The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-09-03

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nudging of elbows and sly grimace as
big, shy Job joined the class. But Job
was used to our merry making, and took
no notice of it.
Round and round went the spelling
big words and little words, words with
treacherous e'S and as lying in wait in I'M
expected places, and words without us and
words with odd rs, and all the deceitful
dictionary dreadfulness that lies in wait to
trip up the unwary. And one after anoth-
er our champions were spelled down, and
Job actually stood his ground against half
dozen wellschooled fellows. All his face
was kindled with eagerness and the dull
and plodding look habitual to him had
disappeared. The spelling was waking
him up. But there sat iiah Plummer,
who didn't join in the match-Abiah
Hummer, the well-to-do beau of the viii
lage, who had no need, mayhap, ofbook-
learning. There he sat and laughed at
Jobs excitement. saw an uneasy light
In Jobs eyes, as if he were being severely
tried. The spelling match was kindling
him to the centre. it seemed.
A few more words were yet on the list,
and there lay the beautiful books smiling
and shining on us.
Beautiful % gave out the school-mas-
ter; and Abijah laughed as Job got up to
spell it, Job looked at Abijah, and began,
"B-e-u-" and there was general scream
of laughter.
"Darn it ~ said Job between his teeth :;
"what can fellow do with fool like that
grinning at him ?" The mastiff was shak-
ing himself w, and I trembled for Abiiah.
"Order |" said the school master, and
gave out the word again.
1t was my turn. don't know, as say,
what imp possessed me this evening, but
stood up and spelled the word with a
vim, just as ifI didn't care one lot for Jobs
defeat, and before l knew it the blue-and-
gold prize was put into my hands. Then 1
looked at job and could have cried.
But every one was merry, and all were
talking and chatting and laughing us we
broke up and said goodnight. l wanted
to speak to Job, but there stood Abijah in
the doorway with my shawl in his hands,
waiting to see me home, and only nod
ded to Job as he stood at the gate with
his lantern to show us the path. One after
another the merry party disappeared down
the snowy road and the winding James,
Abijah and were the last.
"Ill see you down to the creek,n said
Job, humbly; otis rough road tonight"
And without another word he stalked on
ahead, his lantern cleaning after him.
We did not say much either, Abijah and
/, for we were tloundering through the
soft, thick-falling snow, and somehow it
seemed awkward to be walking in Jobs
lantern-light.
Presently we came down to the creek,
where every angle ofrock and every elbow
of gnarled tree was tlecked softly with
snow, and the creek, which had crossed
day or two before on my visit to Farmer
Dobson's, ran below, gray and far, an I'M
familiar stream, with downy, treacherous
banks shutting it ina strange white fan.
tasy. Over it two stout planks, crossing a
few inches apart, served as bridge. They
were rounded and slippery-looking to-
night, and one of them had a slight warp.
as if weather-strained.
Absjah stood moment on the bank
surveying it.
ITS dangerous crossing that" he said.
II 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
ieathered and shadowY underbrush and the
white quiet atmosphere. The scene was
so strange and weird that felt moments
hesitation; the next instant the imp which
had possessed me all the evening set nv
blood dancing with mischief
II promised to be home tonight" said
I, eluding Abijah's OBTAINING hand; and
with hooking, dancing step skipped
upon the plank.
Abijah stood still ON the margin and
looked at me. Job stood still also one mo-
ment, and, holding up his lantern, looked
at Abijah.
Then he said, sarcastically, "By your
leave, Mr.. Plummer; this is q bridge for
two and if you've no mind to be Citing
over I'll step along myself"
And it was Jobs hand that, touching mo
timidly, steadied my fool hardy steps, and
Jobs lantern that flickered over the phan-
tom banks beyond and the deep creek be-
low that treacherous plank. Halfway
across felt strange culver, as ifthe heart
of the thing were being broken, and nv
own heart leaped up with sudden terror,
a despairing cry, whirl of darkness and
chaos, and l felt the bridge totter and
crash, and thought was being swept away
into humiliation. Some strong arm grasp
ed me then not tcnderly, but with q clutch
that reused every faculty, and, trembling,
conscious, struggling for life, l found my
self clinging to the slippery edge of the
other plank, with Job holding me fast by
my raiment, as we hung for moment in
peril together, while the lantern hoated
away below in the debris.
Job speedily regained some sort of foot
oil hx IL 4
painful effort we reached the other side.
believe l laughed then when came to
myself, shook out my aforementioned
garments, and looking down, saw Jobs
faithess lantern cleaning like n titful fire.
fly away out of reach, and felt sure that
Abijah Plummer was still watching on the
other side.
Job stretched out over the brink, looked
down at the useless lantern, and shook his
fist, perhaps at the invisible Abijah.
Job, no, job" said, taking his hand,
"I'm sorry / spelled beautiful tonight"
did not laugh now. I was full of strange
excitement.
"Who had right to spell such word
but you, Jennie?" answered Job, brave.
ly.
"But 1--we lost the books, job"
"I've lost something to-" said Job.
We stood still for a moment and looked
at each other. And there was that in Jobs
face 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,
"Will you get along the rest of the way
without Abijah Plummer 2"
"All the rest of my life" replied.
Since then Job has often said TO me,
softly, as we sat in the twilight, "They
can't say didn't win q prize at the small