Lincoln County leader., January 21, 1897, Image 2

-
FROM the Mowrie house one saw
a stretch of rugged, wooded
country, with a slender looking
railroad bridge spanning the gorge be
tween two hills. The tops of the high
pine trees, which grew down in the
valley below the cliffs, reached nearly
1o the rails of the bridge, and It was
a thrilling sight to see the trains crawl
nlong in the air over the tree-tops, twist
about like a serpent, and then thunder
uvu I iie slope on I lie lelt side il Hie
ridge.
Hut the passing trains had another
Interest for the young Mo'.vries be
Hidcs this picturesque one. Nov,' and
then a passenger threw a newspaper
nut of tlie window, and to Alvlra : nil
little lame Hiram such a "lind" was
always acceptable.
Since her mother's death the lioiiso
liold duties and the care of Hiram had
devolved on Alvlra, preventing her
from taking advantage of I lie short
Hrhool term. .Mr. Mowrie was employ
ed on one of the river boats, and his
trips often compelled liim to remain
a way from home for three or four
weeks at a time.
The Mowries did not own a farm.
Their place was a scrubby half-acre on
the top of the cliff, and their house a
mere hut of unhewn logs with two
little loft chambers above the single
lownslairs room.
To the newspapers thrown from the
passing trains Alvlra and Hiram were
much Indebted for what they knew
of the world beyond the cliffs, and the
village of Cresswell, about four miles
distant. How they enjoyed the stories
that occasionally fell Into their hands!
When these were of the "continued"
kind they would nniuse themselves
Imagining the conclusions.
At present the story that Interested
tlieiu most was one about a lame boy,
who hail seemed to be In a fair way of
getting well wheu the story broke off
J 11 tlie latest number of the paper.
"Say, Vlry." lllriiiu would sometimes
nsk witli a wistful look on his face, "do
you s'poso that lame boy ever got
well?"
"Yes, I thought it was working round
that way, Hiram," Alvlra would an
swer hopefully.
Hiram's lameness was the result of a
fall over tlie rocks at tlie railroad
bridge, and the village doctor had pro
nounced It Incurable. The knee was
bent at nil angle, and the boy could
move about only on crutches.
One summer afternoon, as the sound
of the locomotive's whistle echoed In
the distance, Alvlra came Into the
bouse with a single page of a newspa
per In her hand. It had evidently held
Home one's luncheon, but Alvlra brush
ed away tlie crumbs carefully and
smoothed out the wrinkles.
"I guess, Hiram," site said In her
motherly way, glancing over the pre
cious bit of paper, "you'll lind two or
three whole pieces here, and some ad
vertisements." The boy took the bit of newspaper
from Ills sister's hand, and was soon
quietly absorbing its contents. Xlean
while. Alvlra labored over a garment
that she was trying to cut and fashion
without any pattern. She was a tall,
strong-looking girl of IT, straight as an
arrow, and pretty In spite of her 111
llttlng clothes. Presently I Urn in broke
out with a cry of delight:
"(). Vlry! Hurrah!"
"What Is it, Hiram?" nsked Alvlra
eagerly, dropping her scissors with n
rattling noise, "it Isn't the continuation
of that story about the lame boy. Is ItV"
"It's better than that, Vlry! Just
look! Here's a piece about a real doe
tor that cured a real boy! O, Vlry, If
1 could only get well!"
With u great hope stirring In her
heart, Alvlra took the page and pro
ceeded to read the nrtlcle that Hiram
bad pointed out. It was entitled "A
Triumph of Modern Surgery," and It
detailed bow a certain Dr. Delmore
had performed successfully n dltlleult
and dangerous operation on a lame
child.
"Why, this Is the best thing I ever
hoard of, Hiram," she said delighted
ly, when she had tluished reading.
"I'm going right away to Mrs. Cnp
nor's to ask her about this Dr. Del
more. I guess Mrs. Capnor'U know."
And she put away her sewing hastily,
and set forth without delay. The Cap
ner house was situated ou the other
nldo of the woods, about half way bo
tweeu the Mowrie bouse and Cress
well. Alvlra had great respect for
Mrs. Capner and for her opinions.
When she was lu perplexity about any
thing It was always to Mrs, Capner
that "ho went
She found her neighbor seated on
the back porch, and she at once opened
up the subject of her errand. Mrs.
