Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-10-05

Thought You wouldn't mind me
taxing this liberty, Emily he said in |
his homely way. "You and your friends |
lump ''n,al. ma, M and I'll whip -ou up to your
house lively. Your mother knew as
was coming down, SO she said she'd stay |
nome and meet you there"
ought to have been glad and given
my attentive lover hearty shake Of the
hands. But. no. Lust permitted him
to touch my fingers in a freezing sort Of
way and coolly said:
Thanks, We have been sitting in the
cars SO long that we shall prefer to
walk. We wal send our man for the
baggage"
l knew tae girls were Just longing to
ride, and SO was T. But I was not 60
ing to let chem think that country
fellow with such q horrid name as
Ebenener could do as he pleased with
me. So we walked.
Two or three evenings later, not
withstanding my rebuff at the de-
pot, Ebenezer called. Ny foolish
temper still held full sway, and
l was actually SO rude as to tell
him he might have waited until he was
invited. Then excused myself and
left the girls and Ebenexer together on
'otr porch. There heard them having
la good time together, while L sat sulk-
ing in my room until threw myself
upon the bed and had good cry.
I was half asleep when the girls came
upstairs, both exclaiming, as they en-
tered my room: sWhy, Emily, your
Ebenezer isn't such bad fellow; he's
just splendid!"
Next evening we three girls took my
boat (Which, by the way, was the pref
test row-boat in the village, and had
been made entirely by Ebenezer, who
gave it to me for birthday present,)
and rowed some distance down the lake.
We We're long way from home, when
a severe and sudden summer storm
broke over our heads. The waves, THE
wind, the thunder, and the Lightning
were simply fearful, and we were;an
rendered utterly helpless with terror 1
was rowing, but my arms seemed to be-
come paralyzed, and I lost the oars.
We We're drenched with rain and shiv-
ering with fear, expecting every mo-
ment that the boat would upset and we
go to the bottom. Darkness was gath
yering, too, and We could see nothing.
Presently, through the gloom and the
driving rain came the sound Of a cherry
voice:
Brace up, girls; we will soon lave
you safe ashore!"
1t was Ebenezer, and oh, how CRATE
full I felt to him at that moment.
1 had no time then to think
of my own silly pride, and
unkind temper, but was glad to know
that Ebenezer was near. He brought
confidence to my heart and I think to
the other girls, and even in that terrible
storm on the rough waters Of the Lake
I felt safe with him.
He was dextero,.sly handling tire
boat in which he sat and managed to
catch hold Of the painter rope which
was dangling over the bow of our boat.
This he made fast to the stern of his
own skiff and then pulled Justify for the
shore. In less than ten minutes Ebe-
nezer's boat touched bottom and he
sprang out and waded through the
breaking waves to us. He caught hold
of the gunwale of my boat with both
hands, and by great effort jerked us
up on the beach beyond all chance of
being swamped by the water. He lifted
us out one by one. Twas the last, and
even as. my feet touched the ground
while he released his hold of me,
binding flash of lurid fame dazzled my
eyes and felled Ebenezer to the earth.
He lay stretched before ME, with his
feet in the water and his head on the
wet sand--dead.
No, Ebenezer isn't much Of q name,
but to me it always recalls memories of
everything that is noble and brave and
good; and such memories are none the
less sweet because they are tinged with
sadness.