Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1909-12-17
The Boy
Who Ran

| Observation-Disclosures
The boy was running at a steady
pace. The pace was not fast one
it might have been called jog trot.
The boy trotted easily, his clenched
hands against his breast, and his
chin up He might have been twenty,
but he had a boyish look that was en-
phasized by his smooth cheeks, his
curly hair and mis- big blue eyes.
His trot carried him by an elderly
woman in a phaeton drawn by fat
and slow paced horse. He did not
| look around as he moved ahead. He
was interested in his task, and more
especially in the road ahead of him.
The elderly woman looked after him
curiously. Then her look suddenly
| changed.
Zone of those inyalds from the
sanitarium, / 'spose."- she murmured
half aloud. They do set em the
most outlandish tasks. Poor boy.
He's thin enough now without getting
any thinner. An ne looked like quite
a worthy young man. too"
She touched up the fat horse with
the whip lash. but tie sagacious ami
NAL merely shiyered slightly and
steadily plodded along.
Presently she came in sight OF the
boy. He was walking now, walking
| with a firm stride. his arms dangling
| and his head well up.
The old lady coaxed the fat horse
| into a trot
Now, Billy" she said, you've
been having things made easy for you
al the way. Let's see how grateful
you are. Gitap."
The fat horse. as if acknowledging
the possession of conscience. quick
ened his pace, and after little steady
effort caught up with the stranger
whose pace had again slackened.
The woman drew the fat horse
down to q walk.
Good mornin', young man" she
| said in her brisk and yet pleasant
voice. "How do you find yourself this
morning? Better. l hope?"
The boy looked up at her. She no
ticed that he had high cheek bones
and many freckles. And there were
two red spots on his freckled cheeks.
"Yes, ma'am. better he answered
| ard there was a queer twinkle IN his
blue eyes.
I'm glad C that" she said. IT
seemed to me- that the treatment
looked a little severe"
It's the treatment | need. ma'ap.
But YOU can't gain any flesh run
ming about the country in that wey."
The blue eyes twinkled again.
NO. ma'am. but | can lose some" ."
She stared at him.
"Is it recommended to you by a
doctor-a regular physician"
NO. ma'am. rs recommended all
right. but not Just to me. But know
| it's what need. amt rich enough
to have a doctor, so I'm lookin' after
myself"
The gray eyes were dimmed by
pity
Poor boy" she said.
The tone touched the stranger.
Il don't mind it." ne laughed. I'm
pretty comforta0l
The motherl~ face was still cloud
ed.
Il guess those dGctOrin' folks IN
the village mean Well" she said, "but
sometimes their ways of helpin' peo-
; Die seem a little severe. I'm eoin' TO
The village. Won't you get in he
buggy an finish out your treatment
a little more comfortably"
He shook his curly head.
That wouldn't help me any. thank
you. ma'am. But I'll walk along side
your carriage, If youll let me-"
TO be sure You may" the old lady
replied. She drew up the reins and
SPOKE to Billy.
That's a fine fat horse you have,
| ma'am," said the stranger as ne
strode along by the carriage wheel.
Billy is a pet and sadly spoiled.
, said the Old lady.
Maybe a little of my treatment
! would help him, 'ma'am."
They both laughed at this and then
the kind old face grew grave.
DO you cough?" she solicitiousiy
asked.
NO, ma'am."
They don't in some stages" she
murmured.
# did cough a little" he explained.
but that was before my broken rib
slipped into place"
"You had a hurt then?"
YES. ma'am. 1t bothered me quite
bit. You see | didn't know any.
, thing about 1t until-until ii was al
over. and the bone jabbed me in
the lung"
> Again the kind old face clouded
81 have an excellent sirup fol
coughs" she said. but as far as
know 1t isn't good for anything else.
smile lighted the freckled face
Thank you. ma'am. If get q
| cough I'd be glad TO try it."
The old lady nodded.
My name is Miss Summers" she
said. ELLEN Summers. Ny home is
back on the road where the big oas
stands by the gate"
Il know the place. ma'am. an
nne little place il is. An grea
SAX IL is. too. Sometime III drop II
when I'm runnin' by an have n taste
= FROM the ass that stands on the ok
vel, box, ma'am."
You'll be quite welcome" the ol'
lady told him I'VE think the watc
is very good An there is Away
plenty of cold milk in the cellar, an
yely often a pitcher OF buttermilk."
THANK you kindly. ma'am. won
foi get. But here's where turn dowI
he side street an so wish yon
very good day, ma'am.
she watched the slender figure a
9 s.roce away. and signed.
"Poor boy" she rurmured.