Capner was not a little surprised. She
supposed that tlie girl had come to
borrow something, for now and then
Alvira asked for the loan of an "easy
pattern," or for the weekly paper that
Mrs. Capner subscribed for.
"Have I ever heard of Dr. Delmore?"
the woman repeated. "Why, he's that
high-toned doctor from the city that
tlie Baineses got to set their Jack's
arm when It was broken so bad! But
sit down, Alvira, and make yourself
iu home."
Alvira sat down on the edge of the
chair that Mrs. Capner had placed for
her. Her cheeks were red from run
ning, and her eyes were brilliant and
eager as she continued:
"Mrs. Capner, does Dr. Deimore
charge high? You see, I was thinking
of getting him to look at Hiram's leg."
"Cood gracious, Alvira Mowrie!"
cried Mrs. Capner. "you don't know
what you are saying! Dr. Delmore!
why. you might as well make a tea
party and invite Queen Victoria! All
the money you could get for your place
on the cliff wouldn't begin to pay Dr.
Delniore's bill!"
Alvira felt a sudden sinking in her
heart. The color left her cheeks as
she gazed into her neighbor's eyes in a
puzzled, helpless way. Meanwhile the
woman thought that tlie girt ell her did
not believe her, or Hint she was too
stupid und Ignorant to understand.
"Why," she went on, trying to make
things plainer, "Dr. Delmore charged
Mr. Haines $1.0(1(1 for the settiuj; of
Jack's arm! Of course he had to come
a long distance, and It was a very hard
case. The village doctor said the arm
would have to he amputated; it was
broken In three places, yon know. Hut
they say It's as well as the other one
now."
ALVIRA AND THE DOCTOR'S RUNAWAY IIORSE.
"I'd be willing to live on bread and
water all my life if Hiram could only
be cured," sighed Alvlra, sorrowfully.
Mrs. Capner was not a little touched.
"I only wish 1 knew how to help you.
But $1.(KIU! Tlml's almost a fortune!
And I believe Dr. Delmore would not
even look at Hiram's leg for less. Why.
be travels around with a man-servant
all rigged out In brass buttons like a
soldier. You'd better not bother about
such a swell doctor, girl. Anyhow,
Hiram's leg has had its crookedness
for two years and more, and 1 doubt
whether even Dr. Delmore could cure
him."
Alvlra rose to go home.
"Thank you for telling me the trut!i,
Mrs. Capner." she said. "Good-by."
"How shall 1 tell poor little Hiram
this?" she moaned to herself, as she
tramped through the woods.
The sun was sinking behind a moun
tain peak when she reached home. Hi
rain wat sitting on the doorstep.
"Hurrah, Vlry!" ho called out joyful
ly. when he caught sight of his sister.
"Am I going to walk like other boys?"
He held up his crutch, laughing as she
came near. "Is It good-by to this,
Vlry? '
Alrirn could not look at the glad lit
tle face. She did not speak until she
had taken a seat beside her brother on
the doorstep. Then she said, very
gravely:
"Look here, Iliram. Once you said
you wanted to be well so that you could
do brave things. Perhaps It's ordered
that you'll have to be brave In another
way brave to bear instead of brave to
do."
Hiram understood. His sharp little
features grew pale In the twilight; but
not a complaint, not a cry, not even a
sigh escaped his lips.
Alvlra and Hiram did not talk any
more about Dr. Delmore, but the girl
did not cease to think of him. -While
her busy fingers plucked the wild
blackberries that grew In the woods
and the thickets, her bruin was busy
with devices for reaching the greit
man. Sometimes one might have seen
her computing a "sum" that was not
iu the arithmetic with a stumpy lead
pencil on tlie margin of a newspaper.
She never tluished this sum quite to her
satisfaction, but she often looked -ip
from her work with a hopeful expres
sion, saying something like this:
"If he'd only wait, I guess 1 could
get the whole thousand paid up in about
forty years."
One afternoon when Alvira was
picking berries a few rods from tlie far
end of the railroad bridge, on the brow
of the hill opposite to their house, she
heard the sharp clatter of horse-hoofs
on the stony road leading past tlie
bridge.
