South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-09-06

ioohS, aht theh With only MS long Sings
ham shirt. widerimmed straw hat, and
his socks, resumed his moving. He
had moved twice across the piece and
was picking out the tall grass around an
old log pile, when right beside him he
saw pair of blue racers.
John was no coward, but he was NOR.
tally afraid of snake. II he hail been
warm before, he was a lump of ice now.
With dash or his scythe he cut Off the
heal OF one OF them, and the other one
raised his head and darted toward him.
John dropped his scythe, turned and
jumped just as the hooked teeth OF the
snake caught above the wide, firm hem
OF the rear end OF his gingham shirt.
lie cast one look behind him and saw
his dreaded Notwithstanding out like
the pennant Of q steamship-andt think.
ing only of the terrible fate that await
cd him if he stopped. bounded toward
the house with the speed of an express
train.
On. Oh. he ran through the north
meadow and orchard, and rs he neareti
the house the thought Of the party fash.
ed on his mind. But there was no other
way. so on lie ran.
lie dashed down past the west end OF
the house, and as he rounded the correr
the whole party OF girls met his view.
Call n man," he yelled and then
turned the corner. So great was his
momentum that the snake swung around
and struck him on his bare legs liketh
sharp sting Of raw.hide whip.
The girls screamed and jumped, and
the quilt went over on the ground. The
vision sped around the corner and once
more came the cry
''Call man."
No quicker did he appear around the
corner of the house than he'd appear at
the other corner. Every time he turned
the corner he would receive n terrible
blow from the cold, Shiny snake which
would raise him from the ground at least
four feet, and every round he would
Yell
Call q man,"
The frightened girls rushed for the
house. and they had hardly got inside
OF the door as John flew past it with the
shout
Call man.
Down across the road he went, leap
ing the gate at bound, and as he can :
tered through the flock ofhens. scatter
Ell them in all directions, the shout rose
loud and clear
Call man."
Around the barn. back again toward
the house. went the strange pair, and
as the gate was again leaped, came the
cry, this time Of
"For Coils sake, call man."
AS he again disappeared around the
house, Mabel Clark ran out of the door,
and seizing a stick some four feet In
length stationed herself at the corne r
with the cudgel elevated above her head
On came JOIN painting like an engine
and Us he came around the corner down
went the club barely grazing Johns head
but striking the racer blow that broke
its hold and back at the same time.
John concluded it best not TO wait
but gathering his remaining strength
for final dash. bounded into tue house
up stairs and into his room.
An hour later Gertrude tapped ut his
door John will you come down to tea or
shall call MANI"
IL will come down Gertrude" was
his answer in firm tone.
And he did. He had made a careful
toilet and there was not feature of his
face that betrayed embarrassment Mabel
had extracted promise from the girls
not to speak OF the episode,or betray
any knowledge of it whatever.
Mabel had Johns company home that
night. and in the glorious October wealth
er there was wedding at Judge Clark's
IL was not until then the story came
out, but John often says to Mabel. IL am
thankful TO Providence that you did not
''call q man."