[CHAPTER XIV.]
Farmer Thorn stepped out of the gate, and was about to proceed on his way, when his attention was arrested by the rather unusual sight of a gentleman tearing madly along the road on a fine black horse.
The farmer was so impressed with the parting injunction of his wife as to the necessity of a physician's immediate presence, that a wild fancy that this hurrying horseman might belong to the medical fraternity darted directly into his mind.
He accordingly lifted his hand as a signal for the impetuous rider to pause.
The gentleman checked his impatient steed, and inquired with a smothered oath.
"What the deuce is your business with me? I'm in a devil of a hurry!"
"I mistrusted you might be a doctor?" said the farmer, inquiringly.
"The devil! Who's sick?" was the exceedingly civil rejoinder.
"A strange lady that we found in the road this morning. She's like to die," said Mr. Thorn.