The sound became more and more
distinct, until presently the girl caught
sight of a runaway horse dragging a
carriage. Evidently the rider had been
thrown from his seat, and the occu
pnnt of the vehicle was powerless to
help himself.
Alvlra hud bad some experience with
horses, for she often drove Mrs. Cap
ner to and from Cresswell, and some
times she assisted Mr. Capner with h!c
farm work. Besides, she was fearless,
in ii moment she hud taken oil her b'g
Bunbonnet, and was letting out the
"drawstring." She stood ou the em
bankment side of tlie road as the horse
came down the grade. A plan had oc
curred to her, one that sua had neard
of.
"It's the only thing to be done," she
thought, as, u few seconds later, she
sprang as close as she dared to th- Hy
ing horse, and deftly threw the bonnet
over his head.
The "blind" acted as Alvira thought
it would. The frightened home leaped
to the other side of the road and tried
to shake off the unexpected obstruction
to his vision.
Alvlra had just grasped the bridle
when the door of the carriage opened,
and a well-dressed man came out and
hurried to her relief.
"Thank you very much," lie said In a
grateful, pleasant voice. "You did a
very brave tiling, and doubtless saved
me from an accident."
"I was afraid the horse would reach
the bridge and plunge through," said
Alvlra as she stood beside the panting
animal and stroked its neck. "I guess
you may trust me to mind him if you
want to hunt up the driver."
"Thank you again," said the man.
"But I know the coachman Is not hurt,
for I saw lil in pick himself up nnd run
after the carriage. He will, I think, be
here in a few minutes. In the mean
time let me learn your name, and be
permitted to reward you, In a measure,
for what you have done for me."
By tills time the horse was standing
quietly, needing no one at the bridle.
As the gentleman spoke, he produced
his poeketbook and handed Alvira a.
gold coin.
"Don't hesitate to take it. Never was
money better earned or more freely
offered," he urged.
Alvlra hud drawn back a little, as If
frightened by the offer of the reward.
All her native Instincts were opposed
to accepting money for a service of
this kind. But there was also wlth'n
her another thought, striving against
these feelings. Should she not sacrili.-e
her pride for Hiram's sake?
"Please take the money," Insisted the
gentleman, kindly.
"My name Is Alvlra Mowrie," she
said, throwing her head up proudly.
"Only for Hiram I would not think of
taking a reward. But my little brother
Is lame and I want to raise $1,000 to
pay a doctor for straightening his leg.
I have $320 now, and $20, you see,
would go a good ways towards mak
ing up the bill-lf I could only think it
right to take it!"
"indeed!" snld the gentleman, look
ing greatly Interested. "And may I
ask who Is the doctor you wish to en
gage?" "Dr. Delmore the one that set Jaeic
Balues' arm," said Alvlra.
The gentleman smiled as If he were
both amused and pleased.
"My dear young lady," he said, -t
am Dr. Delmore, nnd, if you like, we
will settle this obligation without anv
transfer of money. I will be glad to
do all I can for your brother, In consid
eration or what you have done for mo
Alvlra pressed her hands together
with a little cry of delight, and the doc
tor never forgot the look of gratitude
with which she regarded him.
The coachman came down the road
presently and resumed charge of the
horse and carriage. The doctor was on
his way to Cresswell to visit one of his
patients. On his return he called at
the Mowrie house and saw Hiram. He
did not say that the Injured leg could
be straightened; but he told Alvira to
write to her father for permission to
have her brother taken to n hospital iu
the city for treatment.
This Alvlra did. Mr. Mowrie's ap
proval came in the next mall, and In a
few days Iliram, accompanied by Dr.
Delmore, made the journey to the city.
One day Alvlra, who was alone In the
little house on the cliff, received from
her brother the following letter:
My Dear Brave Vlry:
Dr. Delmore says I am going to get
well; and he says, too, that some so
ciety Is going to give you a gold medal.
It has been In the newspapers that jou
stopped n runaway horse with a sun
bonnet. I have the piece cut out and
put away. It Is a splendid piece. It
calls you a heroine, and that Is what
you are, Vlry. HIRAM.
A Suggestive Itesponse.
