The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-11-28

Tvs thAt TINS sweet glri ~ ms side he
had never yet held 10 his heart. nor had
her sweet lips been given 10 his own.
and now the moment was gone, and
the joy was still denied him, for the
horse went plunging on. A curve ~
the road brought the cottage in sight
Black sam was still whiiewashinr
great Heaven! not the big bowlderp
Yes. nothing less; he had some white
wash 10 spare, and he was Gathering il
thick upon this rock in the road, max
ing u eem big as a mountain. Mr.. Nor
tons face grew pale, and not too soon
the evil was upon him in the instant
he had feared it; the horse plunged
back upon his launches, his fine ears
stood erect, his clean-cut limbs trenl-
bled; then with one bound he sped
along, grazing the white phantom in the
road, and disappearing in cloud II
dust. Mr. Morton clung to the reins,
and Kitty chung 10 Mr.. Morton. The
widow Benson looked after them with
clasped hands and straining eyes. while
black Sam, now almost white with white
wash and terror, held his brush aloft in
. mute appeal for Divine help in this
dire extremity.
MIR. Morton knew now that nothing
could save them. A few minutes four
at the furthest -and all would be over.
The gully just below the Comstock farm
was bleak and dreary place, well fitted
for the tragedy. He remembered
chestnut tree that hung desolate and
bare over its brink, and broken rocks
and black pools Of stagnant water lay
below. Here would his strong bones
splinter, and the deft and cunning
mechanism at his side be rudely rent
and distorted. In these few seconds,
that seemed a parenthesis between time
and eternity, whole lifetime passed in
regret and retrospection. To get rid II
the reproachful eyes Of Madeline, Mr..
Morton shut his own; but Kitty's whole
heart went out in a prayer 10 joe
which was answered right ON the brink
Of the gully by the melancholy shadow
Of Joe himself. that clntched ut the head
Of the horse. was dragged onward 4 step
or two, then pulled aside, and finally
was left victor, the beast, quite snbducd
now and trembling. in lather 81 foam.
Mr.. Morton was trcmblingas wei as his
beast, and il was difficult for him 10
quite understand the exact tenor Of the
scene before him. Kitty lay white and
limp in Joe Comstock' ! arms: her hands
were clasped about his neck her hat
was gone long ago, and her curly hair
was All tumbled about her face, which
was still aSwhite as the accurscd bowlder
before her mothers door; and once in
while she sobbed out, . Joe, dear joe"
and Joe soothed her, and held her
closer, and murmured. kitty dear
Kitty" and the yellow light Of the wan
ing November day catching the diamond
again, il cleaned upon Kitty's finger,
that lay caressingly upon the sturdy
neck of Joe Comstock and presently
the little hand shifted about, and Kitty
saw the gem too, and slipping down
from the arms Of Joe, and slipping, too,
the ring from her finger she held il out
TO Mr.. Morton with that same shy. sad,
subdued, and altogether irreproachable
expression that he had admired a few
miserable moments since.
. Keep it, Kitty" said Mr. Morton;
q keep il i'm any case. You'll allow her
to accept this little present, won't You,
JoiPr
ssIfit all the same, I'd as lief she
didn't said Joe, with honest sim
plicity.
And I'm glad Kitty didn't get the
ring: she could well do without il, and
there was slim and tapcring finger far
away that had grown simmer and more
tapering for lack Of this gem. The
night Of the accident it lay listlcssly in
the lap Of Miss Van vleet, and II did not
seem from the apathy Of her face and
manner that any thing could induce her
10 lift that fair. frail finger The bell
rang, but hope had cheated her 80 often,
not hair of her beautiful head or a
muscle moved in response. She had
ceased 10 expect the visitor she coveted,
and all others were indifferent 70 her.
:. am 50 glad said voice, ITO
find You alone, Madeline"
The voice was so tender il made her
heart beat, although she knew how dc-
ccptivc that tenderness might be. How
sweet IL was, nevcrthelessl
Another organ began "a thump in the
room above, and the mild mahogany II
Mrs. Van vlect's complexion deepened
with anxiety and suspense as the import
ant moments wore away. At last the
light step Of her daughter was at the
door, and NIadcline's face told the story.
II was radiant with Joy.
= Has he spokener said her mother,
in husky whisper. = Great Heaven!
has he indeed spoken?"
ssYcs mamma, said Madeline, toy
ing with n brilliant gem upon her finger.
"Thank God,- said Mrs. Van vlcet,
devoutly. "Then | will Immediately
accept the Colonel's invitation for
Thanksgiving.
"And by the. hokey!" said old Joe
Comstock, sswc'n have Thank 'givin'
yet. I'm bles. II that there boy o. mine
didn't say last night, Pappy,' sez he,
wall heorin n fence down nv that there