St. Landry democrat., 1881-08-27

then | was so angry could have shaken
my fist at him. But now began to be
confused in my thoughts about him.
There he sat, the same old John, and |
couldn't believe he was a traitor. Yet,
what had brought him here in Jessie's
company? The more | cooled down,
however, the more sure | was it would
be explained in some way
But, of course, nv feeling couldn't
help Jennie at all, just now. | knew
she had jumped to her own conclusions.
How she Strengthened up? There were
no signs, and no more turnings of her
head. The color was fixed in two bright
spots upon her cheeks. She looked
right at her book and began to sing so
clear and strong that | was fairly
startled, and was afraid everybody
would notice the change. John knew
well enough where she was by this
time, He gave one allegiance round,
that was all. Poor innocent John. He
| told us all about it afterward. Well as
| was saying, Jennie sang firmly for a
verse or two, then she suddenly ceased.
"What is the matter'' | whispered,
| for | was frightened about her
9 N too wicked to sing words like
these,' she said.
She did not sing another note that
night, but when the meeting was about
to close she whispered to me: ''Now
Phoebe, mind you don't loiter. We're
nearest the door; get outside Just as fast
as you can, before the people get round
u.s.
Now in my heart would rather have
fo,.f hn al, nf
learning something that might explain
it all, but of course | couldn't refuse to
do as Jennie said. We got out the door
quickly-Jennie first, though hurried
as fast as | could. Once outside she
took hold of my hand and started off
like deer. The sky had become over
cast and it was perfectly dark. 1t was
one of those hushed, breathless nights
that sometimes precede a summer rain
storm. 1t seemed as if the very crick-
cts were smo.hered by the dark and the
silence. We ran headlong, but we
knew the path well enough, and it was
tolerably smooth. We got well away
from the crowd coming out behind us
and had turned off the main street and
were halfway down the second hill be-
yond. | was going to ask Jennie to
stop running, for was getting out of
breath, when, suddenly, some obstacle in
the path struck our feet from under us.
We fell headlong over mass of some
thing hairy, soft and warm. and our
heads and hands were thrown sharply |
against the gravel beyond. We could |
not recover our senses before the heap |
over which we had fallen began to rise |
under us. | was rolled to one side, |
Jennie to the other, and with snort of |
dismay and displeasure, Peter Nc
Creery's COW switched her tail across
my face and galloped off into the road.
She had been living across the warm
gravel and we had run full against her.
When l began to recover my wits l
heard Jennie laughing in a weak, hys-
terical way: then she began to sob, and
then to half shrek again with laughter.
[ slowly picked myself up, lame and
bruised, and very much surprised to
find that no bones were broken. Half
the plated tounce of my dress that had
got over the cows horn was ripped oft
and dangling under my feet. [ could
dimly see Jennie sitting on the path
where the cow had left her, weaving to
and fro, her face in her hands, crying
and laughing both at once.
| went to her asking if she were hurt.
Cant you get up, dear?' I said.
Just try and see. The folks will be
coming along pretty SOON"
l thought [ already heard feet upon
the path, and | did not want anybody
to see Jennie quite like this. She made
q great etfoIt to control herself and to
get upon her feet. ! took hold of her
to try and help her. But no sooner did
she attempt to raise herself than she
fell back with q little cry of pain, and
then began to laugh again in the same
manner.
81 can't" she said. cts my foot,
Phoebe. The COW trod upon it, and l
can't stir. What shall we do?''
By this time [ had caught her excite
ment and was near to giggling as in
sanely as she. ''What shall we do?" |
echoed
But now there were approaching
steps upon the walk that we both heard.
Jennie knew them in q minute and that !
minute restored her to herself. II
Phoebe" she said firmly, "rll tell ]
you what we must 90. You must run
nome and tell father to come with the {
wagon. TIL creep up here off the road
sde, and keep perfectly still, and no.
oody'n know I'm here till you come
pack 10 -,...,.a (
''But can't leave you alone, SO bad
y hurt. l can't Jennie!'' I
please Phoebe! please hurry, dear! i
Some body is coming"' i
Elm glad of it, said l. "Some- j
BODY ought to come and help u.s. {
But Phoebe, Phoebe, don't let him f
ind us-it's Johnr' -"
81 don't care if it is, I'm glad of it, f
md just remember,oif he was going t
'ver to East Side with Jessie Sears, {
le' d not be here now. You've been