Year: 1873

to get some blackberries for my tea. 1
thought may be I'd relish them if they
were fresh"


Down in the back pasture she was,
the poor niece, Meta Langdon, but not
picking blackberries. She was sitting
on messy log among the bushes, cry
ing as if her heart would break. 1t did
her good it cooled the fierce fever in
her heart, and she finally grew quiet
and slipped softly down upon her knees
and prayed long and earnestly for pa
tience and wisdom and help from her
heavenly Father. Then she caught up
her pail and rose to commence her task.
But it so happened that DIR. Chester,
delightful country place, was out hunt
ing that day. 4 fine, plump partridge
Acw up from the bushes just at that
moment, and the doctor fired. To his
astonishment the bird escaped, but a
shrin scream and heavy fall beyond the
bushes made him throw down his gun
and bag and rush furiously through the
sharp briers, never needing the rents
they made in his fine hunting suit or
the cruel scratches upon his face and
hands.


There lay the game he had brought
down, in the shape of a young girl who
was in dead faint or killed for aught
he knew. He quickly loosened her
dress and dashed water in her face from
the full canteen which he happened to
to have, and finally forced few drops
of brandy between her lips. At length
she opened her eyes, to his great relief,
and tried to rise, but a sharp cry of pain
showed there was something more seri-
GUS than a mere fright.


"What is it-where are you hurt p


"My arm," she exclaimed.
He tore the faded calico sleeve open
to the shoulder, and, sure enough, the
soft, white arm was covered with blood
and seemed to be riddled with shot.


"Dear, dear, what have 1 done - he
exclaimed, hastily tying his own and
her handkerchief tightly around it.
plantations. I thought L was shooting
partridge, and in some unaccountable
way I have shot you. Now tell me
where you live so I can get you home
as soon as possible. I am physician,
and we'll soon have the poor arm all
right again"


My home is just over the hill;
can walk if you will help me little. %
With a set, resolute face, and lips
tightly closed to keep back the means
of pain, Meta walked hastily toward
home, leaning upon his arm. But just
as they reached the gate she tainted
again, and taking her in his arms he
bore her rapidly to the house, and with
out any ceremony pushed open the par
1or door and laid her upon a sofa.


Mrs. Smith screamed murder at the
top of her voice, and went into violent
Mysteries The doctor frowned scorn-
fully at her, and said to Mrs. Brown
"Theres no time for nonsence bring
me some cold water and bandages at
once, and send somebody to the hotel
for DIR. Chester's small case of surgical
instruments.


Mrs. Smith, left to herself, soon re-
covered, and insisted upon an explana-
ton of the affair.


"It's nothing serious, I hope, I have
accidently sent charge of shot into
this young lady's arm. Are you her
mother p"


"No, indeed, she is poor dependent
creature that we've taken in Tor charity S
sake; niece of mine, and what I'm to
do with her now I can't see. I can't
take care of her, and indeed, sir, it's
mighty inconvenient to have her laid up
Just at this time. She is very neces-
sary to my comfort. I need sight OF
care and Waitin' on, night and day."


"Well, madam, she'll need sight
of care and waitin' on herself now for a
while, and must have it"


By this time the young girl revived
again under the vigorous treatment she
received, and the instruments were
brought to him.


CHOW, madam, will you tell where to
take this young lady, for she must be
put to bed at once.


"Well, she sleeps in a little closet of
my room"


"That will never do. Show me the
largest, best room you have IN the
house" Taking Meta gently in his
arms, the doctor followed Mrs. Smith
up stairs to large, pleasant chamber.
She groaned in spirit as she turned
down the white counterpane, and as
sisted the doctor in getting Meta un-
dressed and to bed but he was not to
trihed with at such a time. "Now,
madam, I will excuse you, but let Mrs.
Smith bring me plenty of warm water,
and soft, old linen, and remain to assist
me. And L want a servant close at hano
| to get whatever else 1 may require while
dressing the arm"


It was a terrible hour to Meta while
he probed each wound and removed
the shot that were deeply imbedded IL
the tender flesh. Fortunately no bone
was broden, and at last it was neatly
bandaged with soft linen and wet with s
healing loticn, and she fell asleep. Mrs
Brown proved an efficient helper and
as they passed quietly out of the room
the doctor said


My patient must have the best Of
care and attention. Gould you stay ant
nurse her for awhile %


Yes, I might"


Very we'll I will pay you well i
you will do it, for everything will de
pend upon keeping her quiet now"


He met Mrs. Smith in the hall.


Madam, this woman has consented
to stay and take care of your niece, anC
L will see that she is well paid for it
But mind what I say Z: you must mo
see her, nor must any one else see he
but Mrs. Brown and myself for weel
at least, for she will have a serious tim
of it at the best. regret it exceed
ingly, more than L can tell you, that
have been the cause of all this suffer
ing, and I will do my best to have he
about again as soon as possible" s
saying, the doctor wished them good
day, and soon disappeared from thei
view.


e" Well, now, if that isn't cool An
} what am I to do all this time ?" groane
| Mrs Smith rockino herself yioOro1sI