The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1884-11-06


I and Thonpy would always stop and tall
) With him Sometimes ho would com
over Of an evening TO hear mo play. fof
had my violin along and be bad the goo'
taste TO like music. though hs used to ~
and stare q. Thompy while played.
We spent good many evenings in from
of our sod house. with nv violia ana
Thempy doing nothing bat locking pic
tnresQue. while George gradley lay on III,
dry grass al our feet and stared At her.
didn't mind ii. for she was well worth
looking at. with her soft brown eyes snd
obstinate mouth. And she was too old for
any such nonsense as flirting, else who're
would be our old maids halle Tho Her,
ders would come over occasionly for q
short time. but the baby usually kept than
at home. They had good many cattle,
which they hired boy to herd, and what
with their farm work and getting ready
for the long. cold winter, they were very
busy all day and very tired when night
came.
The long, nsnotonous days dragged by.
told Thompy that the evening and the
morning were the first day, and oil the
others were just like It, She opened her
eyes and looked shocked. She seemed to
enjoy everything, and fitted about help.
ing Mrs. Herier in neighbcrly way,
playing with the baby, analyzing flowers,
and just sitting still and watching the
shadows drift over the grass. and grew
brown and rosy.
For myself, grew almost to hate the
long, still days, and in spite OF the never
ceasing winds, days so alike that you could
not tell one week from another OF Monday
from Saturday, to long for November aud
our return to the civilized world Sep
tsmber came and thought OF tho chang.
ing woods and autumn sound OF wind
among the branches, and it seemed as
though it be almost like heaven to see
tree, said to Thompy, and she respond.
ed by singing,
Der all tho wide, extended plain
Shines ono eternal day
shall never forget enc day about the
middle OF the month. Mr. Herder had
been ut the sheds near the house stacking
corn for the winter use of the cattle. We
could hear him singing about the place all
the drowsy afternoon. and now and again
his wife would call to him in her high,
sweet voice. George Bradley was in town,
and just about 6 the boy came driving the
cattle before him. Mrs Herder was at
our door with the baby in her arms in.
viting us to tea. We all stood there in the
late sunshine watching the cattle as they
came slowly over the prairie, stopping to
nibble the grass here and there until urged
on by the boy, who rode spiteful little
pony. As they came Mr.. Herder paused
in his work, aud seeing us waved bis hand,
let down the bars to the enclosure, and
stepped back, holding in his hand the
knife with which he had been working.
The cattle passed in one after another,
and only the big Durham bull-Mr Her
der's special pride stopped to sample the
straw Mr.. Herder struck at him with the
fiat side of the knife, and the next moment
horrible thing was happening. The en-
ragged animal turned upon him, and catch
ing him on his cruel horns, tossed him in
the air. ] saw the boy dashing away
across the prairie for the help which it
would have been madness for him TO have
attempted to give. heard Mrs, Herder's
cry.
"My God, the brute will kill him" as
she sank on her knees with look Of ago
ny on her face, the like of which pray |
may never see again. Thompy stood as
II turned to stone, till. at cry from the
defeaseIess man. out there all aloae, she
turned, and snatehipg the revolver from
the wall where it had been avoided SO
long. she dashed by us TO his help
"Arabella Thompson" | cried clutch
ing at her as she passed me, shave you lost
your senses?"
She was gonel | sank down on my
knees, and burying my face in my hands,
lost all consciousness save Of horrible
sickenipg pain in the place where my
heart used to beat / believe 1 knew
something Of the tortures OF the lostin
that space. | 90 not know whether it was
long or short, il seemed forever. The
first thing Of which / became conscious
was the noiss Of voices ia excited question
and answer raised myself from the
ground and saw George Bradley and sdy-
eral others about the PROSTATE body OF Mr.
Herder He still lived though badly hurt
and they soon had him on the bed waiting
for the doctor to come.
They found Thompy unoonscious not
far from where the bull died; the revolver
was some distance beyond. where she had
thrown it after shooting. George Bradley
brought her in, in his arms, and we could
none Of us make enough Of her.
"how did you ever do II. you. who are
so afraid OF tirearms?" ! asked.
There was nothing else TO do, she an
swersd simply
",ssw did you aim?" asked some one.
Il didn't aim. / jus. shut my eyes aud
prayed, and then shot and threw II as far
as could.
believe she was more afraid OF The re.
yolyer than she was Of that horrible beast
After that the two families got sort OF
mixed up Mr.. Herder. nufsed by us all.
struggled slowly back TO life. Mrs. Her
der could no. do enough for Thompy, and
AZ for that George Bradley. be acted as
a. A.