Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-10-28

5e----------------I
put into nay hands Then locked at Job,
and could have cried.
But every one was merry, and all were talk
ing end chatting and laughing as broke up and
said good night. i wanted TO speak TO Job.
but there stood Abijah in the doorway with
my yshawl in his hands, waiting to see me
home, and only nodded to Job as be stood al 4
the gate with his lantern to show us the path. |
One after another of the merry party disap-
peared down the snowy road and the winding
lanes Abijah and were the last
''Tll see you down to the creek" said Job
humbly; Sits rough road tonight" And
without another word he sialked on ahead, his
lantern cleaning after him. tg
We did not say much either Abijah or /, for
we were hoandering through the soft, thick
falling snow, and somehow it seemed awkward
TO be walking in Jobs lantern light.
Presently we cams down to the creek, where
every angle of the rock and every elbow of
gnarled tree was fiecked softly with snow, and
the creek, which l had crossed day or two
before on my visit to Farmer Debson's, ran
below, gray and far, an unfamiliar stream,
with downy, treacherous backs shutting it in
la strange white fantasy. Over it two stout
planks, crossing few inches apart served as
bridge. They were rounded and slippery
looking tonight, and one of them had slight
warp, as if weather strained.
Abijah stood moment on the bank survey
Sits dangerous crossing that, he said. Il
declare, Jennie, don't like the look of it."
The night was gray, and soft and still and
all about us fell the snow, which seemed to be
creating itself out of the feathered shadowy
underbrush and the white quiet atmosphere
The scene was 30 strsnge and wierd that felt
a moments hesitation; the next instant the imp
which had possessed me all the evening set my
blood dancing with mischisf
81 promised to be home tonight" said /,
eluding Abijah's detaining hand; and with a
!, mocking, dancing step l skipped upon the
plank.
Abijah stood on the margin and looked at
me- Job stood still also one moment, and hold
ing up his lantern, locked st Abijah.
Then he said sarcastically, by your leave
Mr.. Plummer, this is bridge for two, and il
you've no mind to be getting over, I'll steE
along myself"
: And it was Jobs hand that touching me
timidly, steadied my hardy steps and Job:
lantern that fiickered over the phantom banE
beyond and the deep creek below that treach
= erous plank. Halfway across felt strang'
quiver, as if the heart of the thing were being
broken, and my own heart leaped up with sud
4 den terror, a despairing cry, whirl of dark
= ness and chaos, and felt the bridge totter ant
. crash, and thought was being swept away
= into annihilation. Some strong arm graspet
me then, not tenderly, but with clutch thai
reused every faculty, and trembling, conscious
, struggling fol life, l found myself cliDging tC
! the slippery edge of the other plank. with Jot
a holding me fast by my raiment, as we hung
, for moment in peril together, while the Ian
= tern fioated away below in the debris.
Job speedily regained some sort of footing
10 and slipping, sliding, by slow and painful eff
:, fort we reached the other side.
believe laughed then when came to my
self, shook out my snow encountered garments
, and looking down saw Jobs faithless lanterl
~ cleaning like fitful freely away out of reach
and felt sure that Abijah Plummer was still
4 watching on the other side.
!, Job stretched out over the brink, looket
, down at the useless lantern and shook his fist
q perhaps at the invisible Abijah.
70 Job, oh, Job,"I said, taking his hand
70 "rm sorry spelled beautiful tonight.
did not laugh now. was full of strange ex
l. citement.
!, ''Who had right to spell such word bu
:, you, Jennie?" answered Job, gravely.
- ''But 1--we lost the books, Job."
''rve lost something too" said Job.
We stood still for moment and looked a
each other And there was that in Jobs fac
which never shone but once in any human
face, and which all men and all women know
when they see it.
Then Job reused up and said lightly, ''Wil
> you get along the rest of the way without Alb
ijah Plummer?'
E "All the rest of mp life," replied.
Since then Job has often said to me, softly
= as we sat in the twilight, ''They can't say
: didn't win prize at the spelling match"