The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-01-11


the stove. t ft
Well, the Christmas party was :
very enjoyable AFFAIR. Everybody had
= present. aud everybody sssmed hap
| py aud contented. Even the tsacher.
Mr.. Gordon. who was almost = stran-
| ger. received several small but tasteful
keepsakes.
And poor old Widow Wells waa not
forgotten. A pair Of nice warm shoes
and rult of fianne; Tor : drsss hung
on the gaily. decked Christmas trss for
her. Only the committee know that
Jessie King presented the parcel
1t was nearly midnight when the
assembly began to disperse. All the
way 10 Cliflon young Gordon sat be-
side Miss Louisa, a.rayed In her new
merinc, and almost imperoeptibls hat,
aud her ,nost captivating smile. sat
4 there and listened IN her pFsttily-
worded nothings, and drove the grey
horses, speaking to them about - Of.
ten az lie did 70 her, and be thought
| it the longest three miles he ever trav-
eled. And now he groaned inaudabiy
at the prospect Of another such drive,
| d lie passed out Of the hail into the
radiant moonlight.
All at oncs her beauty had grown
repulsive to him. What did it mean ?
He could uot comprehend the change.
Ever aud anon. as they drove home
ward. he wouid glance back st the
doctors sleigh. and rect hts eyss mo-
ment on the little mufiied figure Of
Jessie, wishing he were the doctor,
but still the simple fellow did not
know he was In love. Ugh! how he
de,ested the poor little doctor. And
he didn't know this was stropg proof
of his attachment for Jessie, either.
Hut he found on. what allied his heart
after awhile.
About half way home, ~ they were
winding round the side Of . hill. the
doctors horses took fright 1t . rabbit
which sprang from clump Of bushes
Just In advance Of them. LOuisA aud
her companion heard the loud "wi,oa
Dolly" OF the doctor. aud saw the
afirighted brules leap nladly down the
precipitous descent below ths road.
the Hrst bound nearly overturning the
sleigh, the second finging Jessie to
the ground, the third pitching the d.
minutive young N. d. out and down
| the hill headforemost. Then away
| flew the horses and in . moment lis
| appeared In . ravine, when suddenly
the clang Of the bells ceased entirely.
It was all over In less time than It
takes to relate 1t. Then Louisa looked
1t Mr.. Gordon In scared, helpless
sort o. way, but he hid not notice her.
only urging his hOr4es on 10 y lovcl
| -ppt Of ground q short distance ahead,
where he a,isi,ted and tied them se-
curely 20 . tree by the roadside. " Nov
Miss King. 1 am going 70 help them
II can. Will you go?''
| "Oh, Mr.. Gordon. l cannot bear to
| witness . scene OF horror. aud I'm
sure spmething horrible has hap
p.neti for my nerves src all unstrunS
| with terror already" e #s
"Well then Miss King you will
have to stay here and make yoursslf
~ comfortable as you can I'LL ny re
| turn
=" Oh. don't leave me alone. I beg.
Mr.. Gordon. for shall die of fright II
you do. Aud then the horses will
break loose and run away and kill ME.
Oh, dear, don't go!"
Miss King. you are heartless. as
we'll a, brainless." he replied, indig
nant and impatient, and strobe rap.
idly away. Surprised and cllagrined,
Louisa saw him depart without anoth.
er word. His few hasty words had
brought her to her senses; did her
more real good than al the sebukes Of
her father. the gentle ain,aitior Of
her mother, aud her sisters earnest en-
treaty. She began to see herself rs
others saw her. From that memorable
night there was marked change In
her demeanor.
And Henry Gordon liasteaed OH
and reached the scene Of the disaster,
just as the doctor had gathered him.
self up ami clawed the snow from his
ears and eyes. Then, seeing the
teacher had come to Jessie's assistance,
he started away in pursuit. Of the rum
away team. Jessie lay Ia . little heap
hard by jagged rock. the veil she
wore still covering her face. and her
form enveloped In the buffllo robe
which had fallen with her.
Temlerly he removed the veil from
her face. but there was n, sign Of life
her eyes were closed aud there was not
vestige Of color percsptibie In the
still lacid countenance. He removed
the dainty gauntlet from her left hand
aud laid his finger on tho nulae. Not
the faintest dutteg could he distin-
guish. Her fingers were cOld aud
cia,nmy. He barred the other white
hand and tenderIy pressed the little
member to his lips. then began chaf-
ing them aud calling on her name In
low anguished toaes. :. Jessie, dar-
ling Jessie. open your eyes and speak
to me. My OWE love. you must not,
must not die." His grief was too
deep for tears. 1t seemed like terri
ble, sitting, ever~increasing power,
closing him in, crushing him down.
taking his very breath. till he could
almost feel the icy fingers Of death
severing his own heart strings. Again
his finger sought the slender wrist,
and with cry Of JOY he burst into
tears and sank on his knees heeids the
inanimate form, aud In one big zen.
tence unburdened his breaking heart.
Ny God, I thank Thee"
Rising to his feet he caught her In
his arms and bore her swiftly toward
his own team where Louisa still sat, |
Placing her gently on the soft, bright
straw which cushioned the sled. be
said, there is the fAintsst sign Of life
perceptible. Unloose her clothins,
..,l,t1o n .nx...., -. Al,1 .rkn !