Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-01-06

I'm too wicked to sing words like
these" she said
She did not sing another note thatnigbt,
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
fingered a little just for the chance OF
learning something that might explain it
| all, but of course couldn't refuse to do
as Jennie said. We got out the door quick
| ly-Jennie first, though l hurried as fast
as I could. Once outside, she took hold OF
my hand and started off like a deer. The
sky had become overcast and it was FER
fectly dark. 1t was one of those hushed,
breathless nights that some times precede
a summer rain-storm. 1t seemed as if the
very crickets were smothered by the dark
and silence We ran headlong but we
knew the path well enough and it was toll
erably smooth. We got well away from
the crowd coming out behind us and had
| turned off the main street and were half
way down the hill second beyond. I was
going to ask Jennie to stop running, for l
was getting out of breath, when suddenly
some obstac Gle in the path struck our feet
from under US. We fell headlong over a
mass of something hairy, soft and warm,
and our heads and hands we're thrown
sharply against the gravel beyond. We
could not recover our senses before the
heap over which we had fallen began to
rise under u.s. I was rolled to one side,
Jennie to the other, and, with snort Of
disnay and displeasure, Peter McCreery's
COW switched her tail across NV face and
galloped off into the road.
She had been lying across the warm
gravel, and we had run full against her.
When [ began to recover my wits [
heard Jennie laughing in q weak, hysteri-
cal way; then she began to sob, and then
to half shrek again with laughter. I slow
ly picked myself up. lame and bruised, and
very much surprised to find no bones were
broken. Half the plated flounce of my
dress that had got over the cows horn was
ripped off and dangling under my feet.
1 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.
1 went to her asking if she were hurt.
''Can't you get up dear?'' I said. ''Just
try and see. The folks will be coming
along pretty Soon"
1 thought NalreadY heard feet upon the
path, and did not want anybody to see
Jennie quite like this. She made great
effort to control herself and to get upon
her feet. 1 took hold of her to try and
help her, But no sooner did she attempt
to raise herself than she fell back with a..
little cry of pain, and then began to laugh
again in the same distressful manner.
II can't w. she said, tits my foot, Phoebe.
The COW trod npon it, and I can't stir
What shall we do?''
BY this time [ had caught her excite
ment and was near to giggl1ng as insaney
as she. "What shall we do?" [ echoed.
t5IJr0eso1r11Is.
upon the walk that we both heard Jen-
ME knew them in minute and that min
ute restored her to herself.
'sPhobe," she said firmly, "I'll tell you.
what we must do. You must run home
and tell father to come with the wagon.
I'll creep up here off the roadside, and
keep perfectly still, and no body'n know
Pm here till you come back.''
''But can't leave you alone, so badly
hurt, I can't. Jennie!"
'sPlease, Phoebe! please hurry, dear
Somebody is comingI'
.sI'm glad of it.' said I. "Somebody
ought to come and help u.s."
s'But Phoebe, Phoebe, don't let him find
us-at's .Joh1o!"
II don't care if it is, I'm glad of it, and
just remember it he was going over to
East side with Jessie Sears, he'd not be
here now You've been too quick, Jennie,
there's some mistake"
Poor Jennie could only give little moan
of pain for answer. Her ankle was be-
ginning to hurt her badly. Little as her
moan was, John was near enough to catch
it, for that instant we heard his anxious
voice calling
.sGirls! Phoebe, Jennie are you there?"
There was silence for a minute, then l
spoke out eyes; John, we're here, and
we want YOU
"You want me! What is the matter?
What made you run away from me? l got
out as fast as [ could to catch up with
you."
Dear! how troubled, and how kind, and
how full of comfort too his familiar old
voice sounded.
I'm so glad you've come!" I cried,
'sJennie 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 hear it;
why, there couldn't have been more feel
ing in his voice if she had been his sister
and mother and wife and child all in one!
I guess John was pretty well worn out
with what he had gone through at Nc
Creery's s, to say nothing of having wanted
Jennie's company all the evening and
missed it, And sometimes to be tired out
and sacrificed in the service of others sof-
tens and opens PERSONS heart before he
knows it.
He knelt down before Jennie and lit
match to look at her, 1 hope it was not
wrong for me TO take a glance at the two
faces that match lighted up; Johns so
troubled and devoted, and Jennie's,
scratched and fearful, pitiful, W istful,
questioning.
He spoke right out like a man to the 81
lent cry of his heart. "My darling" he
said. tiny darling what is the matter ?"
That was more than she could bear just
then; she wavered as she sat, and fell back
in dead faint. John spra3g to raise her
head, and ran to the brook to sop my
handkerchief with water and battle her
face. 1 begged John to let me run home