The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-28
GABRIEL TOLLIVFR'
COPYRIGHT, 1902, by Joel Chandler Harris.

wild animal leaps
Through the doorway, which was now
entirely covered with a roaring flame,
blurred and smoking figure had rushed
bulky, shapeless figure, it seemed-and
then 1t collapsed and fell, and lay in the
midst of the smoke, almost within reach
Of the flames But Major Perdue was
there in an instant, and he dragged the
shapeless mass away from the whitening
heat and sitting smoke. After this he
had more assistance than was necessary
or desirable.
Stand backr he cried; and his voice
had in it the note that men never fail
to obey. Stand back there! Where Is
Darlington? Why isn't he here?' Your
father, my dear, had gone into the coun-
try to see a patient. He was on his way
home when he saw the red reflection of
the flames in the sky and he FASTENED as
rapidly as his horse could go. lie arrived
just in the nick of time. He heard his
name called as he drove up, and was
prompt to answer. Make way there!
commanded Major Perdue; make way
for Darlington. And you ladies go homel
There's nothing you can do here Then
heard Fanny Tomlin call my name, and
Major Perdue repeated in a ringing voice,
Lucy Lumsden is wanted herei
Pulaski Tomlin had been kinder to his
sister than to himself Only the hem of
her dress was scorched 1t may be alb
surd to say so, but that was the first
thing I noticed; and, in fact, that was
all the injury she had suffered. Her
brother had found her unconscious on a
bed, and he simply rolled her in the quilts
and blankets and brought her down stairs
and out through the smoke and flame to
the point where he fell. Fanny has not so
much as scar to show. But you can
look at her brothers face and see what
he suffered When they lifted him into
your fathers buggy his outer garments
literally crumbled beneath the touch, and
one whole side of his face was raw and
bleeding.
But he never thought of himself,
though the agony he endured must have
been awful. His first word was about his
sister: Is Fanny hurt? We brought him
here. 1t was Fannys wish-and by the
time he had been placed in bed, the
muscles of his mouth were drawn as you
see them now. There was nothing to do
but to apply cold water, and this was
done for the most part by Major Perdue,
though both Fanny and I were anxious to
relieve him. I never saw a man so de-
voted in his attentions. He was absolute
ly tireless.
but what about Margaret Gaither?'
inquired Nan.
FOOT margaret.
grandmother. II declared had almost
forgotten her. Well. bright and early the
next morning Margaret came and asked
to see Pulaski Tomlin. I carried her re-
quest to the sick-room.
" Brother said Fanny, Margaret Is
here, and wants to see you. Shall she
come in?
II saw Pulaski clench his hands; his
bosom heaved and his lips quivered. Not
for the worldi' he exclaimed; oh, not for
the world!
"T can't tell her that said I. Nor
l., sobbed Fanny, covering her face with
her hands. Oh it will kill herr
Major Perdue turned to me. his eyes
wet. DO you know why he doesn't want
her to see him.? I could only give an
affirmative nod. DO you know, Fanny
She could only say Yes, yes between
her sobs. 1T is for her sake alone we all
see that, declared Major Perdue. Show
me where the poor child is
II led him to the parlor door. This is
Miss Gaither?' he said, as he entered
alone. My name is Perdue-Tomlin Per-
due. We are very sorry, but no one is
permitted to see Pulaski except those
who are nursing him. That is what l
am here for she said, and no one has
better right. l am to be his wife; we are
to be married next month 1T Is not a
matter of right, Miss Gather. Are you
prepared to sustain very severe shock?
why, what--what is the trouble?' Can
you not conceive reason why you
should not see him now-at this time, and
for many days to come? cannot she
replied haughtily That, Miss Gather is
precisely the reason why you are not to
see him now,' said Major Perdue. His
tone was at once humble and tender. L
don't understand you at ALL she ex-
claimed almost violently. L tell you will
see him; I'll beat upon the wall; I II lie
across the door and compel you to open
it. Oh, why am l treated So and by his
friendsr She flung herself upon the sofa
weeping wildly; and there 1 found her,
when a moment later, / entered the room
in response to a gesture from Major Per-
due.
without raising her face she began to
speak to me. This is your house, Miss
Lucy she said, and why can't I, his fu-
ture wife, go in and speak to Pulaski,
and help you and Fanny minister to his
wants?' / made her no answer, for l
could not trust myself to speak; 1 SIM
ply sat on the edge of the sofa by her
and stroked her hair. She seemed to take
some comfort from this, and finally put
her request in a different shape. Would
I permit her to sit in a chair near the
door of the room in which Pulaski lay,
until such time as she could see him?
gave her a cordial assent to this propo-
sition, carried a comfortable chair and
placed it near the door, and there she sta
toned herself.
II went into the room where the others
were. Fanny asked me a question with
her eyes, and l answered it aloud She is
sitting by the door and says she will re-
main there until she can see Pulaski He
beat his hand against the headboard Of
the bed, his mental agony was so great
and kept murmurng to himself. Major
Perdue went to the window. Presently he
returned to the bedside, his watch in his
hand. Pulaski he said, If she's there
fifteen minutes from now / shall invite
her in
"A few minutes later had occasion to
go into my own room for a strip of linen
and to my utter amazement the chair l
had placed for Margaret Gather was
empty. l went from room to room calling
her name, but she had gone; and l have
never laid eyes on her from that day to
this She went away to Malvern on a
visit and while there eloped with II
Louisiana man named Bridalbin whose
reputation was none too savory. and we
never heard of her again. Even her Aunt
Polly lost all trace of her.
What did Mr.. Tomlin say when you
told him she was gomez" Nan inquired
I'VE never told him. l think he under
stood that she was gone almost as soon
as she went, for his spiritual faculties are
very keen. Margaret Gather, such as
she was. was the sum and the substance