Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-12-25
As fhe Christmas
Bells Were Ringing
eSsssseess ssssesss


Save my child! My God, save my
child"
lady dressed in travelling attire
gathered herself up from the middle
OF the road where she had been flung.
and sobbing and wringing her hands,
staggered painfully after cab which
was dashing through the street.
In the cab was little girl about
four years Of age. She did not
scream, but chung desperately to the
dashboard, against which she had
been thrown, her large blue eyes
cleaning wildly around for help. Sud-
denly man sprang out from the
crowd of palsied spectators and at.
tempted to seize the dragging reins.
but the horse swerved to one side
without abating his speed, and drove
the wheel against a lamp post the
impact of which cast the child out
into a heap of mud and slush which
the street sweepers had accumulated
Alongside the pavement, where she
lay motionless. The horse, fright.
ened still more by the fall of the
child, who had struck against his
nose in her fight. bounded forward
again, and the heavy wheel was upon
the point of rolling over the little
girls head, when, with shrek, a
young girl sprang before the mad
dened animal, caught the bit, and
with strength sometimes given by
despair to the weakest, bore the
horse back. The momentary delay
was sufficient to save the child, but
the young gir"s strength suddenly
laiIed her, and bruised by the front
hocfs of the frantic beast, which. by
violent plunge shook here of, she
fell with broken arm and lay un-
conscious beside the child she had
saved.
Both the rescued and the rescuer
we're quickly carried to the office of
the same surgeon where the other
occupant of the carriage. after having
been revived, was still weeping and
vringing her hands. Restoratives
quickly applied soon brought the lit
careful examination disclosed the
fact that not only were no bones
broken. but that its tender body was
scarcely bruised.
Its rescuer, however, was In worse
plight, for 1t was only by prolonged,
skilful work that she was finally re-
stored to sensibility. She had been
removed to private room. where the
doctor had been exercising his skill
to bring her back to consciousness,
and was just completing the bandag.
Ing of her broken arm. when the lady
rushed in crying:
Let me see the savior of my pre-
cious child. l want to tell her how
:ruch she has done for me, and pour
out my thanks to her.
Il must talk to her." she insisted.
Leave us. doctor. for few minutes.
What | have to say will do her good,
you do not know what she has done
for me. The savior OF my child is
my sister. | tell you" The doctor
bowed and retired.
Now, my dear young lady, thanks
are too weak to express what | feel.
What can l do for you? What Is there
in this world that deeply grateful
mother can do to express her graft
tude? Would you like to come and
live with me, and take charge of
the sweet child you saved from
death?"
The girl tried to hide her face away
from the lady's eloquent gaze.
Madam, you do not know what
you ask" she said. IF you knew all
you would spurn me from YOU.
Madam. when | dashed before the
maddened horse. the thought of saw.
ing your childs life was not the
thought | had in mind. I-I-wanted
to die, and hoped the animal would be
the instrument to relieve me Of a
burden"
IL was betrayed, madam, by one
whom loved, and who, I thought
necessity, and had just come from
hospital when the opportunity I
sought presented ITSELF
"Wretched monster! Have you not
thought of obtaining redress?"
1T would be useless to try. madam.
He stands too high in the social scale.
! would not be believed"
Yes, child. win believe you. Tell
me his name and perhaps l may be
your savior"
"0h. madam. II you could bel" ex-
claimed the girl with sparkling eyes.
II do not hate Richard Talbot. and"
mo, no." gasped the woman, "tis
impossible, ! tell you! Richard Tai
bot is the very soul of honor. Pardon
my words. but your charge against
him struck me like a heavy blow.
Richard Talbot could not have been
your betrayer."
Read these letters. madam. and
tell me, II you can. who the man Is"
said the girl. bitterly. drawing
small. soiled packed from her bosom.
Il told you would not be believed"
The lady seized them and devoured
their contents: then taking letter
from her pocket. carefully compared
the writing.
my God. It is true" she muttered.
EN- few hours more I would have
been in his tolls. Trusting to his
honor. I. too. would have been be-
trayed." Suddenly striking her fore
head, she burst out: MY farewell
letter IN nv hunhandf I rnusf oaf N