The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-11-04


silence. We ran headlong, but we knew
the path well enough, and it was toler.
ably smooth. We got we'll away from
the crowd coming out behind us, and
bad turned Off the main street and were
halfway down tho second hill beyond.
| was going TO ask Jennie to stop run
ming, for l was out Of breath, when
some obstacle il the path struck our
feet from under as. We fell headlone
over mass of something hairy, soft and
warm, and our heads and hands were
thrown sharply against the gravel be-
yond. We could not recover our senses
before the heap over which VIC had
fallen began to rise under us. l was
rolled to one side, Jennie to the other.
and with snort Of dismay and dis
pleasure Peter McOreery's COW switched
her tail across my face and galloped oil
into the road.
She had been lying across the warm
gravel, and We had run full agoinst
her.
When L began to recover my wits l.
heard Jennie laughing in weak, hys-
terical way; then she began to sob,
and then to half shrek again with
laughter. 1 slowly picked myself up,
lame and bruised, and very much sur
prised to find that no bones were
broken. Half the plated 6ounces of my
dress that had got over the cows horn
was ripped off and dangling under my
feet. l could dimly see Jennie sitting
on the path whore 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. "Can't you get up, dear ?" l
said. "Just try and see. The folks
will be coming along pretty soon"
I thought already heard feet upon
the path, and did not want anybody
to see Jennie quite like this. She made
a great effort 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 little cry of pain,
and then began TO laugh again in the
Same distressful manner.
"I can't" she said. "It's my foot,
Phoebe. The COW trod upon it. and
can't stir. What shall we do 2"
By this time I had caught her ex-
citement, and was near to giggling as
insanely as she. "What shall We doY
l echoed.
But now there were approaching
steps upon the walk that NC both heard
Jennie knew them in minute, and
that minute restored her TO herself.
"Phmbe," ahe said, firmly, an
tell you what We must do. You must
run home and toll father to come with
the wagon. Ill creep up hore off the
roadside and keep perfectly still, and
nobody'll know I'm here till you CONC
back"
"But I can't leave you alone SO bad
~ hurt. l can't, Jennie !"
"Please, Phoebe please, dear
Tim glad Of it," said !, "Somc
body ought to come and help Use"
"But, Phoebe, Phobo don't Lei
him find us---it's JohnP
az don't care if it is; IIn glad of it,
and just remember, if he was going
over to East Side with Jessie Sears he'd
not bo here now. You've been too
quick, Jennie; there's some mistake"
Poor Jennie could only give a little
moan of pain for answer. Her ankle
was beginning to hurt her badly. Lit.
tie as her moan was John was neal
enough to catch it, for that instant VIZ
heard his anxious voice calling:
"Girls Phoebe, Jennie, arc you
there" There was silence for min
ute, then I spoke out; eyes, John,
we're here, and we want YOU"
"You want mo! What is the mat
terp What made you run away from
me? got out as fast rs 1 could to
catch up with you"
Dear how troubled, and how kind,
and how full of comfort too, his famil-
lar old voice sounded.
"I'm SO glad you've come |" cried.
"Jennie is hurt"
"Jennie-hurt !"
All, you should have heard the tone
of his voice when he said that; almost
felt as if / ought not to be there to heal
it; why, there couldn't have been more
feeling in his voice ii she had been his
sister and mother and wife and child all
in one
guess John was pretty we'll worn
out with what he had gone through al
McCreery's, to say nothing OF having
wanted Jennie's company all the even.
ing and missed it. And sometimes to
be tired out and sacrificed in the service
OF others softens and opens q persons
heart before he knows is.
He knelt down beside Jennie and lii 6
match to look at her. I hope it was moi
wrong for rae to have taken a glance al
the two faces that match lighted up
Johns so troubled and devoted, and
Jennie's scratched and fearful, pitiful
wistful, questioning.
He spoke right out like o man TO the
silent cry of the heart "My darling,
he said-"my darling, what is the mat
teri"
That was more than ehe could beal
Just then; she wavered as she sat, an(
fell back in dead faint. John spranl
to raise her head, and ran 10 the brool
to sop my handkerchief with water u
bathe her face. begged John to le
mo run home ut once and send tn
wagon. 1t was plain he could not bea
to leave her, and l ran of Us fast as
could.
was back again before the hors
could be harnessed, bringing with m
camphor and cologne. But Jennie ha
recovered her senses before I arrived.
heard her talking in low voice to job
! before 1 reached them. What he sal
to her do not know, but she was NEE
; enough now-as humble and grateful q
possible when we lifted her into th
wagon and got her horee.
4 And how heroic she was while th
, doctor was setting her ankle. AT leai
they all said she was heroic but it
|, my private belief she did not feel th
least pain for sheer happiness, Hn
G therefore there was no virtue whatevt
in her keeping rs still as a lamb.
i / told her the next day that she di
i not deserve her happiness, and 81
" owned she did not. asked her il 81