Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1884 — THE DOCTOR'S ADVENTURE. [ARTICLE]

THE DOCTOR'S ADVENTURE.

BY SARA B. ROSS.

[The following story is a true one, wi£h the exception of the names, which are slightly changed, as tliere are descendants of some of the characters «till living in the city of Buffalo. The conversations no one could be sure of at this time.] It was during the war known a$ the war of 1812 that Dr. Anthony Chartre was practicing medicine in the city of Buffalo, if it could then be called a <sty. He was a dashing young bachelor, and had turned the heads of more than one of the belles of the town; but had at last succumlted to the charms of • fair damsel, M'ss Jennie St Jarvis, a niece of the widow St. Jarvis, who had • large mansion upon one of the principal streets. The Doctor, however, was troubled a little with bashfullness, and had deferred making a proposal from time to time, until one day he had determined te would not leave his divinity until he Inul put the question and knew what his late was to be. d'e had, however, but just seated himself by the fair girl’s side, when a knock was heard upon the door of the parlor in which he sat. When the door was opened a 12-year-old boy was disclosed, who asked in a frightened voice, *Be Dr. Chartre here ?” “He is,” replied Miss Jennie. “Wal,” said he, hurriedly, “there is • man up south what’s broke his leg, and he wants the Doctor to come right off and set it” The Doctor swallowed his chagrin, And asked : "How far is it?” “Just a little sonth of the corners. He. telled me to come right along with you, sir.” “Very well; I will get my horse immediately.” He made his adieus to the young lady in a very tender manner, and was soon «pon liis way, with the tow-headed urchin as a guide It was a beautiful Hay, the air was clear and bracing, and the young Doctor sung aud whistled on his way, regardless of the open month and eyes of the astonished lad. They had ridden at least ten miles when the boy turned aside from the rpad down a winded lane, saying: “This way, mister.” The Doctor followed and soon came in sight of a neat-looking block house atod a large log barn, where a pair of patient oxen stood chewing their cuds in the yellow sunlight., The clearing aloped m a gentle incline to the shores of Lake Erie, which 5 could hot have been more than a hilf mile dis ant. It was a beautiful sppt, apd the Doctor stopped for a moment to admire the ffrove of graceful pine trees which on one side grew almost up to. the door of the cabin. He then rapped lightly and the door oras opened by a slender young girl i*ith dark grey eyes, and a wealth of beautiful golden hair, which was worn in heavy braids wound round and round dhe well-shaped head. She was clad in the homespun linen 'garments of the time, and was devoid of All the little fripperies which characterized the dress of the young ladies of the tom , “The Doctor ?” she asked, in a low, sweet voice. The Doctor bowed his head in re«ponse. •“Step this way then.” said the girl, leading the way, through the low red Hoor which led into a small chamber. The sufferer was a man in the prime of life, and was bearing his pain with the quiet of a hero. His wife was by his side, and the two women stood by when the fractured limb was set, and ■ministered to the wants of the patient for assisted the Doctor with perfect ■crilmnees, and self-possession. When nil was over Mrs. Atwood said, “You

must -wait for supper, Doctor; Dolly will have it ready in a few moments.” The Doctor decided to wait, for he •was feeling hungry, as he had missed his dinner and it was now nearly 4 o’clock. He sat watching the graceful girl as «he prepared the large white potatoes for the oven, and fried the silvery fish fresh f om the lake near by, and befoio ihe was aware of it, he found himself <X>mparing her with the sprightly but ahmewhat affectod Jennie St. Jarvis, 4*Bd it must be said his comparisons were not in favor of the latter young lady. It was 5 o’clock when he again remounted his horse, and when he reached the main rosd he was suq rised ftp see it filled with men, women, and •children, all harrying southward in the greatest state of excitement and alarm. "What u the matter?” he asked, in astonishment, of a lady with whom he was acquainted. “Oh, Doctor." was.the reply, “fly for year lifts; the British and Indians are m Buffalo, breaking open the stores •and pillaging the houses, and not a woidier this side of Batavia.” And she hurried on without stopping for farther words. The Doctor was in a quandary. He ' find left behind him in his office a large paai of money in sold, and he disliked ito lose it greatly, and as his office w « in a retired part of tkeoity, lie resolved j *» proceed carefully, and. if possible, ! *i.vf

cecure this before it fell into the hands of the enemy. He questioned some others, and found that the town was aimost entirely deserted, and that these were the very last of the dying people, who had scatte ed in every direction. He put spurs to his horse, but the shades of night overtook him before he had half accomplished his journey, and the light of burning buildings began to light up the darkness of the evening. He hurriedly rode on, however, and by avo.dmg the half-drunken soldiery, and the painted red demons who had congregated around Berths large store, which tliey had ransacke 1 and then set fire to, he managed to reach his office without being seen, and found that it had not been broken into. He secreted his money upon his person, filled bis medicine case to its fullest extent, placed in his pockets several bottles of the best brandy, and was about to endeavor to steal away as he bod come, when he was confronted by a red-faced English captain and two horribly painted Indians. “Aha, my boy, you’re our prisoner,” said the 1 nglishman, patting him upon the shoulder. “Deliver up your arms, and tell ns where there may be any little valuables; this building will be ashes in half an hour.” “I am not armed,” replied the Dootor. “and as to my pills, you may swallow

