Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-03-30

neen Wlcked enough 10 WISH the DaDy
dead, when he had been called in
from play to rock the cradle. And
hadn't the good priest told the boys
of the parish school only that very
week ''that a murderous thought was
almost as bad in the eyes of God as a
murderous blow" If the baby should
die-the boys heart gave a great
thump as he thought of it-how could
he, Jean Laval, ever look any one in
the face again!
Take courage, mother" he said,
bravely. ''Pll harness Jet and have
him at the door in a moment"
Mrs. Laval wiped her eyes with
the corner of her apron and looked
anxiously out of the window.
Are you sure it is safe to cross,
my son? l don't like the looks of
that sky and the weather has been
warmer lately, and there have been
signs of the breaking up of the ice
above u.s.
''But that was far up the river, and
as for the clouds, they do look pretty
squally, that's a fact, but we shall be
back long before the storm breaks"
Louise knows what to tell the
doctor. If he shouldn't be home,
leave word for him to come soon as
possible, and then hurry to the drug
store and get the powder, and be sure
and buy double portion for Mother
Barbet. She is coming to stay with
me while you are gone. Yes, sup
pose it is best for you to 60"
Iu a few moments Jean and Louise
were snugly tucked inside the little
sledge under the warm wolf-skins.
and the black pony with his head
down, going at his best pace, brought
them in a short time to the rivers
edge. The river was soon crossed,
and, after a short drive up the main
street of the large town, Jean pulled
up in front of the doctors office.
Finding him out, he scrawlcd a mes
sage on the slate, and stopping at the
drug store he bought two bottles of
the white powder which he carefully
placed i'll his inside coat pocket; and
then they started for home.
'How dark it has grown" ex-
claimed Louise, as they reached the
crossing place and saw Il crowd of
men standing looking out on the
frozen river and gesticulating earnest
ly; land that sky, Jean! it frightens
me to look at it," She pointed to a
writhing mass of huge inky clouds
rapidly climbing up from the horizon.
The wind, which had been blowing
steadily all day, had died away, leav-
ing Il Stiffness which was almost op-
pressive. This OMNIBUS silence was
broken only by an occasional moaning
which seemed to vibrate along the
frozen surface of the river.
AS the black pony stepped out
upon the ice, some men motioned
Jean back; and, finding him deter
mined to 90 on, two or three of them
sprang forward and seized the bride.
"lou're young, my master, but you
are old enough to know better than
to venture across in the face of such
a sky las that. And haven't you
not heard the news from up the river
The ice has already weakened in
spots.'
Let go!' said Jean, Tightening
his hold on the reins. ''Weak ice OF
not, must cross.
But several other men had gathered
in front Of the pony. Back, back
say" shouted one. "We have had
orders to stop people from crossing
but in truth, didn't think there
was a.man or boy fool enough to at
tempt it. Don't you know the mean.
ing of those clouds! The tornado
may be on us at any time-even now
while we are talking
But l tell you l must cross, ant
you have no right to keep me her,
losing time" returned Jean, flushing
angrily, while Louise turned her fac,
imploringly toward the men.
''We must try to cross,' she sale
with trembling lips. "My little baby
brother is sick-perhaps dying; w
have been for the doctor and are tax
ing back the medicine. Father il
away and mother is waiting for us. ,
! The men looked irresolute. "Bet
ter to lose one than three" said th'
first speaker, still keeping hold of th'
bride.
''Let the youngsters 60, neighbo
Tyrrel,' exclaimed newcomer. II
is Pierre Laval's pony, the best trav
eler about N. Perhaps he cal
get them across before the storm
bursts. Think of your own wife lef
alone with a dying baby, and waitin!
medicine. Spare not the whip, m,
boy, and may God put such spee'
in your pony's legs as never was ther
BEFORE
Jet, glad to be released, darte'
) forward on his way. The same op
pressive stiffness continued, still tn
black clouds mounted higher an
higher, and there was the same pc
culiar moaning in the ice beneath
, The children had already crosse