The suburban citizen., 1900-01-27


with the game old mare, for he was
man of substance, and might have
left his Office desk any moment il he
had felt so inclined. Driving was not
one of his strong points, which the old
mare knew very well, and each time
he crossed the narrow canal bridge
leading to the tin mill house, Retta
trembled to see how closely he shaved
the low parapet. He was a weighty
man, Reuben, and not the sort to be
thrown from a cart and never feel it.
"Do be more careful, Reuben, "she
timidly suggested. "You wouldn't
look up again if you touched the side
and turned over there"
Reuben whistled impatieutly and
was away again before he could see
how serious the warning was. SO
anxious was Retta about the danger
spot that she turned out of the house
each time she saw Reuben approach
ing it.
At last the event she had dreaded
actually occurred. Reuben's right
wheel struck projecting piece OF the
old stone parapet, which held it fast.
The dogcart wheeled round, then
dragging itself almost clear Of the low
protection. stood poised upon one
wheel, with Reuben clutching at the
top handrall, and the mare paving
and plunging with its back against
the parapet. Retta was on the scene
in an instant, but 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 a breakfall, and pinning her
against the opposite parapet. Reuben
was spared many bruises-but Retta
She lay with her head and arm
hanging over the parapet, senseless,
Late that right the doctor came out
of the room to which Retta had been
carried, and said that she had re-
covered consciousness.
Reuben heard the news eagerly.
"Ts there any permanent injury?"
he asked.
The doctor looked serious.
''[ fear so" he replied. "Her spine
is injured. Your weight forced her
roughly against the sharp stone edge.
TO tell you the truth, Client, I have
not much hope that she will ever rise
again. But go in and see her. She
is calling for You"
Reuben entered the room with a
geutler step aud look than he had
borne for many day. The maidser-
want, working with the bandages, eyed
him reproachfulIy. A Aneighbor'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 woman whose eyes were
fixed on him. She was smiling
Heaven help him, he had killed her
and she was smiling to him!
"Rettaw
eyes, Reuben"-the answer came
family.
"I am so sorry, Retty. Are you in
pain?"
ga little, Reub--but--I saved you.
'She has always been saving you,
if you but knew, said the visitor,
BLAhl y Wuuloh BoO Aiubt0 luduAo AVL
doing the like of that"
"You'll be up and about soon, Retta,
no doubt" Reuben continued.
Retta shook her head weakly.
"No, Reuben, you'll want new
housekeeper.''
Then strange thing happened.
Over the face of the precise, hard man,
who had never known before what
emotion was, there swept a wave Of
shamed gratitude. His eye, now moist
for the first time since childhood,
lighted on Retta's face with new 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 voice of intense
earnestness---
"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, Retta. What else there is of
my life is all for you"
Reuben kept his word, and there
never was such wedding in town be-
fore. Retta did not leave her bed
again, but the constant devotion of
her husband made each pang a bless
ing.