them all, if you like.” “A saw-bones, eli ? Here, Eaglet; and you, Blackchief, take this fellow to the Colonel, upon the square.” The Doctor was marched oT between the two Ind aus, but the Colonel was not found upon the s juare, but in the house of the widow St. Jar vis, who was cooking a supper for the English officers, and whose house was tilled with silks i.nd merchandise from the various stores of the plundered town. The lady and her neice, Miss Jennie St. Jarvis, seemed to be in the best of spirits when the Doctor was led in between the two Indians. The elder laly was joking with the Englishmen about the flying Yankees, and the younger was promenading ujj aud down the hall with the officer for whom they were seeking. They were chatting with the familiarity of old friends, and the arm of the drunken officer was thrown lightly about the lady's slender waist. “Ah, Doctor,” said Mrs. St. Jarvis. “So you couldn’t keep pace with the others and got captured.” The Doctor’s only reply was a frigid bow, and one of the Indians, Eaglet, leaving him, touched the arm of the officer who was walking with Miss St. Jarvis. “A prisoner did you say? Where is he?” said the officer, pausing. The Indian pointed to Dr. Chartre, and the Colonel came forward, still with his arm abont Miss Jennie’s waist. She colored slightly when she saw the Doctor, but she said no word and endeavored to appear as if she was an utter stranger. “Are you a surgeon, sir?” asked the Colonel. “1 am,” replied Dr. Chartre. “Very well,” was the reply. “Yon may take him across the river, men, and have h m attend to those fellows who were wounded this afternoon, and then take him to Col. Harker. ” The Indians resumed their silent march, and the Doctor was hurried through the bu ning town, and bore the insults of the hilarious soldiers and Indians with stem, set lips, and disdained to say a word in reply. At the shore Eaglet again left them, but very soon returned with a strong bat light canoe. The Doctor was placed in the center seat, and, with an Indian in each end, the canoe started to go down the river for a short distance, and then to cross the river to the Canadian side. As soon as they were well started, the Doctor drew from his pocket a bottle of brandy, and, knocking out the cork, was about to pretend to drink, when Eaglet said: “Ugh, me take.” The Doctor handed him the bottle in a reluctant manner, and then took another from his pocket, which was quickly snatched from his hand by the silent Blackchief, and the Doctor had the gratification of seeing them both take long and hearty drinks of the strong lienor.

It was not long before Eaglet began. an excited and drunken quarrel with his companion, which was responded to with short, surly answers in the most defiant tone; tomahawks were brandished, and the Doctor feared he was in greater danger than before, but in a short time the liquor did its expected work upon Eaglet and he fell in a drunken sumber, face downward, in the bottom of t e canoe. The Doctor moved slightly to bring Blackchief d rectly under his eye, but he saw by the fierce exclamation and uplifted tomahawk that it would be a perilous business to attack him unarmed, and his heart almost sank within him as he saw the lights on the Canadian shore momentarily grow nearer and nearer. ,g However, to his intensest joy, he Saw the Indian again apply the bottle to his lips, and the Dootor saw in a few momeuts that his stroke grew unsteady, and, striving hard against the ; otent liquor, the Indian bent evefy energy to his | addli g, but in vain; lus baud slipped lrom the oar, his head began to nod, and, seizing the fellow bodily, the Doctor threw him overboard irito the stream. He then turned his attention to Eaglet, who was snoring loudly in the bottom of the canoe. To deal with him as he had the other was only the work of a moment, and then the Doctor seized the paddle, and, wi h a sigh of relief, started to paddle out of reach far up the lake. He was still in the greatest danger, for the water was lit i p for miles with the light of the burning town, and canoes were crossing to and fro every few moments. The Do ‘tor, however, was wary, and managed to elnd them all; and morning found him chilled and damp several miles up in about the centre of the lake. He turned his emoe toward the American shore, and as lid worked his way slowlv along w th his bli tered hands, he th ught of the woman he once thought he had loved, false to her connS, false to him —and worse than all—- '« to her own womanly mode ty. Ho ga ned the quiet, lonely shore at about i.O o’clock in tho day. * A forest

of middle-sized p'ne trees came down to the water’s edge, and the Doctor fastened his canoe and climbed upon : the little ledge which bordered the shore. About half a mile inland he saw a black cabin and a large log barn by which stood two la: ge oxen chewing tlreir cuds in the sun. Could it bo possible? Yes, it was the cabin of Mr. Atwood, the man whose limb he ha i set the day before, bufcjwhich seemed weeks agone to the chMled and Weary Doctor. He made his way to the cabin and met Dolly Atwood at th< door, who gave him the welcome information that the soldiers find arrived from Batavia, and the British and Indians had evacuated the smoking mins of what had once been cal ed Buffalo. The Doctor stayed with the hospitable farmer nnt.l his limb was firmly knit, but together with Dolly Atwood he rode into the town a week after it was burnt, and saw that the house of the pe; fidious Mrs. St Ja vis was almost the only bnild ng left standing. When he set up his office in newly buib Buffalo Dolly Atwood was h's wife. Miss St. Jarvis returned to her home in the East shortly afterward, having learned by the coolness of the young people who once were her friends, that her treachery was known; but the Doctor’s marriage was the worst blow to her pride, for between two stools she had met with a fall, as she never met the English Colonel afterward.