Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-02-28

Reuben whistled impatiently and
was away again before he could see
how serious the, warning was. So.
anxious was Rstta about. the danger
spot thai she turned out OF the house
each time she saw Reuben approach.
ing it, = ;.
1t lass the. event she had dreaded;
actually occurred: Reuben's righ5S
wheel struck a projecting pieco of the
old stone parapet; which hell it fast,
The dogcars, wheeled fou d.. then
dragging itself almost clear / the low
protection; stood poised pom one,
wheel; With Reuben clutching at the;
top haudrall; and the mare paving
and plunging with its back against
the parspet. Retta was on the scene
in an instant, bu! just as she reach ed
Reuben the imprisoned wheel dragged
clear of the projection and Reuben
came laundering down into the mar
row roadway, carrying Retta before
him as q breakfall, and pinning her
against the opposite parapet. Reuben
ives spared many-bruises-but Retta!
81 She, 10y with: :sher head and arm
hanging over the-parapet,- senseless.
- Late that nightrthe doctor came out
of. the: room to which ,Retto ,had-been
carried a and--said, that she. had re.
covered consciousness. :,
Reuben heard the news eagerly. /:
SIS there any permanent, injury2"
he asked. $ss
THE doctor looked serious. = s
'I fear so," he replied. "Her spine
is injured sa1your weight forced her
roughly against the sharp stone edge.
TO tell you tie truths Client, I have
not much hope that she will ever rise
again. But go in and see her.&sShe
Is calling for you '.'
Reuben entered the room with
gentler step and look than he,% had
borne for many a!day, The maid.ser-l
yant, working with tae. bandages, eyed
him reproachfully. sAneighbor's wife
rose from the bedside and placed her
fingers to her lips. Reuben did: not
notice her. His eyes were all for the
:white:faced won G,1 whose eyes were
fixed on him. She was smiling-
Heaven help him, he had killed her
snd she was smiling to him!
'Retta! ---.----.e.---.
.sYes, Reuben"-the answer came
family. :
IT am so sorry Retty. Are you in
pain2''
s.Alittle, Reub-but-I saved you"
''She has always been saving you,
If you but knew, said the visitor,
grimly; swomen get little thanks for
doing the like of that."
.at.:Y You'll be up andaboutsoon. Retta,
no Doubt" Reuben: continued.
fRetta shook her head weakly.
..No, Reuben, you'n want new
housekeeper." ';iAss
q; Then q strange thing happened.
Over the face Of the precise, hard man,
who had never known before, what
emotion was; there swept auwave of
shamed gratitude. His eye. now moist
for the first time sih,e childhood,
lighted on Retta,s 'faee with anew pur-
pose. Before the Women in: the room
could realize what he was doing he
had sunk down by the bedside, and,
placing his hand on the sufferers
brow, whispered in a voice Of intense
earnestnass-- -lessE
"Never, Retta- You.and you alone.
It's not too late to marry, dear. Afoot
or abed- you'll be my wife,. You have
given up your strength and, comfort
for me, Retts. What else there Is Of
my life Is allsfor-you."
Reuben kept his word, and there
never was such q wedding in town be-
fore. Retta did not leave her bed
again, but the constant devotion of
her husband made each papg bless.
ing. -