The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-24

hoarsely. Help me with her-quicki quick! Lift her up!' I obeyed without a word, though with a shudder of aver sion as a drop of hot blood stung me on the hand.
 Now draw her arm about your shoulder-this way-and hold 1t so! And now your other arm around her waist quick, man. quick, as you yourself will want Gods arm about you when you fail! Now, comei'' And with other word we hurried with our burden up the empty darkness of the street.
 was utterly bewildered with it all, but something kept me silent. And so we hurried on, and on. and on, our course drecte ed by my now wholly reticent com panion. Where he was going, what his purpose was, I could but vaguely sur mise. I only recognized that his inten- tions were humane, which fact was em- phasized by the extreme caution he took to avoid the two or three late pedes- trians that passed us on our way as we stood crowded In concealment-once be- hind a low shed, once in an entry-way; and once, at the distant rattle of po-
 lice whistle, we hurried through the blaclness of a narrow alley into the silent street beyond. And on up this we passed. until at last we paused at the gateway of a cottage on our left on to the door of that we went, my friend first violently jerking the bell then opening the door with night-key, and with me lifting the still senseless woman through the hall into a dimly lighted room upon the right, and laying her upon clean white bed that glimmered in the corner. He reached and turned the gas on In fiaring jet, and as he did so, This Is my home' he whispered, land this woman is-my motherr' He flung himself upon his knees beside her as he spoke. He laid his quivering lips against the white hair and the ruddy wound upon the brow; then dappled with his kisses the pale face, and stroked and petted and caressed the faded hands. 70 Godl" he moaned, If I might only weep!'
 The steps of some one coming down the stair aroused him. He stepped quickly to the door, and threw it open. It was woman-servant. He simply pointed to the form upon the bed.
 "Oh, sir'' exclaimed the frightened woman, what has happened? What has happened to my poor, dear mistress?"
 "Why did you let her leave the house?"
 ''She sent me away, sir. I never
 dreamed that she was going out again. She told me she was very sleepy and
 wanted to retire and I helped her to un- l dress before I went. But she ain't bad | hurt is she?" she continued. stooping ] over the still figure and tenderly smooth l ing back the dishevelled hair.-'Tt's only l the check bruised and the forehead cut a 1 little-it's the blood that makes it look
 l...e a bad hurt. See, when I bathe it, it l is not a bad hurt, sir. She's just been she's just worn out, poor thing-and ] she's asleep-that's all.'
 | He made no answer to the woman's
 speech but turned toward me. Five | doors from here" he said. ''and to your left as you go out. you will find the resi- 1 dence of Dr. Worrel. Go to him for me, l and tell him he Is wanted here at once.
 Tell him my mother is much worse. He will understand. I would go myself, but
 must see about arranging for your com fort upon your return. for you will not leave me till broad daylight-you must notr' I bowed in silent acceptance or his wishes, and turned upon my errand
 Fortunately, lne doctor was at home, and returned at once with me to my friend where after a careful examina- ton of his patient, he assured the anx- ious son that the wounds were only l light and that her unconscious condition
 v.s simply the result of over-stimula-
 tion, perhaps" as he delicately put it..
 She would doubtless waken in her usual
 rational state-an occurrence really more l to be feared than desired since her pe- | culiar sensitiveness might feel too keenly l the unfortunate happening. Anyway" | he continued, 'T will call early in the
 morning, and in the event of her awak- ening before that time, I will leave a | sedative with Mary, with directions she | will attend. She will remain here at her
 side mo as to yourself Mir Clark" the | doctor went on, in an anxious tone, as (Continued on Seventh Paee.)