The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-12
The Boy
Who Ran


hands against his breast, and his
chin up. He might have been twenty,
but he had boysh 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. 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
cUiously. Then her look suddenly
changed.
"One of those invalids from the
sanitarium, l '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
worthy young man, too"
She touched up the fat horse with
the whip lash, but the sagacious ami.
NAL merely shiyered Slightly and
steadily plodded along.
Presently she came in sight of the
boy. He was walking now, walking
with firm stride, his arms dangling
and his head well up.
The old lady coaxed the fat horse
into a trot.
Nov, 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 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, ma'am, better" he answered
and there was a queer twinkle in his
blue eyes.
I'm glad O. that" she said. ut
seemed to me that the treatment
looked little severe"
"It's the treatment need, maam."
"But you can't gain any flesh run
ning about the country in that way"
The blue eyes twinkled again.
mo. ma'am, but | can lose some"
She stared at him.
us it recommended to YOU by a
doctor-a regular physiciaC?"
mo, ma'am. It's recom.u ended all
right. but not Just to me But know
it's what ! need. Gilt 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.
81 don't mind it," he laughed. I'm
pretty comfortable"
The motherlv face was still cloud
I'd.
81 guess those doctorin' folks in
he village mean WE'LL" she said, but
,ometimes their ways of helpin peo-
Die seem a little severe. I'm goin' to
he village. Won't you get in the
,uggy an finish out your treatment
a little more comfortably"
He shook his curly head
THAT wouldn't help me any, thank
fou, 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 rens and
spoke to Billy.
That's fine fat horse you have,
naam," said the stranger as he
;trode along by the carriage wheel.
Billy is pet and sadly spoiled"
aid the old lady.
Maybe a little of my treatment
would help him, ma'am."
They both laughed at this and then
he kind old face grew grave.
"Do you cough?" she solicitiously
.sked.
mo. ma'am."
They don't in some stages" she
aurmured.
81 did cough little" he explained.
but that was before my broken rib
tipped into place"
'You had hurt them"
Yes, ma'am. 1t bothered me quite
bit. You see / didn't know any.
ling about it until-until it was all
yer, and the bone jabbed me in
ne lung"
Again the kind old face clouded.
81 have an excellent sirup for
oughs," she said, but as far as
1ow it isn't good for anything else"
A smile lighted the freckled face.
THANK you, ma'am. If | get
olgh I'd be glad to try it,"
The old lady nodded.
my name is Miss Summers" she
Id, ELLEN Summers. My home is
sck on the road where the big oak
lands by the gate"
II know the place. ma'am, an
ne little place it is. An a great
,k it is, too. Sometime I'll drop in
hen I'm runnin' by an have a taste
rom the glass that stands on the old