St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-04-29

slowly round. "How late he ISL and
she pressed her face against the window
to try to get q glimpse OF outdoors; but
it was as dark as pitch outside.
"Hark!' she said, suddenly; "there
he comes;" and wide open she threw the
door. The steps drew nearer and near
er. and in a moment two men burst into
the light streaming out from the door
way.
| She had been so much alone that she
was not afraid. So she called out:
"Where are You going9'
"We're bound for the West Bog, to
let on the water"
"Have you seen my father?:''
"No. He ought to be up to food his
bog fore long, Then they passed in
to the darkness again, and their steps
died away.
| They were going to flood their bog,
then; they knew there was danger, Ma
omi thought Oh, why didn't her father
come? What should she do? For
moment.-only moment-she hesi-
tated. Then she hurried to the closet
and lighted the lantern, put on her
cloak. took her crutch. and only waiting
an instant to listen once more for her
fathers steps, she hobbled and ran down
the path as best she might. On she
hurried, the crutch stumping, stamping
over the ground.
Oh, how dark it was! How small and
alone she felt in this great black night!
Once a rabbit burst from the bushes
and scuttled across her way; time
and again she thought she saw men
crouching right in her path; and once
she almost fell to the ground when close
to her ear loud voice cried out: "Tu
whit, tn whit, tn whoor' But she was
brave little girl, and she kept right on.
But she had never walked so fast or SO
far, and soon her foot began to pain her
at every step; but she dreaded to stop
in all that darkness, SO ON she went.
Then all at once she came upon little
cottage with a dim light burning in
front window. She knocked.
"What is it?'' said woman's voice.
$50 away, or I'll set the big dog ye>
and git out the gun, and call my hus-
band, and have you arrested! 1e'd bet
ter leave.''
Naomi laughed.
I'm only little girl she said "Is
there man here that could 60 up to the
bogs?''
"Be you alone, young woman9''
asked the voice; and Naomi thought she
saw the curtain drawn aside little.
"All alone"
"Sure? Cos, if you haven't come to
rob the house, won't take The trouble
to wake up the three men and the dog
that's sleepin' in the next room, and git
down the gum" And the door was
opened tribe.
"Why, you poor childr' cried the
woman. "We1l, web, how you did
frighten me! l thought some robbers
had come. I'm all alone. Come i'm
So Naomi went in and sat down a
moment by the fire; saw the cat doing
on the hearth, and laughed to see thee
woman jump every time leaf rustled
outside. At last she left her alone
again, and hurried along the lonesome
road. But suddenly she stops; here right
before her is deep, broad brook, and
in The faint light of the lantern she sees
one narrow, slippery plank to lead
across. Must she 60 back? In mo-
ment her plan was laid. She raised her
crutch and threw it clear over the brook;
and then, the lantern hanging on one
finger, she knelt down on the narrow
plank, and grasping it with both hands,
began to crawl along. Every instant
she expected to fall into the dark water
which she could just see slipping slowly
along below.
But at length the stream was crossed,
and on she hobbled again. She is al
most there now. She knows just
where stands the gate across the brook,
for her father has often brought her
here. She sees it there in the dark
ness, where the brook boils ana foams
and rushes throug h. Here it is at last.
While she unfastens the gate she sees
fish or two dart into the light of the Ian
tern for an. instant-and. then, thud, a
splash fell the gate and the water rose.
And then she fell over on the cold,
hard ground, and tainted away from
fright and pain. 'e 5tas
Well, she awoke in the little room in
the boat, and saw her father looking
into the dancing fire. And she felt so
warm and comfortable that she did not
speak for a moment; and then she said:
"Did it save the berries, father?''
And how her father came and talked
to her, how he praised her and blamed
her, and what they did with the money
they received for the cranberries, would
take too long to tell. But Of all the
stories that Naomi tells her grand
children, the one they like best IS that
which tells how the owl hooted, and
how she crossed the bridge and saved
the bog. Vide AOake.