The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-28

VI. b ..s3,

daddy can see II way down broad, an
then he knows everything is all right
! But you run out and play some.
times?" aucried the surgeon.
The child shook her head at HIN
through the glass. ti;f
NO" she called, II can't run. Ms
feet are bad"
Whats tho matter with your feet 2,
They are very bad" replied tht
child. They turn in so that when 1
walk walk on mysaif, The boys cal
me 'club-foot,' and they laugh. Daddy
made me a little cart, and on Sundays
he draws me out II 1 don't rain. AID
he's goin' to whip thu boys II t!,ay
laugh at me any more"
will you lei, me- see your feet?" ask.
ed the great surgeon. gently.
g"You,ll laugh crl.d the child. x
NO" said the surgeon, gravely. ''l'll
promise YOUTH not laugh"
He heard her drawing a chair TO Tho
window. He heard her scrambllng UP.
a moment later she tapped on TIL
pane. and then he saw the distorted
feet in their coarse yarn stockings
poised on the window sill.
Yes" he called to her, that wiz
do. Now l must go" #
oh, but you Just came" cried thu
child, with sharp regret.
"1'll come again tomorrow" said
the great surgeon. "Good-bye, llt,la
mouse"
There was an added spring to the
surgeons walk US he. swung over the
hill, and so on across the ridge to the
capitalists home, and a fresh sparkle
frightened his clear gray eyes.
by the way" he said. TO the rich
man that evening. IT want to borrow
the low phapton and steady horse to.
morrow
Ana so early the next afternoon he
Grove down into the village, and up to
the door Of the blacksmIth's shop and
there he and the blacksmith had long
talk. 1t ended VIXEN the blacksmith
handed him key.
That ride in the low phacton was the
great event OF Martha Jol,nson's ratf,et
prosaic life. To sit In the softly cush-
Toned carriage by this wonderfully grny
haired man, who knew and had seen
everything, was a pleasure of such
magnitude that It quite took the childs
breath away. She was very quiet for n
time. and then she broke forth and
chartered like n magp!e. And the face
OF the childless man beside her relaxed
when he heard her, and pretty soon IT
would have been quite impossible to tell
which was enjoying the ride the better,
And when they returned and he tied
the horse ut the roadside and carried
her in-she. was only q fragile little
bundle-she was quite willing that he
should make n careful examination OF
her crippled feet.
When 1t was finished, he hurried
away to meet a man with whom he had
o..
an appointment. The man was the
blacksmith. and the blacksmith listen
ed TO his story with troubled face. He
was slow man. was the blacksmith,
and not of hopeful. disposition.
Understand" he said at last In his
sluggish way. I'm a poor man, and
I'm In debt. I tried farmin', and 1t.
didn't pay, md blacksmithin' Isn't
great deal better. You'll have'to walt
a long time for your money"
DO you imagine l am forcing my
services on you?" cried the surgeon
sharply. "rhere'll be nothing to pay"
The blacksmith's lean face cloudcd.
"Nothin to pay"' he. repeated.
What are you dom this for?"
For science-and my own pleasure"
said the great surgeon sharply.
We'll" srowled the blacksmith, after
q little pause. there is one thing you
must understand. Martha's oil I'VE
got In the world. There's goin' to be no
experImentIn'."
And there's one thing you must
understand" said the surgeon quickly.
There will be no more of this locking
an Innocent child In dull old house
Ike crippled mouse in a trap"
And then the blacksmith, whose
heart beneath his rough coating was
Dig and warm. put out his great hand
and gave the fingers of the surgean an
eloquent pressure:
That evening the surgeon said to the
rich man. II have IN important sur