The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-11-09
A. SISTER WORTH HAVING.

"Leave her at home, then; girls are
no good anyway" said Tom, rudy; then
remembering himself, he added, II beg
your pardon, Miss Cassie, didn't mean
exactly that, but you know girls always
give out on an expedition of this sort"
"Just you try me-" said Cassie, not in
the least put out, for she was accustomed
to boys. J.. -"r. i" -
"Well," said Tom, reluctantly, '::I sup
pose we must. But you will be tagged
out in less than no time, and then you'll
want one of usto 90 home with YOU"
"1f 1 do I'll promise not to go again
al summer. What are you looking for,
Stanton?" e." - =" "- = IT,. ~
::My axe, to blaze the trees; you
don't want to be lost; do your -, -
mo. Of course dent. Then you will
take me? Good. I'll 60 after the bask-
ct, and my pressing book for ferns. Shall
I.get anything to read?'' 49,.
mo: Who wants to read in the woods?:
There's always lots to do" a.
Cassie. Thought differently, and slipped
little thin volume beside the bread and
cake and fruit which the housekeeper
gave her. -.'s',t : = ."'''' -: ::
: The boys meanwhile had whitfield
three fresh sticks, and attached knives
and drinking cups. Their object was to
explore a certain fastness of the woods
which had no road through it, and to
reach mountain.top, the crags oftwhich
bad seemed to look with scorn upon
them all summer =. -. ~ s::z :.
Tom was very much vexed that Cassie
had heard their desire and shared It,
and he was not disposed to be at all esl-
liant. Stanton, being fond of his sister,
was more concerned lest she should be,
as he phrased it, tagged out" So for 4
while their walk was silent ono.
" Cassie did not care! She was not one
Of the pouting sort who shrug their
shoulders and get hutfy. She knew she
was strong, and she hadn' thine 70 waste
on little humors and moods. and then
she had 80 much to do. There was her
collection of butterflies, her pressed
flowers and ferns, her acorn work and
pine cones, frames to make for sketches,
and, besides all thisr she was crocheting
Tam O. Shanters' for the boys. = :.
Their path first led them through the
pasture land and stubble, over fences
and stone walls. Then they plunged in
to the thicket which was dense and
brambly, and very rough every way.
And now Stanton's axe became of use.
''For you know we will want to get home
again." he said as he gave . vigorous
cut here and there on each prominent
tree, and this is the way hunters al-
ways do"
As he spoke he struck what appeared
to be decayed trunk, when instantly
<,s,t "a e,s,orv,> ,fo hooe
ing laugh from his companions was soon
followed by an ominous silence, for all
found themselves surrounded by the
disturbed insects. Cassie, thinking dis.
cretion the better part of valor, hurried
away with her dress over her head, but
the boys had hard fight to get off; as it
was both were stung, and had to apply
mud pOultices. This did not increase
their good nature, aud the sun was now
adding to their discomfort.
Cassie began little song. but the wav
was SO steep, and the rocks 50 precipitous
and slippery with pine-needles and moss.
that her notes died away for want OF
breath. She was getting very tired,
when Stanton complained OF hunger,
and Tom espied brook; 90 they al
concluded to make halt, and refresh
themselves. After the rest and luncheon, ,
with many a draught of the delicious
spring water, on they again toiled; and
now they seemed to have overcome the
worst troubles of the way. The under.
growth which had been 30 dense de-
creased; broad patches of huckleberry
bushes offered their fruit; velvety moses
and nodding ferns made the way boauti-
ful; and here and there through the
trees came glimpses of the mountains
stretching away in the blue distance.
On the top of the crags which ]ay before
them was an old l,.af1ess tree which had
been scathed by lighting. Up this the
boys proposed to climb, and fasten it,
tie flag they had with them; Co.! hurry
ing on, they left Cassie to more slowly
overtake them "I! j" 1s.e'% ".'H
The spot! was 80 pretty that Cassie ling
cred, picking leaf here and there, and
listening to the soft whispe=ofth the breeze.
Suddenly crash ii of q filling bouRh o..
rested her attention: then q cry of alarm
succeeded by ~ sudden 4 silence. 9Hup-
rying forward, ,she found Tom bending
over: Stanton, who was lying: all in .
| heap ut the foot offhe tree. .>3t@- ni
@@"'What is it--a fall? Is he dead'2 she
Tom, turned his white tace to her, ut-
:'&et etesess: xatefcqnaict /. :. But; oh. look
here!4-he is bleed;ngE he is cut!" =" i
:.Yes; he'fell with the: axe In his hand.
} The limb must have been rotten; it gave
way said, Tom At last!H ;:sss,Gzsf
I I" But: he will bleed TO death, don't you
see? What can, we dol" 7f.:Il .l.@ u 115g
! ;.:What indeod?'' smuttored, Tom, still
witha dazed look in his eyes. III y.s,.
| The blood, warm and Of . bright red
!! gushing from the. hand. It hooked g II
an artery had been severed. Cassie's