The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-12-08

that In the unsettled state Of his mind
he had forgotten to feed bis stock. He
determined to return, take care Of the
animals for the night, march resolute-
ly up to the widows door, knock. en-.
ter and make his proposition. This is
the usual course with resolutions. 1t
is much easier to be resolute with one
In the future than one present.
Mr.. Doyle returned to his barn, put
the horses beds into the stalls, a meas
ure of oats into each of their troughs,
then went up into the loft to throw
down the hay. Whether It was his
perturbed condition of mind concern
ing his proposal and the probably con-
sequent separating himself for all time
from Octayia Sparks. the fact remains
that he stepped into an opening In the
floor of the loft of which he had many
years been aware and landed in a stall
below He not only received an inter
nal injury from the fall, but the horse
occupying the place. frightened at his
masters sudden entrance, came near
trampling the life out of him before
be could drag himself out of reach.
Then he tainted.
After lying unconscious for a few
moments he came to himself. feeling a
terrible pain in his chest, and found 1t
difficult to breathe. He was able to
arise and stagger to the house. where
he tainted again. A doctor was called.
who felt OF his chest and found rib
broken. AS soon as possible a surgeon
was produced who said that the rib
was so badly fractured that 1t could
not be set II left as 1t was 1t would
destroy the lung on which 1t pressed.
In fact, 1t must be removed. Instead
of having the patient taken to a hos
pital, he decided TO perform the opera
ton at the house
Octavia Sparks was on her way to
the village store when Mrs. Butter
worth came along and said:
LA sakes, 0etavy. have y hearn
what's happened to Mr.. Doyle?'
mo. What is It" cried Octavia, pal
ing.
HE fell through the barn floor and
broke a rib The surgeons goln' to
take it out of him"
The girl made no reply to this, but
turned and hurried home. There she
learned that the surgeon was about
to perform the operation. Going over
to Doyle's house. she asked If she
might be OF service. The surgeon told
her that he had not yet been able to
secure a nurse and would be glad to
have her serve in that capacity.
While he and his assistant were max
ing their preparations she went to
Doyles bedside and pressed his hand
sympathetically
1--WE had sign" he said
What kind of sign?"
"A negative sign. ! was about to
propose marriage to the Widow Per-
kins when got the fall. II is not In
tended that she be my helpmeet."
The medical men returned. put the
patient on an improvlsssl operating Ia
Bile, administered an anaesthetic and
removed the broken rib. Doyle was
then placed on his bed and his return
to consciousness awaited by the 9TH
ers. Presently low moan announced
its coming; then another and another.
When he opened his eyes there was
Octavia kneeling beside him. his hand
clasped by hers.
"Occie," he groaned. II wonder IL
Adam passed through what have
when the rib was removed from which
Eve was made"
Then suddenly light came into his
eye, and he spoke again.
you've always despsed signs. !
don't know about the others I've re-
ceived. but those given me this even
ing are mighty powerful went to
propose to Widow Perkins and was
turned back by remembering that /
hadn't fed the stock The result was
this fall and being nigh tramped TO
death by horse II that isn't sure
sign that l wasn't 10 marry her don't
know anything about signs .snd now
that the surgeon l,es taken rib out o.
me you pop up before me as Eve APP
peared to Adam after he awakened
from the deep sleep IN which the job
was done reckon knew what that
means"
What does IL mean. Ad"
"That If you don't marry me Well
both OF US be flying in the face Of
providence"
At that moment the surgeon ad-
vanced and forbade the patient to ex-
cite himself Octavia withdrew while
the medical man looked over the pa
tient. He found Mr. Doyle under the
influence OF an excitement that Soded
no good. He directed that no one be
permitted to converse with him until
sufficient time had passed to enable
him to recuperate. But this did not
satisfy Mr.. Doyle. He conceived that
his fall from the haymow. the removal
of the rib and at his awakening his
finding Octavia beside him meant that
she was the woman he was to marry.
Doctor" he said. 81 wish clergy
man"
what for? You're not going to die"
I'm going to be married"
Married, In this condition.
Eyes. AS a rib was removed from
,ur common father Adam, Of which
Eve was made, so"--
"You keep quiet" said the doctor.
cor I'll not answer for the conse-
quences."