The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-07

Presently we came down to the creek,
where every angle of the rock and every
elbow of gnarled tree was aecked softly
withe snow, and the creek, which l had
crossd day or two before on my visit
to Farmer Dobson's, ran below, gray
and far, an unfamiliar stream, with
downv, treacherous banks shutting 1t in
"a 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 q moment on the bank
surveying it.
cts dangerous crossing that, he sad;
81 declare, Jennie, l don't like the LOOK OF
tn .u
The night was gray, and soft and still
anda)I about us fell the snow, which
seemed to be creating itself out OF the
teathered shadowy underbru5h and the
white quiet atmosphere. The scene was
so strange and wierd that | felt mo-
ment's hesitation; the next instant the
imp which had possessed me all the even
ing set my blood dancing with mis-
chief.
al promised to be home tonight said
!, GLIDING Abijah's OBTAINING hand; and
with mocking, dancing step | skipped
upon the plank.
Abiiah stood still on the margin and
looked at me. Job stood still also one
moment, and holding up his lantern,
looked at Abiiah.
Then he said sarcastically, "By your
leave Mr.. Plummer; this is bridge for
two, and if you've no mind to be getting
over, I'll step along myself
And it was Jobs hand that touching
me timidly, stcadied my fool hardy steps
and Jobs lantern that ilickcred over the
phantom bank beyond and the deep
creek ls'ow that trcacherous plank.
Halfway across felt strange culver,
AS il the heart of the thing were being
broken, and my own heart lrapcd up
with sudden terror, a despairlnS cry,
whirl Of darkness and chaos, and ! felt
the bridge totter and crash, and thought
| was being swept away into annihia-
ton. Some strong arm grasped me
then. not tcnderlv, but with clutch
that reused every faculty and trembling,
conscious. struggling for life, | found
myself cin.ing to the slippery edge Of
the other plank, with Job holdlrg me
fast br my rameut. u, we hung for.
moment in peril together, while the
lantern loatcd away below in the debris.
job speedily resaircd some sort Of
footing, and slipping. sliding. hy
slow and painful effort We reached the
other side
believe | laughed then when |
came TO myself, shock out my snow en-
numbered garments. ana looking down
saw Jobs talthlcs> lantern gleHmlng like
iitful freely away out OF reach,
AID felt sure that Abiiah Plummcr was
still watching on the other side.
job stretched out over the brink, look
ed down Mt the useless lantern and shook
his list, perhaps ut the invisible Abjah
Job. oh, job said, taking his hand,
pm sorry spelled beautiful Tonight
| did not laugh now. | WAS full of
strange excitement.
who had right to spell such word
but you, Jennie? answered job, gravcly.
but 1--we lost the books, job
1--WE lost something too said job.
We stood still for moment and lJok-
cd at each other. And there was that
IN Jobs face which never shonc but
once in any human face, and which all
men and all women know when they
see it
Then job reused up and said hghtly'
"Will You get along the rest of the way
without Abiiah Plummer?'
"All the rest Of my life | replied.
Since then job has often said to me,
softly, rs we sat in the twilight, "Thcy
can't say didn't win prize at the
.polliMg match.