The Newtown bee., 1898-02-04

the body was relaxed, that the head was bent forward, that the breathing was deep and regular, that the eyes were shut. that the man was asleep.
 If such one had pressed closer in his amazement, he would have detected the presence of a subtle oder, which he would have interrogated as holding a possible cIew to this strange condition. Were the mans senses steeped in alcohol,-was he drugged? Not so; pair of saddle bags hanging over the saddle revealed his pro fes sion and the nature this midnight ride. He was a doctor, more properly he was ''Che" doctor.
 It has been more than once demon
 strated that soldiers sleep on the march. This man was a soldier, though his
 marching orders took no note of bugle or drum. He wore no straps, no uniform
 he recognized no commanding officer; he obeyed the voice of no superior; but at
 midnight, at cock-crowing, or Tn the
 morning." through winters drifts CT
 summers dust, whenever the call from
 the sick and the suffering came to him, he
 obeyed.
 He and his black horse Dragon became familiar figures along the winding river roads, and up and down the steep hill
 sides, speeding on their errands of mercy,
 through many a township; and every
 man, woman and child alorg the route
 knew them well, watched for and wei
 comed them always, but most wherever
 the fight ragged hottest.
 And so it happened that on this partic-
 ular night, which brought the first re
 freshing sleep of 14 days to wcrn-out llaborere, the doctor was not allowed to
 rest in his bed, but had to snatch such
 bits of sleep az he could along the high
 way, under the midnight stars.
 After six miles of river road the hoIs
 turned off, without any suggestion from his master and began the ascent of g , steep hill on the right, picking his way carefully over the rough road, as if ht knew that the man he was carrying stil . slept and must not be disturbed. Dragon was of such a mettlesome na ture that the doctors man Mike was thu only one who ever attempted to manag' } him, and he always approached hin B with becoming deference, and handled Q him "with mittens." But with the docto 4 Dragon had become as docile as an ol' d farm hack. There seemed to be a taci 8 understanding between them, of mutua r. dependence and sympathy, as of man d another pair of friends, who "share eac l. others sorrows and mutual burden d bear"
 e But the doctor felt the cooler breat -- of the hills as he made the ascent, an s his system vigorously responded. Draw R ing long breath, and lifting up his head V he squared his broad shoulders an s frightened the rein.
 s "Dragop, where are we?'
 d The horse stopped instantly. The dot 0 tor rubbed his eyes and turned aroun il in his saddle. They had reached the frs A plateau, from which the whole river roa q could be seen. A white line of fog marl ed it's length and breadth. 'Curse i. malaria" muttered the doctor, 'twe sha l. have harder time yet, Dragon, befoI i. he harvest moon. Well, go on, we hay l. only four miles before us now; one sto e more and then-homep
 The word home, which seemed to giy }, wings to Dragons feet, possessed coul Il ter spell for the doctor. Drawing heav | sigh, his head again sank, but not t eleep. With rein well in hand, he allowe Y Dragon to choose his own gait, and in ! minutes thereafter the noble animal hs d cleared nearly the whole of the remai h. ing four miles, and drew up of his ow le accord at the last 'stop.'
 ve The doctor dismounted, and passin Id his bride over a clothes pole. went bris lg ly up the short path, and in at the ops tt front door Of the little story-and-a-ha