Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-01-30


appealing CLEAN, awful in its intensity
Help" she cried ooh, save mel'
Robert Lane could never listen with
deaf ears to the weaks appeal. To
him, womanhood and childhood were
the most sacred things on earth. For
ever he would have despised himself
as coward had he hesitated at time
like this.
And so it was, that almost before
the bystanders had realized what was
traDspiring, he had leaped directly in
tAe path of the team and had clutchsd
the horses by the bits in grasp Of
steel.
The maddened animals dragged him
roughly over the hard pavement in
their headlong fight. His legs were
bruised and mangled by their hoofs;
his head was battered by the buggy
tongue. But he did not relax his
grip. He had spent all his life with
horses; to handle them-;o master
them, was a second nature with him.
He exerted the whole of his giant
strength upon the bits. The muscles
on his arms, from which the coat and
shirt sleeves had been torn, stood out
like hickory knots. Slowly but sure
ly he drew the horses heads down,
down, down, until their necks were
all but broken. He pressed their muz-
zles beneath their breasts aud held
them until they knew that they were
conquered-until they stopped and
groaned for mercy.
After that he had a faint recollec-
ton of being pulled from beneath
the horses feet. Then he knew moth
ing more until he awoke in a hospital
and saw a bright-syed nurse with
snowy cap and apron bending over
him.
He was covered with cuts and bruises.
Every inch of his body seemed to ache
and pain. But, looking into the
bright eyes of the nurse he forgot all
this. For, somehow, those eyes re-
minded him of the sweet-faced girl in
the Iowa hills.
The nurse smiled and smoothed the
pillow under his head.
"You have been delirious, she said,
softly, "but you are not seriously in
jured. In few days you will be
quite recovered.
81 have been delirious?" hsreplied.
Yes, you have talked great deal.
Mostly about Annie and the Iowa riv-
er, and, let's sss-Marietta Is that
the name?"
Yes, he laughed. q live on the
Iowa river near Marietta, and Annie
Annie has eyes like you"
There, she .aid, brushing his dark
hair back from his temples, you must
be quiet now"
Then she moved away, and he
watched her with dreamy eyes until
she disappeared through the door.
On the third day he had visitor.
He was an elderly man with eyeglass-
es attached to a gold chain. The
nurse conducted him to Roberts cot,
and he took the boys brown, rough
hand in both his soft, white ones.
Young man" he said, in manner
intended to be matter Of fact, but in a
voice that trembled in spite Of him
self, young man, it is needless for me
to try to thank you for saving my
daughters life. Nothing that can
say or do will sufficiently express my
gratitude. But l will say this: My
wealth, my influence and my expert
ence are at your command. lam ready
to further, to the best Of my ability,
your most cherished ambition. Tell
me, my son, what is your most ardent
desire?"
From ths kind face of the grateful
father, Robert shifted his glance to
the bright eyes Of the smiling nurse.
A wistful look came into his face and
his lips trembled Then again he
looked into the eyes of the aged man.
my greatest desire, he said. "0h,
sir, want to hear the wind whisper
in in the corn; l want to see the
starlight fallin' in the river, and l
want to look at Annie and to hold
Annie's hand"
Child worth Millions.
my child is worth millions 70 me,
says Mrs. Mary Bird, Of Harrisburg, Pa,