The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-03-11
4 HEROINE INDEED.

no Darty-one of the old-fashloned |
sind. with great roaring fire on the
bank, and afterward a supper at the
cavern a little distance from the stream
Jack Hardy, coming down the read,
with his skates slung across his shout
Isr and clad in a thick, wooden jacket. |
was in high spirits. And why should |
b. not BOP He was bound for the house |
IF the prettiest girl in the neighbor-
hood. and this prcttiest girl had prom
ised 10 90 skating with him that very
night
81, these rural settlements everybody's
business Is town talk, and it is not sim
erilar thai people nodded their heads
.,Parson Bronlow had better look out!
That there viii be a match atore he
knows it. >
macy between Jack and the parsons
daughter Jane. Mrs. Deacon FurTlt
had said:
..Nov, amt to say but she'll make
him n good wife. but she is so halum-
searum fear no good will come OF her.
And so feared The least thing will
skeer her. Why, t'other day was
a-callin' at the parsonage went over
for that there receipt for sponge cake
that lost this spring, and you know
there amt none alike il round here
and it was my mothers own-well, and
purty soon that Jennie came in, scream
IN and pale-like, and said: .sOh. take
that horrid bug off my arm. Well, |
was so nigh dead a1aughin' at tust
couldn't take it of, but finally man
aged to, and then Jennie-yes, she sat
down and cried ike 2-year-old child.
I'm feared Mrs. Parson Brownlow
4 l,.l1N oh Gfl. flf
enough. Not, say ]. but she's meant
well. though. "
With which lengthy speech she folded
her knitting in her lap and then put on
a most self-complacent smile.
Jack Hardy went whistling down the
road that lay clear and white in the
light of the moon, Just rising, knowing
little of all this. That Jennie, was q
lively, Iight-hearted girl he knew, and,
too, that she within herself was q true
woman he was confident.
Whistling, sometimes, is like having
a good companion. 1t makes the way
short and CHEEKY 1t smooths the hard
ruts, and makes one forget the hour and
lose himself with his thoughts So,
soon the parsons house was reached,
and Jack-who shall say that his heart
was beating faster?-stepped to the
door and raped.
It was scarcely half minute before
Jennie herself made her appearance at
the door, trining u happy little song
and looking, in her blue hood, like a
bluebird.
''Come inl You see am all ready to
go; but you must warm yourself 3 min
ute" she said.
"Reminiscences were of no avail, and
cf, 10 hut In
fire, rather awkwardly answering the
questions of the old folks. The mother
looked trife anxious.
you win be really careful, won't
you, Jack?" she said.
Jack was an acknowledged fact in
that household.
'4Of course viii take good care" he
said. DE Fivae says the ice is five
inches thick, and they'll begin to cut in
the morning"
Eyes, yes, 1 know, but / confess I'm a
little anxious. If anything should hap
pen to my girl"
And her eyes glistened.
''Oh, she will be safe-she is in good
hands" said Parson Brownlow, merrily.
with pleasant nod at Jack.
The parson was growing old, and
Jack was the ikeliest fellow in the vii
lage.
And at the door the mother said once
more:
You'll be really careful of my girl,
won't you, Jack?"
Indeed 1 will. he answered.
Oh, that walk ia the moonlight The
crunch, crunch of the snow, the far
away falling water, and the aged town.
clocks stroke of eight, all sounded de-
Gcious in their ears. Whyp All, no
one has ever found it Quit Not breath
of air stirred the leafiess branches; not
a star but shone its brightest; not a
cloud could be seen but one or two in
the low west. II was a glorious night;
a night when nature sings and earth re-
joices-when it seems wrong to stay
indoors, and a glorious privilege to be
outside.
The pond was dotted with many skat-
ers, for skating parties were the most
popular-almost the onlY-excitement
the Mills had. Skillful skaters We'd
with each other in their graceful evolu-
tions-eyery boy and every girl knew
the latest curve and fancy reel. All the
girls worked their chosen youths skate
bags. And now the climax had come.
A grand skating party at the full Of the
moon, with the prospect of good hot
supper afterward, brought together
skaters from all the country round.
Pretty pictures they made, too, Gid
ing here and there over the glittering
surface, while the moon looked on APP
provingly at the ures-generally by
twos-skating in and out of the shadows
the tail pines cast.
By the cracking, CHEEKY FIRE their
skates were put on, and then, with his
strong arm holding hers, Jack and Jen-
ME gIided away.
What a picture they made, Skaters
turned and looked at them as they
darted by. He, tall, strong, 1.-the; she,
as supple as a willow, as graceful as a
fay of old. Yes, they were known as
the best skaters in town.
Far over the ice they sped far down
the river, and then, with grand curve,
back, never stopping for breath till the
fire was reached again.
As they warmed their hands at the
blaze somebody spoke to Jack-remind-
ed him of his share of the work-he
must bring an arn1fuI of wood for the
fire, for each had done his part So he
excused himself for a moment and
swiftly skated to the other shore, where
driftwood was plenty and 20 be had for
the taking.
Look out for the air-hole by the
5JutCDOuy SHOuH6el dIbcI n1t4l-
But Jack did not hear. and glided on.
Jennie was standing near the fire.
talking gayly to this one and that,
laughing and singing snatch Of q
skating song, when
Through the stiliness-how still It
seemed theni-a cry came of eHeipg'
The little song ceased, the small
hands uplifted to the blaze dropped to
her side.
..Oh, it's Jackr' was all she said
They said after that like Hash she
darted away--lilze frightened deer, or
a sunbeam And, indeed, the light
seemed to have gone from the party as.
open-eyed and frightened, they stared
AL bEt one or two, who rushed Whith-
e the cry for help proceeded.
Bot none were 50 quick as Jennie.
Fleet as an arrow, and somehow guided
as directly, she went on and on across
the stream, never thinking Of danger,
with no distinct idea OF how she might
save hiTn, only SAYING: .e0h, God, give
me back Jacki over and over again.
As she neared the shore she could |
make out dark. dark hole In the ice
and a human form at the edge
Jack, JaekF shs cried, and then
stumbled and fell.
Was God against herp Had he stop
ped her to let Jack drownP For she |
was sure that IN some mysterious man
ner she could have saved him c0ald she
have Flanf.aff fft<sf q 1,Sfs.