The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-03-06

appGIlZlDS cOAu lUnCneOl aWdlllHS nluf,
with a trim little rosy checked lass to
serve it. The widow hustled in present
I ly with vOluble excuses for her alb
sence. She had run over to Ezra
| Patchen's, her right hand neighbors,
% carry a glass of ounce jelly to
young Joe Patchen, just back from the
Philippines.
"Poor boy" said the widow; "he's
Lothing but parched skin an aching
| bones. Got one o those swamp fe
vers fastened on him, ali if he pulls
through the winter it'll be a blessed
wonder
| The surgeon pushed back his plate.
His appetite had suddenly failed. He
went up to his coZy bedroom and
dropped into big cushioned rocker
''The mans a fool who thinks he can
run away from human suffering" he
muttered bitterly.
Then the tidy bed, with its immacu-
Hate coverings, wooed his tired bones.
and a minute or two later he was en-
ljoying the first afternoon nap he had
taken for many years.
He awoke toward dusk feeling rather
ASHAMED of his long sleep. And yet
lonly a few hours later he found he
was quite ready for the all night
lnap. He was sleeping soundly at s
lo'clock when the widow called him.
He arose with a start. glancing first at
his watch and then ait himself in the
bureau glass. He looked ten years
lYounger.
'Sleep is knitting up the raveled
sleeve of care for you ali right, old
fellow" he said.
Then he quite astonished himself by
having an appetite for breakfast. and
after breakfast he walked forth again.
He remembered the old soldier, how
ever, and went the other way.
IS he passed the last cottage in this
new direction a young woman came
through the gate. She was accompa-
MED by a weakened little boy, who
clung tightly to her hand. He was a
cripple. One of his shoulders dropped,
and his head bent over it. His legs
were spindly and weak, and he shuf-
fed along with the appearance of a de-
crepit old man.
|
ried forward. Just as he was about to
lpass the pair the girl turned and look
ed back. She was a comely young wo-
man of perhaps six and twenty, with
clear honest eyes and pretty nut
brown hair and a singularly gentle ex-
Ipression.
When the surgeon came back from
his long stroll along the ridge, the
young woman and the boy were seated
ion a low stone wall half way up the
hill. AS the surgeon passed. the little
fellow, whose head rested comfortably
against the girls arm, laughed shrilly
lover some story his companion was
reading aloud from book in her Zap.
The surgeon thought of that picture
a good many times during the day. He
saw it again the next day and the next
The boys misfortune worried him. His
fingers twitched to examine into his
Iailment. He felt that the lad could be
helped. He tried to crowd this feeling
, aside. He told himself that he was al
idiot to let sentiment bother him il
: lsuch ridiculous fashion.
"But you always We're a fool abou
: children he growled to his reflection
, in the bedroom glass.
, On the fourth day he spoke to th'
! girl
: She and the little cripple were sit
! ting on the low stone wall where the.
usually rested on the way up the hill.
pleasant afternoon" said the SUI
q geon, as he lifted his hat. The gir
! Hooked up She saw before her tai
, man, a little stopped, little gray,
9 little careworn. She gravely bowed
/ tShe took no offense at his unceremoni
: GUS speech. The niceties of social usag
Iare not so strictly observed in tn
J. country. Il am interested in your Lii
tie companion the surgeon went or
v He might have added that he was ais
o interested in the dark eyed. self pos
a sessed young woman.
S "He has been a great sufferer sal
@ the girl, but he is a very good an
5. very patient boy"
e The surgeon sat down on the wall b
a the lad and lifted him on to his kne'
e He did it so quickly, so deftly, so gel
e tly, that the girl looked up at the kint
d Iy face in surprise. She saw the larg
b white hand of the stranger pass softl
e but firmly across the twisted shoulde
and adown the weakened spine. Sh
l. saw frown replace the kindly smile.
''How long ago was he hurt?'
"Three years. said the girl. ''He
l, II now. 1t was a runaway. He an
/. our mother were thrown from til
d wagon. and she was killed" The gi
5. paused and turned her head away.
If "What treatment did he have?'
% 'The best we could secure-a dCctC
v from Bridgeville."
n The strangers frOwn deepened.
a 'It was botch work." he said. almo:
" harshIy. 1.-The boy should never hay
d been like this
II The girl turned quickly.
''Then you are a surgeonY' she SAT-
70 with wondering flash in her dar
eyes.
r The stranger family smiled.
re ''Murder will out" he said. Il didn
mean to hear that title for a sol
of month of forgetfulness. But nev'
mind 1 intend to see this matte
n. through. Come, l must examine Il
n boy more at my leisure"
It. His eyes sparkled as he Grose vii
as the slight figure of the child in b
arms and together they passed dow
tn the hill.
h "If you are a surgeon" said the q
II after a little hesitation. 'perhnps Y,
nd will be kind enough to give me son
ne advice on a subject that tha, deep
he interests me. 1t is my ambition to t