The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-09-08
The Boy
Who Ran

|
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 his big blue eyes.
His trot carried him by an elderly
woman in a phaeton drawn by fat
and slow paced horse lie 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.
"One of those nvalids from the
sanitarium. | 'spose." she murmured
half aloud ",They do set 'em the
most outlandsh 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 the sagacious ami
NAL merely shivered slightly and
steadily ploddcd along.
Presently she came in sight of the
boy. He was walking now, walking
J with a firm stride, his arms dangling
and his head well up.
The old lady coaXed the fat horse
into trot.
Now, Billy" she said, you've
been having things made easy for you
all the way. Let's see how grateful
you are. Gitap."
The fat horse, as if acknowledging
the possession of a 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 a walk.
Good mornin. young man." she
said in her brisk and yet pleasant
voice. How do you find yourself this
morning? Better, | 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, maam, better" he answered
and there was a queer twinkle in his
blue eyes.
I'm glad c. that" she said. 1T
seemed to M that the treatment
looked a little severe"
It's the treatment ! need, ma am. -
But you can't gain any flesh run
ming about the country in that way"
The blue eyes twnkled again.
mo, ma'am, but | can lose some."
She stared at him.
as it recommended to you by a
doctor-a regular physlcian?'
mo, ma'am. It's recommended all
right, but not Just to ne. But know
it's what | need. | amt rich enough
to have a doctor, so I'm lookin' after
myself"
The gray eyes were uimmed by
pity.
Poor boy" she said
The tone touched the stranger
81 don't mind it," he laughed. I'm
pretty comfortable"
The mother" face wcs still cloud
ed.
Il guess those doctorm' folks in
the village mean we'll" she said, but
sometimes their ways of helpin' peo
pie seem little severe. I'm goin' tC
the village. Won't you get in the
buggy an finish out your treatment
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 you'll let me-"
ITO be sure you may" the old lady
replied She drew up the reins ant
spoke to Billy.
That's a fine fat horse you have
ma'am." said the stranger as ht
strobe along by the carriage wheel.
BILLY is q pet and sadly spoiled,
said the old lady.
"Maybe a little of my treatmen
would help him, ma'am."
They both laughed at this and ther
the kind old face grew grave.
DO you cough?" she solicitiousl.
asked.
"No, ma'am."
"They don't in some stages" sh,
murmured
81 did cough a little" he explained
but that was before my broken ril
slipped into place"
you had hurt then?"
Yes, ma'am. 1t bothered me quit
a bit. You see ! didn't know any
thing about it until-until it was al
over, and the bone jabbed me II
the lung"
Again the kind old face clouded.
II have an excellent sirup TO
coughs" she said, but as far as
know it isn't good for anything else,
A smile lighted the freckled face.
Thank you, ma'am. If l get
cough I'd be glad to try it,"
The old lady nodded.
"My name is Miss Summers" sh
said, ELLEN Summers, My home i
: back on the road where the big oa
stands by the gate"
> II know the place. ma'am, an
fine little place it is. An a grea
oak 1t is, too. Sometime III drop |
when I'm runnin' by an have a tast
from the glass that stands on the oil