The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-07-28

looked up and down the roadway once
more And now he saw somebody ap
preaching. A light wagon drawn by a sin
gle horse had appeared from around the
bend in the roadway.
"The wheels murmured the old man
the wheels.
| The younger man ran ont in the road
way and waved his tattered hat. The
speed of the horse was quckened. A mo-
ment later he made out the driver to be a
woman and she was alone
The woman, she was only girl. stared
at the young man sharply as she refined
in the horse. He was dusty and unkempt
and unshaved, shabby figure in the vel
low dust of the highway.
What do you WANT" she asked
There is an old man lying here at the
roadside" he answered, and pointed toward
the vagabond. >"He is exhausted and in
serious condition. He needs shelter and
doctor"
She turned the horse from the roadway.
lightly leaped to the ground and ran to the
recumbent figure. A moment later she
knelt beside It.
Poor man, poor man." she murmured
and pushed the matted gray hair from the
wrlnkled forehead Then without looking
up she added, There is brook Just be.
yond the fence. Fill your hat with water"
Inc young man was away in a moment,
and he was back almost as quickly. He
knelt beside her and held the dripping
hat. The girl dipped her handkerchief in
the liquid and gently bathed the pale face
and the gray head
Then the old man opened his eyes and
stared up at the face SO near him. A faint
smile softened the rugged features.
'Millcent,' he mulmured.
The girl gasped She gave the Young
man a startled glance.
"Mllieent wa, was my mothers name she
is his name2'
The young man shook his head.
Il don't know" he whispered in return.
Il met him yesterday-on the road He
seemed very anxious to reach house near
here"
"Millicent," murmured the old man.
Don't 60 away. I'm coming back in a
taking down the bars"
He closed his eyes and the smile faded
from his white face.
He must be moved at once" said the
girl as she quickly arose. my home is
the wagon?"
eyes, yes" the young man answered.
Drive as close to him as you can"
A moment later the young stranger
stopped and lifted the aged form and placed
it in the box of the wagon Then he put
the coat under the gray head and straight
ened the feeble limbs.
go on" he said. II will walk beside the
She drove slowly, avoiding the bad
places in the road, and doing her best to
make the. journey an easy one.
Presently they reached the bend of the
roadway and substantial farmhouse was
seen a little ways beyond. The girl drove
up the driveway to the side porch. A
stout woman ran out from a rear door.
anna" said the girl, "this is a sick man |
who needs our help. Heat some water at |
once"
The stout woman turned without word |
and hurried into the kitchen. The girl |
stepped to the porch. The young man
picked up the sick wanderer and the girl |
led the way into the house. An airy bed |
room on the ground floor was given up to
he strange guest, and the young man pre-
pared him for the comfortable bed. Then
he girl brought the hot water and stim-
liant, and in a little while the heavy eye
ids parted and the weary eyes looked
The old man drew a deep breath and
pushed his wasted hand across the cover
i'd towards his companion Of the road
Home he whispered; 'home!"
Then his eyes closed again. Presently
he girl went out and moment later the
-oung man joined her.
HE has fallen into a stupor," he said.