West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-07-10
A RUSTY AXE.
The Part 1t Played In Saving Jack
Donnelly's Life.

a quarter of mile back from the
river, on the street that led down 20
Martins saw mill on the st. Anthony
Falls, stood the little white cottage that
Jack Donnelly had bought for his bride.
IL was not all paid for yet, but the
mortgage had been growing smaller
each spring for three years, and n
couple OF seasons more would see the
entire amount paid, and then Alice
would be the proud owner of what she
and Jack thought was the prettiest
place in Minneapolis.
Almost any one who might have han
pened to catch n GLIMPSE from the cross
street, of the tidy little kitchen, where
Alice was busy one May evening M
sunset would have been inclined to
agree with the verdict
The floor was bare, but il was so
spotlessly clean that no one would have
dared 20 suggest the idea that il looked
bare The stove was not very laroe.
1ut II seemed to be trying to give out
the heat OF furnace, and the red GLOW
that came from its open door was Ike
the headlight of locomotive. Every
thing I'm the room was plain, and there
dld not seem to be anything there that
was not abs sOlutely necessary. The
Injuries could wait till the MORTGAGE
was paid off. But what there was had
been scrubbed till il shone, and the tea
Kettle was putting out steam like mad.
IL was fairly wonderful how that little
Kettle pulled and sang, and how the lid
danced ghtly up and down.
But the brightest, tjdiest object I'm the
room was Alice, with her brown hair
tied securely back with n blue ribbon
(Jack liked her so very much) and her
Dlue eyes watching each particular
thIng on the stove all the time and vet
looking every moment at the table To
see II anything was missing that Jack
would want, and into the other room TO
see If baby was all right and out of mis-
cniei' and at the clock to see that the
minutes were not gong too fast, she fit
Yea around the room singing like "A bird
Everything was done just right and
the clock said "a quarter past six. Jack
would be there in minute or two. so
supper was set back where il would
keep hot 1t wouldn't be long; Jack
never .oitered on his way home. There
was too much happiness waiting for
MN. No stopping at the corner for a
glass OF something hot and strong.
But the little clock kept on licking
lust as If Jack was there. And the
ticking grew louder and louder. and
more and more disagi eeable as IL re-
morsely checked of minute after min
ute OF the time that Jack was overdue.
len minutes, twenty, thirty. and the
anxious little housewife sighed as she
wondered what could be keeping Jack.
1t was nonsense 60 suppose that he was
hurt She would not think OF il for a
moment. The idea that Jack her
Jack-the bravest, strongest. coolest
logger on the river, had been hurt was
laughable. And she laughed But IT,
did not sound like the ripples of rnerri-
ment that Jack loved so well. and IL
stopped very suddenly, fading away
from face that looked very sober when
10 was gone.
Then baby began TO cry and there
was no use worrying then because Jack
would be home before baby was quieted
And she began singing 10 the little one
But there were one or two false notes i'm
the song, and baby evidently had ap
ear for music, for he refused TO he
quieted.
Then, just as two bio tears were com
AANA A''it NfHf NtlB AAOUt KklH
opened and Jacks step was heard In
"a moment more he was in the room
hearty and big as ever, but very wet
and pale.
'Therel there Alice, darling. kiss
me again, but doD't put your arms
around me, fur I've had n duckin'.
Why darling, faint nothin' Yer
needn't be frightened now. Hadn't
yer found out by this time that p logger
is liable 10 get wet? There. there. dear
Don't ye cry so. Thank Cod, I amt
hurt
The great brawny fellow. wet rs he
was took the fair girl in his arms. and
was strokiug her hair and kissing E.
"Oh, I'm so happy. said Alice.
laughing and crying AZ once, and Civ
ing him little squeczes and taps run
ning from his arms 20 the closet aud
back TO his arms again, bringing kisses
and dry clothes as fast as she could
Now, Jack, don't say O. word about
e till you've had your supper, she said
a few minutes later "But what
shame it is that supper is spelled. Shall
| cook you anothor2"
Spoiled. oh2 Well. i rather like
ipoiled things like those;" and Jack