Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-09

She stood upright. her eyes full OF
determination. Mr. Crawford was
watching her attentively, and he
smiled.
"Get your duds, little girl" he
said, quietly. "I'll go with you. /
think know where Red Ed'll camp.
He isn't pleasant customer, but IT
he is much burned we'd better know
about it,"
John Crawford" cried his wife.
"She must not"
81 guess she must, by her looks,
mother" said Mr.. Crawford, with his
slow smile. ''I'll go with her"
Margaret put on her hat and Will
ter coat with feverish haste. The
mental vision she beheld Of the in
jured man in the lonely woods, suf-
fering as the result of her act, which
| now seemed to her to have been un-
speakably cruel, made her eager to
carry aid where she had afflicted in-
jury. The dark woods held no ter
rors for her. Her horror Of the man
himself, SO strong upon her an hour
ago. seemed lost in her sense of his
need Of help.
Mr.. Crawford's knowledge Of the
habits and haunts Of the lumbermen
| was thorough. In the moonlight he
found the point where they usually
camped on their way down the river.
He found a lonely, isolated bivouac,
with little fire on the river shore.
He found Red Ed.
All through the long tramp through
the dark wood road to the river and
along the bank downstream, Marga-
ret followed her guide, silent, anx
ious, but persistent. Indefatigable
in her purpose, she would let no oh
stacle hinder her, no fear deter her.
It is probable that Red Ed found
a companion, and so obtained
matches for his fire, or he would
have made his way to town, four
miles below. But it was by a COM
Portable campfire that the searchers
found him.
rs that you, Elan?" called the
farmer.
The man turned toward them,
planted one large hand on the ground
and drew his feet under him quickly
as If to rise. Then he sat still, star
ing. There was no question as to his
identity.
This little woman's the teacher
you scared half to death, at the school
this afternoon, Ed EIan," said the
farmer. "she came clear out here
to find you and fix up your face, that
sbe scalded for you when you were
drunk. l wouldn't have let her come,
but she would have it so. I hope
you're sober enough now to under
stand what that means"
The river-man did not move. The
freight played upon his face. 1t
was red and white in patches with
the burns it had received. Margaret
looked at him moment, her whole
figure tense with anxiety. Then she
ran forward without a thought Of
fear. She laid her hand on the big
fellows shoulder.
did it burn your eyes?' she
asked.
Elan shook his head and looked
up at her wonderingly. He seemed
too amazed at her presence there in
the lonely, moonlit woods to speak.
"Oh. I'm so gladp said the girl.
Then she drew out her little bundle
OF remedies. I'm SO sorry / did it, !"
she went on. 81 didn't realize how
it would hurt you till afterward. l
was so frightened. I've brought you
something to put on your face. 1t
will cure the burns.
Without more ado she began her
preparations for relieving his suffer-
ing, and the big man submitted to
her gentle ministrations in silence.
He seemed lost in the strangeness Of
the thing, far outside any experience
he had ever known before, and he
behaved like quiet child.
When Margaret finished and
viewed her work, the man in the
bandages was more like scarecrow
than a human being, but he looked
up at her in gratitude. Then the
memory of the afternoon seemed to
strike him.
81 was drunk" he said, shortly, In
his big. deep voice. Margaret recog-
nized the intended apology.
81 know" she said. quietly. "Now
you had better go downtown in the
morning and see doctor"
She waited a moment. but Red Ed
remained silent, his big, glowing
eyes quietly fixed on he-. She
! turned away, a quick feeling OF awk-
f; ward embarrassment: ssizing her.
The man seemed to note it.
wait" he said, and then lowered
! his eyes to the fire as she turned.
"I ain't drunk now" he continued.
81 never done such trick before
scare woman. You served me right
/ flrst-not now. u" He stopped
helplessly ashamed
Don't think about that" said the
girl, quickly. Then with catch OF
! the breath she hazarded, Don't
drink any more"
He looked at her furtivsly, and
| taen away again. Good night" he
! said, briefly.
/ Taey left him. When Margaret
| lass saw the big man he sat by mis-
dying fire, his eyes fixed upon the
Goals, his huge red hands locked over
his knee.