Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-12-12
CHATTER VI.

the half-drOwned ana insenstDie man 10
safety.
CHAPTER VI.
"Shadrach." snid Hepxibah. there's
one thing as I wonder you niver DONE"
IL was June weather. The sky was
streaked with faint lines % green and
rose near the horizon. but the unfathom.
able soft haze Of the zenith still held
the warmth and brightness Of the fallen
sun and delayed the coming Of dusk.
Hepxibah had brought kitchen chair
into the garden and sat under an apple
tree thick with blossoms. She was bust.
~ hemming a coarse sort Of towelling,
and the zip Of the needle and swish Of
the thread went on uninterruptedly.
Shadrach stood with his mouth only n
little less wide open than his eyes, and
with changeless visnge and motionlcss
head looked from side to side.
"Ah" snid he inquiringly. And what
might that be, HepzibahY'
Il wonder YOU nivcr made up some
thing about Edward and the Old Blazer"
Shadrach's fQce wrenthed itself into a
slow smile as Tie looked Mt her, but
catching her eye just as the smile was
at the full. he drew his TEXTURES with
ludicrOus suddenness to their original
expression, and looked sideways on VA.
cancy.
"Haw cried Hepxibah. you've made
up summat Already"
The Bard's aspect, half shy, half
bonstful. proclaimed the truth Of the
guess. He drew from one OF his coat
tail pockets crumpled and dog.enred
sheet or two Of foolscap paper. covered
with set OF knOtted, corrugated, and
involved hieroglyphics. Hepzibah scwsd
on. but looked attentive and expectant.
The bard cleared his throat and began:
"'Lines on the Fatal Disaster at the
Old Blaxcr.'
Put II up for a minute" said Hep.
xibah. "IIere's Edward"
She would not have stopped him had
the theme been different. but she had u
delicacy about Edwards praises being
chanted In his hearing. Edward resent
ed the mention OF his own herOism, and
even Hcpzibnh. who was privileged to
say almost what she pleased to the men,
hers of the Blame household, hqd been
compelled to silence.
There was something odd about Ed
ward this evening. His walk was lurch'
Ing md uneven; his cheeks were blanch'
ed and his eyes were strangely glazed.
Hcpxibnh arose In alarm.
"Why, Edward" she cried, "whats
tho matter with you! You look US II
you'd seen Il ghost"
mo such thing as ghosts" said the
miserable young fellow, thickly. Don't
you bother"
Terror, pity and shame rushed upon
the simple creatures III such Hood that
their wits were swept away. They could
only gaze ut each other In profound dis
may, whilst Ned Blame stood clearing at
them with glued eyes. his head aud
shoulders lurching. though his feet stood
still. The frank, manly yOungster waa
oil gone. and caricature stood In his
place, inert. fatuous, mOurnful to behold
sinister Ned" said Shadracli. more IN
horriHed surprise than blame, 'you'vs
been a.drinkin'."
every well. then" returned Ned. with
chastity .unchanging gaze and lifted eye
bro,ss. "Why not? Why shouldn't Old
Blazers Hero cheer his heart bit al
wells other fellows? Eth"
"Oh, Edwardw Hepzibah broke In
half crying. That's no way to cheer
hearts, poor dear soul. 1t would be the
all oil us--if 1t happened often. Blu,
anybody may be overlook In n fault, and
Il niver happened nfOre. Go to bed, Ed
ward, there's a love. DO now"
Poor heart never rejOices." said poor
Ned. "Becn to the Minds Rest. Hero's
health. Old Blazer. That's me. Saved
your life. old Shadrach."
'"To think of his coming through the
.t.oot. l;lya tkivV, said Han,ihoh
There's crowds IN the place as 'ud be
wicked enough to take delight In 1t. And
him the stiddiest. aimiablest-Oh. fol
PHYS sake. don't let his mother and the
children see him! Help me to get hin
upstairs. Shadrach!"
Rut unhappily Edward was in no MOOD
10 be helped upstairs, and refused al
offers of aid In that direction. lie want
cd to drink with Shadrach. lie hnt
saved Shadrachs life. risking almost los
ing his own to do it, and he was movet
10 tears by the reflection that Shadracl
had never offered to pay for drink il
reward for this service.
Shadrach was deeply wounded by thi,
imputation on his gratitude.
AS for askin' n gentleman to drinl
wi me'' he pleaded, II should never ha
found the cheek to do 1t. And you know
full well, Mister Edward. it's very wild,
o. what you'd think and say IL you wal
In your right mind this minute"
"Say I'm not In my right mind again.
said Edward, with increased thickness Of
utterance, land Ill give you a hiding"
This threat from man so placable
amicablc, and peace-lOving seemed, botl
to Hepzibah and Shadrach OF as littl,
value as the breath which served Il
speak 1t.
"Why," said shadrach, respectful,
propitiatory and explanatory, "you know
right wei, Mister Ned. a. you halu't
your right mind just this minute"
And thereupon, without any sort o.