Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-10-11

fore when DR.. Lea had come as her IA
theirs assistant, she had known he
would fall an easy prey to her or her
sisters. There was Serena, engaged at
sixteen to one, married at twenty to
another. Belinda ended her reverie
with almost wish that the next would
prove of harder heart, it would at least
be more exciting, and life at Dry
Branch needed all the exhilaration one
could give it. She turned reluctantly
from the gate and the charming view
down the valley and walked slowly to-
ward the house.
As it 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
"Old Doctors" hospitable home.
Belinda dancing to the ragtime two
step, her crimson ribbons setting off
her white neck, flower tucked in her
dark hair and her black eyes sparkling,
was the very personifcation of youth,
happiness and life. Suddenly as she
passed the window she saw her brother
Earl's face, white, with frightened
eyes. Her heart almost stopped beat
ing, for she felt instinctively that
something dreadful had happened.
Hearing her frightenedcryt the dancers
paused, the music broke off, and the
young people gathered about Earl.
"Oh what has happened?" 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 drunken brute-pay day, you
know, and some of the toughest min
ers are wild with drink. He is lying
unconscious now. I tell you Lea has
pluck" the boy added in awestruck
tones. "He pitched into man three
times his size, and crazy drunk, he
saved the child, but he and Earl, un-
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.
! ID To- u
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 it all 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 its
pallor, the young men and the old doc
tor about him. They withdrew as thew
saw her, as she came near him she saw
that he was indeed very near the Dor
derland of life and death. Her own
life dwindled 10 nothing before this
great experience that had come so
close to the man who loved her She
forgot everything now but that, rs she
fell on her knees beside him. He was
too weak to 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 I shall
never forgive myself for my idle words
this evening-soEoeh chow Until tonight
l did not know"
He did not speak, but look of l.er-
feet content shone OF his face, and
presently she saw he was sleeping as
quietly as a child still holding Ter hand
tightly in his. She did NOT know how
long she knelt there, but as 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.