Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-10-18
ward the bouse


As il grew dark she watched for him
from the open door. She saw the corn
stalk fires blaze from point to point
along the river, the mountains dark
against the sky, and the stars come out
one by one. But still the doctors quick
footstep did not sound on the path.
and Belinda began to think that after
all, though she did not want him just
yet, she could not do without him.
One after another the young men con-
nected with the neighboring mines
dropped in, and music and laughter
sounded through the open door of the
odd Doctors" hospitable home.
Belinda dancing to the ragtime two
step, her crimson ribbons setting of
her white neck, a flower tucked in her
dark hair and her black eyes sparkling,
was the very personification of youth,
happiness and life. Suddenly as she
passed the window she saw her brother
EarFs face, white, with frightened
eyes. Her heart almost stopped beat
ing, for she felt instinctively that
something dreadful had happened.
hearing her frightenedcry the dancers
paused, the music broke of, and the
young people gathered about Earl.
"Oh what has happenedP" they
cried, breathlessly.
Fellows" he said, excitedly, "come
out to the road. Lea has been dubbed
and badly hurt trying TO save a child
from a drunken brute-pay day, you
know, and some of the toughest min
ers are wild with drink He is lying
unconscious now. 1 tell you Lea has
pluck" the boy added in awestruck
tones. "He pitched into a man three
times his size, and crazy drunk, he
saved the child, but he" and Earl, IN
nerved, broke down with @ sob.
No one noticed Belinda leaning white
and faint against the window. The old
doctor and young men followed Earl,
leaving the frightened girls to crouch
by the fire, for the night had grown
damp and chill. Belinda's light words
of the afternoon came to her again
and again through those long hours.
After what seemed an age Joe Hildreth
came to tell them that Lea was Sc
riously injured, they did not yet know
the full extent. He had been carried
to the office.
Later he came for Belinda. Lea was
conscious now, and had asked for her.
would she come? Throwing a coat
about her, Joe half led. half support
ed her across the porch and lawn to
the office. There he paused. 'Miss
Belinda" he said, huskily, you have
plenty of grit, you will need II ell now.
We fear Lea has his call. but It will
not do TO break down before him"
So, trembling from head to foot, she
braced herself for anything, as they
pushed the door open and entered the
large, low room. The windows were
open TO the spring night, the sounds OF
the running water in the creek and the
pipe Of frogs penetrated the stiffness.
Belinda never heard these sounds
again without seeing that scene she
looked at now.
DR.. Lea lay propped up on a couch.
his delicate, thin face deathlike In IT'S
pallor. the young men and the old doc
tor about him. They withdrew as they
saw her, as she came near him she ga w
that he was indeed very near the Dor
derland OF life and death. Her own
life dwindled TO nothing before this
great experience that had come SO
close TO the man who loved her. She
forgot everything now but that, ms she
fell on her knees beside him. He was
too weak 90 speak, but the look in his
eyes as she grasped his hand told her
enough.
sidney" she said. unhesitatingly.
"you must live, and for me, or shall
never forgive myself for my idle words
this evening-somehow until tonight
l did not know"
He did not speak, but look of Der
feet content shone OF HIS face, and
presently she saw he was sleeping as
quietly as a child, still holding her hand
tightly in HIS. She did not know how
long she knelt there, but az she rose
from her knees the dawn was break
ing, and a wood-thrush was calling to
its mate from the hill.-Home Maya
zine