Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-03-28

dppetlzlng cold luncheon awaiting him
with trim little rosy checked lass to
serve II. The widow hustled I'm present
iy with voluble excuses for her abb
sence. She had run over TO Ezra
Patchen's. her right hand neighbors.
10 carry glass OF ounce Jelly to
young Joe Patcben. Just back from the
Philippines.
Poor boy" said the widow: -he's
nothing but parched skin an aching
bones. Got one o. those swamp fe
vers fastened on him. an IL 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 coy bedroom and
dropped into a big cushioned rocker.
The mans a fool who thinks he can
run away from human suffering" he
muttered bitterly.
Then the tidy bed. with It's immacu-
late coverings. wO0ed his tired bones.
and minute or two later he was en-
joying the first afternoon nap he had
@ken FOR many years.
He awOke toward dusk feeling rather
ashamed of his long sleep. And yet
only few hours later he found he
was quite ready for the ali night
nap He was sleeping soundly at 8
O'Clock when the widow called him.
lie arose with "A start. glancing first at
his watch and then at himself In the
bureau glass. He looked ten years
younger
sleep is knitting up the raveled
sleeve OF caIe for you all 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.
As he passed the last cottage In this
new direction young woman came
through the gate. she was accompa-
MED by weakened little boy. who
chung tightly To her hand. He was a
cripple. One OF his shoulders dropped.
and his head bent over H. His legs
were spindly aud weak. and he shuf-
fed along with the appearance OF de-
crepit old man.
The great surgeon frowned and hur-
pass the pair the girl turned and look
ed back. She was comely young wo-
man OF perhaps six and twenty. with
clear. honest eyes and pretty nut
brown hair and II slngularly gentle ex-
preston.
When the surgeon came back from
his long stroll along the ridge. the
young woman and the boy were seated
on low stone wall half way up the
bill As the surgeon passed. the little
fellow. whose head rested comfortably
against the girls arm. laughed shrilly
over some story his companion was
reading aloud from book In her lap.
The surgeon thought OF that picture
a good many times during the day. He
saw IL again the next day and the mex.
The boys misfortune worried him. His
fingers twitched TO examine into his
ailment. He felt that the lad could be
helped. lie tried 10 crowd this feeling
aside. He told himself that he was an
idiot TO let sentiment bother him I'm
such a ridiculous fashion.
But you always were a fool about
children" he Erowled 10 his reflection
In the bedroom glass.
On the fourth day he spoke 10 the
girl
She ana the little cripple were sit
ting on the low stone wall where they
usually rested on the way up the hill.
Pheasant afternoon" said the sur
geon. as he lifted his hat. The girl
looked up. She saw before her Ill
man. little stopped. a little gray. a
little careworn. She gravely bowed.
She took no offense at his unceremoni-
GUS speech. The niceties Of social usage
are not So strictly observed in the
country. Il am Interested In your lit
tie companion" the surgeon went on.
He might have added that he was also
Interested in the dark eyed. self pos
sessed young woman.
He has been great sufferer" said
the girl. but he Is a very good and
very patient boy"
The surgeon sat down on the wall by
the lad and lifted him on TO his knee.
He did 1t so quickly. so deftly. so gen
tly. that the girl looked up at the kind
ly face In surprise. She saw the large
white hand OF the stranger pass softly
but firmly across the twisted shoulder
and adown e." -akened spine. She
saw a frown the kindly smile
How long Az was he hurtT'
'Three years" said the girl He is
IL now. II was runaway. He and
our mother were thrown from the
wagon. and she was killed" The girl
paused and turned her head away.
What treatment did he haveT'
"The best we could secure-a doctor
from Bridgeville"
The strangers frown deepened
at was hotch work" he said. almost
harshly. The boy should never have
been like this.u
The girl turned quickly.
Then you are a surgeon?' she said,
with a wondering fash I'm her dark
eyes.
The stranger family smiled.
Murder will out" he said. 81 didn't
mean TO hear that title for solid
month of forgetfulness. But never
mind. intend TO see this matter
through. Come. | must examine the
boy more at my leisure"
Hts eyes sparkled as he arose with
the slight figure OF the child in his