Unconscious harmony between ser
mon and response was too much for
the Rev. Simon J. McPherson yester
day morning. He preached on "Hell"
lu the Second Presbyterian Church,
but found the response selected by the
Innocent organist was altogether too
appropriate. The hymn was changed,
but not before the air had been played,
to an accompaniment of a broad grin
on the face of every one present. Dr.
McPherson does not consult with the
organist, A. P. McCarrell, as to the ser
mon he intends to preach on Sundays.
Mr. McCarrell does not worry th? pas
tor about the hymns he selects for the
worshippers to sing. Both trust each
other implicitly, but In future Dr. Mc
Pherson will look over the list of hymns
before he goes Into the pulpit. Dr. Mc
Pherson preached on "Hell," and pic
tured lu burning words the terrors
awaiting the unrepentant wicked In
the next world. His sermon made a
deep impression on the congregation.
At the conclusion of the discourse the
pastor usually announces the hymn
to be sung as a response. The organ
ist had not known the subject of the
sermon wheu he selected the response,
and thought no more about It after hu
had compiled his list of hymns.
Tlie pastor fumbled with tlie list,
coughed, and looked a trifle embarrass
ed. The organist began to play the
air pianissimo, and a broad grin spread
over every face. Dr. McPherson look
ed appealing- upward to tlie organ
ist, and then turned over the leaves
of the hynmbook with desperate eager
ness. Mr. McCarrell left his pipes nnd
hurried down to the pastor.
"We must change that resuonse,"
whispered the pastor.
"Why?" asked tlie organist. Inno
cently. "I have been preaching ou 'Tlel!,' "
said Dr. McPherson, "and the response
you have chosen Is 'What Must It Be
to Be There?' We cannot nave that."
Even the solemn organist gvluned as
he climbed to the organ and started
up "Art Thou Weary?" Chicago
Times-Herald.
Uses of Fruit.
I have eaten apples all mv llfp. imt
never learned how to make the best
use of them till last winter, writes a
correspondent to American Gardening
Now we eat apples half an hour before
breakfast and dinner instead of after
ward.
The action of the acid is then admir
able In aiding digestion, while If mi foil
after meals the apple is likely to prove
a burden.
We follow the same lino I n llMtiia-
grapes, pears, cherries and berries. If
disturbed by a headache or dyspepsia
In summer, I climb a cherry-tree and
eat all I can reach and rtfish.
In order to have cherries nil sum
mer, I cover a dozen trees with nios-qulto-nettlng
to keep off the birds.
currants nnd gooseberries. I And very
wholesome eaten raw from the
before going to the dluing-table. Na
ture has prepared a large amount of
food already cooked, exactly fltteri tnr
all demands of the human system.
i am by no means a vegetarian or a
fruitarian, but I am convinced th fit xv a
have not yet measured the value of
rruit as a diet, with milk, eggs and
vegetables.
Japanese Women.
Everybody smokes In Japan. The
pipes hold a little wad of fine cut to
bacco as big as a pea. It Is fired, and
the smoker takes a long whiff, blow
lug the smoke In a cloud from the
mouth and nose. The ladies have pipes
with longer stems than the men, and
If one of them wishes to show a gentle
man a special mark of favor she lights
her pipe, takes half a whiff, hands it
to him and lets him finish the whiff.
Horseshoes of Paper.
It Is said that the horses of German
cavalry regiments are to be entirely
shod with paper shoes, recent experi
ments as to their durability and light
ness' having proved very satisfactory.
It Is nlwnra tha ninn nf .1
" - uiuu iri V 11 Will U)
body expects such a thing, who drops
vj U11U5 auu runs.
1 11 not he f.nBBB.,1 to any , h
Less a solitaire lie will briB, V
She was 20 the,,. she's 3o
T d,aci,'lt Iut any old ring
Buffulo Tunes. "'
Wife (dejectedly,-!-,,, a
fright. Husband (cousollug 522
mortal is perfect, dearest. 0
Mr. Suvery-Wliat! Ite.n,nmlll
last year's hat! You are uu angel-Savery-An
angel, am I? Well 'tTB
give me $10 to buy wing,,. '
"Have Scribbler, the author, and hi.
wife made up?" "oh, ye.,.
reads what he writes and he eats whit
she cooks."-Pliegende Blaetter.
"Well, now that you are back to,
can tell us how much It costs to goto
Europe." "All you've got and all ,0,
can borrow over the,-e."-Judge.
