Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-07
CHATTER VI.
NWNT EN M
Caleb uLnbrr tl,C OuoLrr

~CHApTER NJ.
caleb CIinknbcrry. unc unkcr.
My mother lay on the bed to which Caleb
had carried her, with her eyes closed. and
stood beside with white rags and linimeuts
in my hands, gaspiug and swallowing in
my throat at the sight OF blood. while Caleb.
with a pair OF little scissors cut open my
mothers bodice, so that in a little he found
tho wound in her right shoulder. Then |
can recall hearing him murmur to himself
(for all the world like a mother over a
bairn), Mary Digby, my little Mary that |
brought up by the hand ever since Sir
Eubule did give you into my care-at Theo-
hald's inn it was, the hour before he died.!
An Ill chance-an evil star. a hcathcnish
country-and the devil for an husband. AM
my little Mary, that | who vert thy nurse
should live to see thy blood now
But nevertheless. he staunched the wound.
and having done that which he could. he
found my mother with her senses restored
trying TO sit UP in her bed and asking in
Gods name what was the matter. And a
great mercy 1t was that she minded nothing
OF the dreadful fact itself, nor yet OF the
face of her husband at the window.
And in this fashion we sat all night. |
~quaking with fear lest the curtains that hid
az bhiAti dNllN llOlIu again ne parted
or the door below burst open with a clank
and the murderer rush upon us with a hor-
rid cry. But Caleb had all safely barred
and a musket loaded. toward which he
looked often as he went about, muttering
and shaking his head.
For this will / yet stay his career. The
bloody and evil man shall not live half his
days"
l must not forget to say that Caleb was
a follower of George Fox, being one of the
FOLK called Quakers-only he said but little
about 1t. For they were a people OF little
esteem in Scotland. Yet now when Caleb's
darling maid" us he called my mother, was
touched, 10! he who had preached peace so
long turned out as great a man of war as
the best of them.
So we sat, and for my part l quaked every
time a rat ran rumbling from garnet to
cellar. which they did all night, or even a
mouse scratched in the wainscot.
The very last memory | have of this terri
bic night of February % (being leap year,
Is that of waking to see Caleb Clinkaberry.
the palms of his hands pressed together
and his eyes lifted up, saying softly, "Des-
olation and destruction and famine and
SWORD! The fury of the Lord is upon lis.
the rebuke Of our Cod"
When / awoke the new day had come and
l was conscious Of a CHASTITY feeling of dis
comfort and a horror of myself almost like
that which comes with fever. did NOT
Know that this arrives to all who slcen
IN their clothes for the first time. 1t was
ilght and saw a man by my mothers bed
s'de' "A woman was on the other, both
busted with matters that | could not see.
They had not observed me shrunk I'm
In the corner of the black oaken settle.
But at a slight groan from the bed | sprang
up ana cried: Let my mother alone!
Will kill you if you lay hand on my
mother"
me man who was STOPPING over the bed
halt turned and saw me ready 70 fly Ike
a bantam cock at him. He did not remove
MS hands or disengage himself from what
he was doing. But instead he lifted his
voice over his shoulder and said in o quick.
rasplng tone; "umphray Spurway, take this
boy away and keep him away"
Then / knew that he was the surgoo,
from Abercairn who had come to the Min
house when the plague broke out among
the weavers-a skillful but an arrogant
man. Then came Umphray Spurway in,
looking bleached and gray, the light failed
out OF his eyes and the color faded from
MS hair and beard-or so at least it seemed
to me!
But though l was glad to see him bs
pulled me roughly out and rallied upon me
lot crying out at such a moment, being
IN his speech and ever with an ear
on the door of the room where my mother
was.
Then in a little, being come TO mvse,f
the feeling that my clothes were made
or hay having a little died away. I would
have asked him concerning his night adyen-
lures out he, having, as it were. his whole
reasonable soul in the further room. bade
me hush and presently gave me a cuff.
whereat | sulked. Also he kept tight hold
on my collar, as if l were intent to run back
again, of which | had no intention.
men, after a great while, the surgeon
came out with a changed and smiling
countenance, and said: 1T is out and ali
We'll holding up at the same TIM n lit
tie round bullet, at sight of which the great
red Englishman turned very white and faint
ana cried: Take it away, man. Gods sake.
axe it away"
rms ! thought strange in a man so brave
and strong, whom l had seen adventure
upon such a desperate chance that very
night.
1t was the best part OF an hour before
.hey would let me go in to see my mother.
The nurse, one Margit Fergus, n wIso
stood at the beds head with some
lquid in a dish, with which she continu-
moistened my poor mothers Iips. The
surgeon was gone, of which | was glad.
lhen ! took umphray Spurway's hand and
would have made him come with me, but
ne would not, shaking me off harshly and
out Of the house with his brows
cent and such a look of sadness as had
never till then seen on any mau's counte-
nance.
My dear mother smiled up at me with so
iweet and peaceful "A countenance that
ell to weeping, not knowing that that is
he face which in women denotes the over
oming Of suffering.
CTo be COntinued)
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