McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-05-15
water. / told him school

reprOvlngiy. s'But 60 ana prlDg MIN
now; and hurry, for your lesson in
arithmetic comes on directly.r
Tommy came back in a brief space
Of time, white and frightened.
"Tod is STAMINA on stone and cry
in, and the waters all round him." ne
said. 81 couldn't get near him at all !"
The whole school rose en- masse, and
Jennie, at the head of the small army,
led on to the rescue of Tod. .
Yes, there he stood on q stone which
a little time before had been on the
shore, but now, alas, was in the midst
of the rapidly swelling stream beyond
the reach of any one in that little
group. tf - '"f
sMamma! mammal" he called in
piteous tones, "Come and take Tod.
Tod is 'fraid. Come, mamma, comet"
Jennie looked over her little flock of
pupils who crowded about her. Not
one of them was large enough to wade
out and rescue Tod. The only boy in
her school who might safely have at
tempted this had remained at home
that day to assist his father.
The water was rising higher every
moment. What was to be done must
be done quickly, or the angry waves
would seize poor little Tod, and sweep
him away down the swelling stream.
"John," cried Jennie, speaking to
the largest boy in the flock, ''you stand
here on the bank, while I wade out to
Tod. shall want you to take him
from my arms as soon as l have him
safe. Some of the larger girls must
hold fast to your coat, 80 that you do
not fall into the stream.''
Then Jennie drew her skirts close
about her slight figure and plunged
bravely into the cold waters, sinking
almost to her waist at the first step.
Slowly, slowly she made her way to-
ward the crying child, the waves rush
ing up higher over his feet every mo-
ment.
The little flock on the shore huddled
together like frightened lambs, watch
ing their teacher with wide distended
eyes and sobbing out their fear and
terror, as she slowly forced her way
against the waves. r.r.
Another effort, another plunge, and
she had him in her arms. Then she
tried to make her way back to shore,
but the waters were growing more
furious every moment, as if angered at
the loss of their prey. They almost
swept her from her feet-they launched
above her shoulders, and her little bur-
den screamed and struggled with ter
ror, making her task ten fold more
difficult.
s'Just another step, teacher, and I'll
catch hold of him." cried John from
the shore, reaching out almost his
whole length over the waters, while
two sobbing girls held fast to the skirts
of his coat.
1t was an exciting scene, a wild mo-
ment of suspense. Jennie's face was
as white as .chiseled marble; her long,
black hair had fallen from its fasten-
ings, and foated back over the pillows
like dark mantle; her eyes were large
with fear, her mouth drawn with pain,
and her slender form swayed as if her
strength were we'll nigh exhausted.
With one last mighty effort she laid
her burden in Johns outstretched
arms. :"
Ted was saved.
A wild shout of joy and triumph rose
from the excited band on shore, and
they focked about the PROSTATE form
of the almost inanimate child.
just then great wave swept down
upon Jennie, lifted her from her feet,
just as she was about to grasp the
shore, and bore her rapidly down the
stream like piece of light driftwood.
As she was whirled away the whole
events of her past life rose before her;
that life which only an hour before had
seemed so poor, and mean, and dull to
her. All, now how precious and bright
and beautiful it became. She remem-
bered her rash wish, that she might be
given some one heroic actto perform
and then die. That act had been grant
ed her, almost instantly, and she had
performed it heroically. But now must
she carry out the remainder of her
thought, and die! Oh, death was dark
so cold; the unknown seemed so ter
rible; she was so young, and life was
so sweet!
She thought of Jack, her lover, and
the half-completed house. Life with
him there, that an hour before had
seemed a dreary, monotonous waste,
now shone upon her like the departing
shores of some lost paradise. Oh, to
see his dear eyes smiling fondly upon
her, once more to hear his voice; life,
youth, love, how precious they all
were!
Then all grew blank. slack, Jack,
I am so cold. o, God! save me-pity
forgive" she cried, and then sank
away into Inconsistencies.
Two miles below the school house
they found her tossed on shore with a
mass of driftwood. Quite dead they
pronounced her at first, and the old
village doctor confirmed the assertion.
But Jack Kellogg would not listen to
any of them. "She is not Dead" he
cried. Chow dare you tell me such
cruel thing. She is alive, and will
look nm and smile in NV face before the