Dnbney Gllbney started on a centon
run to-day. Bnbley-Where hM he
gone? Dabney-After the fellow woo
stole his wheel.-Roxhury Gazette.
"Tv thn wnr ...., ,r..i ..... .
.. ,uu uiiu stapu,
you went into pan out-the one to get
sugar out of beets?" "We got beat out
of the sugar." Cincinnati Enquirer.
The story about a pretty girl kiss
ing a burglar by mistake is all wrong
and should be suppressed. It la an
Incentive to crime. Chicago Tost
Miss Seraggs-Yes; once, when I was
out alone on a dark night, I saw a man,
nnd, oh, my goodness, how I ran! "And
did you catch him, Miss Scruggs?"
"When I get Into my new house I
mean that everything shall go like
clockwork." "I see; the same as here
tofore; tick, tick." Boston Transcript.
Truth crushed to enrth will rise ngali.
When comes the proper juncture,
While error, wounded, writhes in paii,
And can't repair her puncture.
Indianapolis Journal.
If Eve hadn't tempted Adam with
that apple, what would the modern tai
lors, milliners and dressmakers be do
ing for a living now? Soincrvllte Jwr
mil. "And what do you regard as the
greatest triumph of modern surgerjT'
"Collecting the bills," promptly re
sponded the great practltloner.-OM-cago
Record.
Plrst Tramp That old feller what
wuss glvlu' me der lecture said he didn't
know de taste o' liquor. Second Tramp
Well, dat's some excuse fer him talk
in' de way he did. Puck.
One Matron Since I have been mar
ried I have taught my husband good
taste. Another Really? It Is a good
thing for you that you did not teach
him before you were married.
"Did old Grttnipey make much of a
kick when you asked him for his daugh
ter?" "Did he make much of a kick?
The doctor says I am threatened with
curvature of the spine." Detroit Free
Press.
"Hark!" cried the long-haired mags-
Blue poet, "how the people cheer me
llow they recognize genius." "You're
mistaken." whispered his wife. "Tbey
think you are a foot-bull players-Atlanta
Constitution.
Father It was strangely quiet In the
parlor while that young fellow was call
ing last evening. Edith. Daughter-
Yes; he's one of the U. of M. tackltrs
and seems to think of' nothing elsft-
Detroit Free Press.
"I'm putting up a prescription ff
your wife's milliner,'' sain uk ui-
clerk to ills employer. " hat snau i
charge her?" "What Is the usual prlw
for what she Is getting?" "Fifty cento
"Charge her $2.75." Texas Sifter.
Mm rt iiriif lina ii liusbuiiil that re
nt!.. ,1,1, u,,muMiiii,r nf her." "What
lias he done?" "Why, Instead of bet
ting to win a hat on the election for
himself he bet a new bonnet for
wife." Chicago Record.
"I," he shouted, linpasslonedly fro
the rostrum, "I shall begin at once in
the noble work of crushing tyra""
Then, after the storm of applause "?
ceased, he went home and tried to ma.
the hired glrl.-Ciuciunatl Enquirer.
mi j- ,. uiro thn new leading
i,w imvo Footlltes?" "She wont
j. .1 .ii ei.v niv linen married
UU ttl UU. one o "...j .
twice, and hasn't had any amnion
stolen for a year. She's got no ener-
ii "ninnimifitl Couiniercm
HJ lib
i.tii unnw ." said the man who
was reading an article about the con
traction of metals, "that a clock t c
faster In winter than summer.
.. A Unt nlinllt &
i never uoueeu mi n
nut i know a iras meter does.
Oi.
Husband (to wlfe)-I ennuot con
. ... ...in. mv watcn,
what is tue muu " ' ..j
think It must want cleaning. bP"
Child (breaking ln)-Oh, father I don
a in,iimr Baby wo
had It washing In the basin for
ai irvn th a ninrnlDil.
"I don't think that Benner Is a "IB
cere writer," remarked one youf
,.'.. u. ,io-r nipnn what
lou iuiu& ue uucou . Koiler
says?" "Yes." "Well. I know better
than that I saw something tW
wrote the other day, nnd I m sure
meant every word of it. " w . nllta.
quest for a loan of $5."-aslul
Star
JLi.