Mamie Cas-
sock, else she'd die. I carried it to
Deacon Garnett's; but nobody was
there, so L had to come myself. Do
you know where he lives?"
With a smothered exclamation the
man stopped down and picked the
child up. 81 guess you've walked fur
enough, he exclaimed. 'Iain't good
fur much in the way of meetings; but I
can't let theparson's kid go round town
alone. Plltake you to Cassock's, and
I'll take you home'''
The child put her arms about his
neck aud leaned against him with a
sight Of content. He was rough. bad
man; but the child trusted him, aud he
knew it. He held her gently so that
she was not shaken by his long strides
In five minutes lie was knocking com
mandingly at the door of shantv at
tho end of the street.
Jim Cassock opened the door him
self. His eyes were red and swollen.
but he had not been drinking; the door
swinging back showed bare room.
and worn, sickly woman holding a
child who was moaning feebly.
What's wanted?" said jim, fercely.
II can't see anybody; my child's dy-
ing"
mo thanks to you if she doesn't"
retorted the other man. '"The par-
sons sick and sent the medicine; this
child came walking all the way TO town
with II" His tone was full of fine
contempt, keener than any rebnke.
toward the miserable creature before
him.
jim stared Mt the man uncompre-
hendingly; but the woman started up
with little cry. She put the child
down on the bed and ian across to her
husband.
Don't you understand, Jim?" she
sobbed. "The medicines COMETS
come, mani
Jim rubbed his hand across his fore
head and looked from Ruths tired lit
tie face to his own baby. Then. sud.
denly he dashed into the other room.
lie came back in moment with a pair
of gloves which he thrust into the
child's hands. Tell the parson that T
couldn't wear 'em, that / amt touched
'om!' he said, eagerly "Tell him to
put 'em on himself; will you tell him?
70 put en- on himselfl"
Yes" answered Ruth, WONDERING
ly; "I'll tell him"
Jim stood at the door q moment. he
tried to say something more. but The
words stuck in his throat: then his
wife called him, aud he slammed the
door, shutting them out into the
night.
Ruth's friend gruntcd. but made no
remark. He picked the child up again.
and she nestled contended i'm his arms.
she was half asleep from WEAKNESS and
only had hazy knowledge of il when
he got horse from somewhere and be.
gan riding across the prairie.
The minister had fallen into q
troubled sleep; but his wife was walk
ing the floor, beating desperately back
the fears that stormed her heart.
Nothing could have happened to the
child; there was not far TO 20 and she