! How do you feel?
Can you tell where you are hurt?"

The doctor feebly moved one hand to his chest and whispered:

"There, and in my back."

Traverse, controlling his own great mental agony, did all that he could
to soothe and alleviate the sufferings of the doctor, until the arrival
of the cart, that stopped on the road at the head of the little bridle
path, where the accident happened. Then John jumped from the driver's
seat and came to the spot, where he tenderly assisted the young man in
raising the doctor and conveying him to the cart and laying him upon the
bed. Notwithstanding all their tender care in lifting and carrying him,
it was but too evident that he suffered greatly in being moved. Slowly
as they proceeded, at every jolt of the cart, his corrugated brows and
blanched and quivering lips told how much agony he silently endured.

Thus at last they reached home. He was carefully raised by the bed and
borne into the house and up-stairs to his own chamber, where, being
undressed, he was laid upon his own easy couch. Traverse sent off for
other medical aid, administered a restorative and proceeded to examine
his injuries.

"It is useless, dear boy--useless all! You have medical knowledge enough
to be as sure of that as I am. Cover me up and let me compose myself
before seeing Clara, and while I do so, go you and break this news
gently to the poor child!" said the doctor, who, being under the
influence of the restorative, spoke more steadily than at any time since
the fall Traverse, almost broken-hearted, obeyed his benefactor and went
to seek his betrothed, praying the Lord to teach him how to tell her
this dreadful calamity and to support her under its crushing weight.

As he went slowly, wringing his hands, he suddenly met Clara with her
dress in disorder and her hair flying, just as she had run from her room
while dressing for dinner. Hurrying toward him, she exclaimed:

"Traverse, what has happened? For the good Lord's sake, tell me
quickly--the house is all in confusion. Every one is pale with affright!
No one will answer me! Your mother just now ran past me out of the store
room, with her face as white as death! Oh, what does it all mean?"

"Clara, love, come and sit down; you are almost fainting--(oh, heaven,
support her!)" murmured Traverse, as he led the poor girl to the hall
sofa.

"Tell me! Tell me!" she said.

"Clara--your father----"

"My father! No, no--no--do not say any harm has hap