Evening star., 1902-08-30

cry Of john she sprang to her feet, the
volume. left to itself, rustling from her lap
to the floor
The mother eyes saw that something was
wrong. and the mother heart felt that some
evil had come to Allis.
Mrs Porter had gone white in an instant
Over her hung heavy at all times the dread
of some terrible accident coming to AlIis
through the horses.
Did you call. wife," Porter asked. as he
came to the door Then he sprang quickly
across the veranda at sight of his wifes
blanched face, and reached out to catch her
in h.s arms. But she stopped him. pointing
down the drive. It's Allis. John; oh, my
Cod
Mono" he answered; they're just
coming back-here. sit down again. I'll see"
and he raced down the steps just as Mike
pulled up.
What's the matter. girI?" he began.
The young gintleman's got a bit shook
up, sir-nOthin' bad loike." Mike broke in
hastily, The diplomatic rider, mot bad"
was added for Mrs. sPOrters benefit; his
quick eye having seen her white face.
Miss Allis's not hurt at all" he contin-
ued We'll help the young ginteman in.
an I'D best go for the docther. L m thinkin'."
Even he was speaking they helped
Mortimer from the rig. He had not uttered
a sound; his teeth were set hard against
the agony that was In his side and the
>~N
beyond a consciousness that he was being
looked after. and that if he could only keep
going for little. just his legs a trile.
he would presently be allowed to sleep Yes,
that was what he wanted. he so
drowsy. As he went up the steps between
two men a haggard face peered at him
over the rail. 1t familiar: he felt that
some recognition was due. for it a
lady's face He tried to smile Then he
was on a bed, and-and-sleep at last.
W hen the three men. with the silence Of
disaster over them. passed strugglingly into
the house. Mrs. Porter threw herself on
Allis' neck and a passion Of tears flooded
down ;rsId damPed the girls shoulder.
God he thanked. God he thanked" gasp
cd the troubled woman. and one hand that
was over the girls shoulder patted her with
errat.c rapidity. Then she interrupted her
self What am l saying2-it's wicked. and
Mr Mortimer like that. But l can't help it
i can't help it oh. Allis. my heart was
in my mouth: / feel that some day you Will
come home like this
At that instant Gaynor dashed by them.
ledned into the buggy and called. as he
drove on: "TH have the dOcther in jify-
III young mans all right He was still
talking as the whirr Of swift-rUshing wheels
snnothered out his voice. and the dust rose
like Il steam cloud, almost blOtting him
from the landscape.
"Oh. girl. | thought you'd been killed"
Here. sit down. mOther-you're all work
ed up" and AIlis put a cool hand on her
mothers hot forehead.
But the shock To her feelings had loosed
the good womau's vocabulary. At all
times smoldered in her heart a hatred OF
racing. even of the horses.
Its the anger Of Cod Mrs Porter de-
rouaceG. vehemently. This gambling and
racing is contrary 10 His law. Never
night passes. Allis. that l do not pray 10
God that He may open Your fathers eyes
to the sin Of racing No good can come of
it-Eo good has ever come of U-EOthlng
but disaster and trouble; in day the sub
stance Of a year is wasted. There can't be
prosperity living IN sin.
This out3uTst from Mrs. Porter startled
the girl: ii was so passionate. so vehement.
When they had talked of racing in the
home life the mother had nearly always
preserved a reproachful silence; her atti-
tude was understood and respected.
II must speak, girl. she said again.
this sinful life is crushing me. Do you
think feel no shame when l sit in meeting
and hear our good minister denOunce
gambling and racing? l can feel his eyes
or me. and ! cannot raise my voice in pro-
test. for do / not countenHce il? My peo-
PIE were all church people. she continued,
almost ap0logetically, "tOlerating no sin
in the household. Living in sin there can
be TO hope for eternal life
Il know. mother sOothed the girl II
know just how you feel, but we can't de-
sert father. He does not look upon 1t as
sin, as carrying any dishOnor: he may be
cheated. but he cheats TO man. 1t can't
b. so sinful if there is no evil intent. And
listen. mother, no matter what anybody
may say. even the minister. We must both
all his life
''Ah sweetheart" John Porter cried out
IN q pleased voice. he came TO them
Cooking after mother: that's right. Gym
thia has helped me fly up Mortimer. He'll
be all right soon Mike gets back
with RathbOne. | think we'd better have
cup Of tea-these horses are trying the
nerves. aren't they. little woman and he
nestled his wife's head against his side.
How did ii happen, Allis? Did Mortimer
slip into DiablOs box or
all hot 1Nx-I
dy- Diablo was just paying him back FOR
his ill-trcatment, and ] went in to rescue
him and Mortimer risked his life to save
mine
lie was plucky eh. girI?"
HE fought the black like a hero. father.
But. father. you must never think bad Of
laUZanre again-if he hadn come and
Fought the black Mr.. Mortimer would have
been too late"
1T dreadful. dreadful. moaned the
mother.
All.s shot a quick look at her father. and
h changed the subject and commenced
talking about Acknowledging where he
Was and other irrelevant matters.
Then there was fresh advertisement as
Mike ratified up. and Doctor Rathbone who
Was OF a great size, hustled in to where
Mortimer lay
Three smashed ribs and broken arm
was his inventory Of the damage inflicted
by DiablOs kick, when he came out again
with Porter. in an hour.
I'm afraid one of the splintered ribs is
the fellow has got such a good nerve that
j hardly discovered this unpleasant fact
He'll be all right. however: he's young and
healthy as a peach Good nursing is the
idea. and he'll get that here of course He
doesn't want much medicine; that We keen
FOR our euemies-Ha. ha.' and he laughed
cheerily. as II il were all good joke on
the battered man.
Thin docthers is cold -blooded divils."
was Mikes comment. You'd "A thought
they d been Ihrowin' dice an il was a
horse on the other gintleman. Bot thumbs,
II was. TOO. Still If ould Sawbones had
been in the box yonder Wit DiabIo. he
wouldn't felt funny"
Mortimer behaved well didn't he
Mike asked Porter.
Behaved well. is II? He was like live
diVn; punched thin two big stations till
they took water an backed out. My word!
whin first / see him come TO the stable wiz
Miss Allis. thinks l. here's wan av' thin
city chumps. he made me tired. An whfn
he talked about LauZanne's knees m'aning
his hooks, had to hide me head in a grain
bag. But If you'd seen him handle that
fork bastin' the black, you'd thought IL