"Why, Jake, where did you spring from? You don't mean to tell me you came down the river?"
"Yes, sir," said Jake; "father has cut an artery, and we had to have help at once. I sent Benny Masters by the road in case I could not get through; if you meet him tell him it's all right, but would you please go as quickly as possible? I tied up his arm as you told me it should be done, but I am afraid that if the bleeding starts again mother will be frightened." Jake got out the words with difficulty. The excitement and strain of the last half-hour had been too much for him, and, his message given, he staggered and fell into the arms of the doctor, who carried him in, and, while his horse was being saddled, applied restoratives. Then, asking his housekeeper to get Jake to bed, he galloped off to Mr. Lawson's, arriving just in time to prevent serious results from the bleeding, which had recommenced in spite of Mrs. Lawson's efforts.
When Jake awoke next morning he could not understand what had happened to him. The rushing of the river sounded like music to him. He walked down to the shore half expecting that at the sight of the water the old terror would revive. But no; his burden had fallen from him; it was buried in the bright, cold waters of the Strife.
He was aroused by the clatter of a horse's hoofs, and turned round as Dr. Barnes, who had remained at Lawson's all night, rode up to the gate. He brought word that Jake's father was doing well, and wishing to see him; so, having already breakfasted, Jake started at once for home.
His mother was waiting for him on the door-step, and clasped him in her arms. She had, motherlike, always clung to the one of her children least promising, according to the accepted standards, and triumphed greatly that he had now won his spurs. His father did not say much, but grasped his hand in a way Jake never forgot, and the altered demeanor of his brothers when they returned went far to heal the wounds of the past. In fact, now that the stigma of cowardice was removed, the family began to recognize in Jake a higher type than themselves, and, advised by Dr. Barnes, who pointed as proof of his leaning that way to his coolness and nerve in dealing with his father's wound, they decided to give him an opportunity to become a doctor.
Prizes for Pen Drawings.
The Table offered three prizes of $25 each for the best stories written by Knights and Ladies of the Order. These prizes were awarded, and then a prize of $10 was offered to members who would best illustrate one of the stories. Those who wished to try for this illustration prize applied for and had mailed to them a proof, with hints about size. They were allowed to select their own subject. In order to afford them the largest possible scope proofs of all three stories were sent them. Out of three hundred who applied for proofs sixty return drawings. The best drawing received is the work of Philip E. Goodwin, aged 14, who lives in Providence, R. I. It is an illustration for "A Story of Strife," and it is now reproduced and printed with that prize story.
Although we offered but one prize, we award two others of $5 each, because two other drawings were received that seem to deserve that recognition. One is an illustration for "The Duke of Alva's Humiliation," drawn by Edmund F. Webber, New York, aged 17, and the other an illustration for "How Hector Saved the Train," drawn by Carl A. Bostrom, Washington, D.C., aged 16. Both drawings will be published with the prize stories which they illustrate.
Following are awarded honorable mention: Beverly S. King, Brooklyn; Robert Jerome Hill, Jun., Tex.; Louise C. Walter, Pittsburg; Annis Dunbar-Jenkins, Miss.; George J. Smith, Brooklyn; P. B. Greene, Philadelphia; Elizabeth Wright, Mass.; Francis Barrett Faulkner, N. H.; James Edmonds, Miss.; William O'Neill, Baltimore; and Caroline Bonsall Silves, Pa.