The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02

| ed horse) CALAMITY proposed to ride fol
| the doctor. The suggestion was good
| but not the person. Phil turGed 10 Wal
| ter Grinding. He stood Anournful ana
| silent. looking as if he felt himself re.
sponsible for the harm his news had
! brought.
DO you ride for my father" said
| Phil; YOU will likely find him on the
North Round, that by 1nchgormack-any-
one viii show you how far he has got
| Tell him to come to the cottage down
below there-at Rough Island Cove, near
the new lighthouse"
But began Grinding, uncertainty
He was going to suggest other plans, but
! Phil was now in command.
Go" he ordered, as became doctor
son; 'ft is partial paralysis, as far as
! | can make out. And the sooner he IS
I in bed the better. His daughter will take
care of him."
Grinding being gone. the procession
was speedily formed. Phil called out a
double shift of his pitmen-all skilled n
carrying the wounded. He had also "A
streteher which had never been used,
with an adjustable Il in front so that
in descending a slope the patient might
be carried fairly level They met Vida
half way up. As she came forward the
left hand which gripped the paper fell
heavy and flacid. from the bearing poles.
Vida said not word. She asked no
questions Phil. as he replaced it, told
her in a low voice all THAI he knew.
Ills room is ready" she said, simply.
Il took all the things out
And somehow he knew that the room
vas her own. and that it had been ready
as soon as his signal had been read.
For his poorest pitman il would nave
been the same as for Mr.. Jacob Romer
ri - 1,ar n
ther
The relays of four marched steadily
down the very track by which, on FOR
mer occasion, Vida had gone up to advise
with Phil as to the domestic affections
They crossed the moor, leaving the pit
and growing "t'oon" behind them, wound
through the pines, and after that the
light-sown birches with their small, COLL
ed leaves permitted the men on the light
house to see them by glimpses.
Dick and Billy We're at the foot of the
hill to receive the slow-moving party
the four bearers in front the four pitmen
of the reserve a little behind, marching
stolidly two and two as If in funeral,
their countenances composed and serious.
Behind were Vida and Phil because at
this point the way was narrow. They
had come by the old footpatn into Por-
togarten Cove, in order to save time.
At the sight of Mr.. Romer thus borne
inanimate into their very haven of shell
ter. Dick and Billy looked at one an
other. They would rather it had been
any other man in the world that they
were called upon to succor
They were at the door of the cottage
now, on the little white plot of picked
stones, the delight of Billy's heart, the
solace of his idle afternoons.
IF we let him in we shall lose her"
Billy murmpred, certain sure we shall
lose her He will take her back with him
to CORN Castle. l wish he had broken his
neck"
But as they stood ranged about the
stretcher. while the men were preparing
to lay their burden down, in order to
straighten their weary backs, Mr. Ro-
mer's arm fell down, as Billy said. with
a whop.' There was paper between
the fingers. AS Billy replaced the hand
across his breast, the strip of paper slipp-
ed away from the nerveless grip.
Read that.'' he said, after a glance
at it. And when Billy read, Dick shook
his wise head and said: HE ordereth
all things we'll. There were we, like
two brutes, ready toto deny the man
his own And God put his hospital certif
icate into his hand. He is her father
neither you nor l. Let him pass. Billy
Hats off. you therel This is the doing of
the Lord, and wondrous in our eyes!'
But while Dick Finnan, with his hat in
his hand preceded them up the stairs,
Billy murmured, YES, he's her father
sure. He brought the certificate. 1t is
good for its face. But all the same it's
hard-turrible hard for us two old men
who have done the carin for her"
"Hemiplegia. affecting the left side
not severe easel Rest, electricity-I
will send a battery-let one of your fell
lows come with me- Phil, and small
doses of strychnine. l will send those
also made up-about the 32d of grain, l
think! But above all-REST"
These were DR.. Calmonts ordinances,
rapidly delivered. He was an energetic
man in the exercise of his profession, and
permitted no discussion or nay-say. Move
him home?-I thought you had more sense
Phil! He must stay where he is-that
young lady downstairs will look after
him, I make no doubt"
yes, sir" said Ihil, who was respect
full to his father in a somewhat old-fash-
Toned manner, "she is his only daughter"
"Ah, indeedl' said the doctor. accus-
toned to family mysteries. Then a
thought seemed to strike him, and
he fixed his son with an arrogant eye.
But what the sun, moon and the seven
stars have you got to do with that?-
whether she is Mr. Romer's daughter or
not. I mean?"
Because sir" said Phil Camont, gent
~, IF the lady continues of the same
mind, there is an excellent chance of her
being your daughter, also"
"Ah!" said the doctor well, you
have provided yourself with career
without my interference. 1t is not my
business If you do the same with wife.
Good-day, Philip
Many were the days of convalescence
many and weary-down in the small
white house in Portogarten Cove. But, nj
least, the patient never grew any worse,
which in itself is to improve DR.. Cal
mont visited faithfully, but not more GO
than his son, In addition to which flags
flickered and wickered all day long, an
t-swering each other between the Cove and
the Heugh, and back again.
"Old days come back again. grinned
Dick Finnan to Billy, as they watched
from the completed Neutrality-suspicious. pri-
vate property.
DON'T" said Billy. i suppose You
won't know, Dick he added APOLOGIZE
cally, but between sweethearts this here
is something like eavesdropping.
''Well, l never did-what next? CAM
l watch a string of bunting running III
that says, Going on all well-hows your
selfT or something like that?''
"You never knew Molly Molloy,' said
Dick, crushingly, or you would be more
| felin'."
'Chut.' cried Dick, '1t was only wher
our Vida began to grow up and the lads
came round, that we ever heard a wore
of your Molly Moloy. and ships cob
bler."
well, Dick. anyway said Billy tenn.
perately, sI've been Tilted all through
being red-headed man, and an island
lighthouseman, so / can feel for others
If l was you. l should put down thai
4