The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-08-01

out II 1t don't rain. An he's gOin to whip
tn boys if they laugh at me any more"
will you let me see your feet?" in
quired the great surgeon gently.
~ QUILL laugh" cried the child.
NO." said the surgeon gravely. "I'n
promise you I'll not laugh"
lie heard her drawing a chair to the
window. He heard her scrambling up.
moment later she tapped on the pane,
and then he saw the distorted feet in
their coarse yarn stockings poised on the
window sill.
Yes" he called to her. THAT will do.
And now" he added, II must 60"
"Oh. but YOU just came" cried the
child with sharp regret.
TN come again tomorrow" said the
great surgeon. "Goodby. little mouse"
There was an added spring to the sur
geon's walk as he swung over the hill and
so OH across the ridge to the capitalists
hong, and fresh sparkle frightened his
clear gray eyes.
by the way" he said TO the rich man
that evening, Il want to borrow the low
phaeton and a steady horse tomorrow"
And so early the next afternoon he
drove down into the village and up to the
door of the blacksmith shop, and there
he and the blacksmith had a long talk.
1t eaded when the blacksmith handed
him key.
That ride in the low phaeton was the
great event of Martha Johnson's rather
prosaic life TO sit in the softly cushion.
ed carriage by this wonderfully gray
haired man, who knew and had seen
everything, was pleasure of such mag
nitude that it quite took the childs
breath away. She was very quiet for
time, and then she broke forth and
chattered like a maybe. And the face
of the childless man beside her relaxed
when he heard her and pretty soon it
would have been quite impossible to tell
which was enjoying the ride the better.
And when they returned and he tied the
horse at the roadside and carried her in
she was only fragile little bundle-she
was quite willing that he should make
q careful examination of her crippled
feet
When it was finished, he hurried away
TO meet man with whom he had an APP
pointment. The man was the black
smith, and the blacksmith listened to his
story with a troubled face. He was
slow man. was the blacksmith and not
of a hopeful disposition.
understand" he said at last in his
sluggish way I'm a poor man, and I'm
in debt. tried farmin, and it didn't
pay, and blacksmithn isn't a great deal
better. You'll have to wait long time
for your money"
"Do you imagine | am forcing my
services on you?" cried the surgeon
sharply. "There'll be nothing to pay"
The blacksmith's lean face clouded.
"Nothin to pay he repeated. What
are you doin this for?"
For science-and my own pleasure"
said the great surgeon shortly.
We'll" growled the blacksmith after
little pause, there is one thing you must
understand. Martha's all I've got in the
world. There's goin to be no expert
mentin."
"And there's one thing you must under
stand said the surgeon quickly. There
will be no more of this locking an inno
cent child in dull old house like a Grip
pied mouse in trap"
And then the blacksmith, whose heart
beneath his rough coating was big and
warm, put out his great hand and gave
the fingers of the surgeon an eloquent
pressure.
That evening the surgeon said to the
rich man. II have an important surgical
case in the City on Wednesday and W II
be gone two days"
Ii was Il pleasant afternoon just three
months later, and the blacksmith stood on
| the little platform of the railway station.
! He was Clearly shaved and attired in his
best, and there was a bright and hopeful
look on his face Back of the platform
stood the rich mans carriage and hand
some horses, for the great surgeon had
gone up to the city the day before and
was expected back on the coming train.
Presently it runbled up to the little plat
form, and moment later the surgeon
emerged from the single passenger car.
On his arm leaned a slender little girl
neatly dressed little girl, who carried
cane and walked trihe stiffly perhaps,
but whose bright face was radiant with
happines.
Daddy she cried as the blacksmith
pressed forward and she threw herself in
his arms. Look, lookw she added, and
pointed at her feet. And the blacksmith,
looking down with moistened eyes, saw
that they We're straight and trim and
neatly shod.
HE did it," said the child as she
touched the surgeons sleeve reverently.
''Thank him. daddy; thank himw
But the great surgeon drew away.
Pooh, pooh, blacksmith" he quickly
said, "a man doesn't want thanks for
such a common act of humanity as let
ting crippled mouse out of trap
Cleveland Plain Dealer.