Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-09-08

lully OF lne Only utCenl WOueH III
town bad better select his weapon
before he speaks, for he VIII have
tc fight me at sight
"IheTe was little need of Jacks
threat. TIE paTSOn had so COM
pl, tely won the rough element OF
the town by his genial TACT and
t arlesS bearing that everv man
would count it an honor to fight to
the death for him at the drop OF a
hat. To know that the bold,
powerful man whom they so great.
" admired had young and bean.
;iful wife stirred to the hearts
core every man who had a spark of
manhood remaining.
"Tae rude shanty which was
the temporary parsonage was on
the main street. and within a few
doors of three Of the worst saloons
in tn = place. The day the pArSOn :
vile arrived aud moved into hel
new home, a street fight occurred
III front of one Of the saloons and
ended at the door of the parson
age. One OF the fighters, worth
less and vll,ainOus rutliln, tell
against the parsonage door bleed
ing from a dozen terrific gashes
The parsons wife bad Geen a wit
ness of the whole affray. AS the
last ViciOuS thrust OF a hinge bowie
knife ended the fight, with a CRY OF
terror she SpTaDg to the door to
prevent If possible what she fully
believed was murder. AS she
opened the door, tie huge form OF
the desperate fell into the hall
way at her feet. His face wa
white, his eyes were staring, and
his blood was streaming from a
severed artery in gnastly spurtS.
She stepped OVER The body Of the
wounded man, and cried to the
ISLANDERS by.
"'Run for a doctor, the man s
dying
"When the doctor arrived, he
found the parsons wife Lad check
ed tie flow OF the blood as sklllul y
as any surgeon could have done.
She was white as marble, but as
cool AS ice. Her little hanGs were
bathed III blood, but she had saved
the ours life. The doctor eX-
amihed her surgery, and said:
"'Madame. could not have
doue so well myself. | presume
YOU are the parsons wife. Permit
me to say, as he lifted his hat and
make formal bow, she parson is
to he ccngratulaleG, ard so is this
villuinOus Ipfilan. \ few seconds
more would have ended bis worth
less life. doubt madame helh'
1t was worth staining your white
hands to save it,
"'HlS soul is worth a thousand
worlds like thls,' she replied
quietly.
"I presume yon are right, bnt
fear his soul, If lie has one, vii
never i've saved. He might as wei
die at one time as another s. fai
as saving bis soul is concerned
But, madame, if you desire 20 con
tinue your mercy and save thii
mans lie, You will have to piaI
the part of "A Dur,e as well as tina
of a surgeon. He cannot be move(
for a day or two, am sorry tha
such an experience should uaTB
your f s day in our place.
"rbus TWO more Of our citizen
had beln introduced to the paTson
wife the first day she arrived. Z
lew days nursing brought The III
iured nan around all right so b
could be moved. He WAS 1nsI
.ith money and offered a princel
sum for the care he had recCiyed
Tie little woman refused th'
money with the air of queen. SD
al, iSed him to send lis money t
, his friends at home. She SAID a
he was about to 60:
, elf you wish to rapay me to
my tntilDg service, try to lead
} better life.
I sShe saved him, | think. II
ueyer tasted IA drop Of liqdor ate
. his parting from her. As soon 81
5 ne had iully recovered he left towr
, We heard that be had gone hon
t and settled down TO a decent II
"Belore The parsons wife ba
r been IN town "a week another hgl
occurred in front OF the the pa
s sonage. \ hundred men weI
g looking on with delight az two e
gagged men were beating
Il bluing gougiDg each Olhcr liz
savage beasts. A wOman's vOit
clear aud strong, with a nDg
d scOrn and disgust, thrilling eyel