The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-08-16
1 any account to myself or anybody

. and you had better stay right whor
!, you are.n
mo; I've made up my mind to q
and | am sure 1t is the best thing tha
could happen for us all around, so r.
stick to it, said Zip, resolutely.
Melinda was looking out of the win
dow. When she saw man coming u
the lane toward the house, and recog
nized in the conner Ben Button,
shadow Of annoyance fitted over he
face.
| Zip had been watching Melinda, an,
when he saw the slight ffown ON hei
face, he. too, glanced out, and seeing
who was coming he rose TO his fee
ready to depart, saying. I'm call il
again before / leave, and tell Won al
good-by. Good evening"
Melinda glanced reproachfully after
the retreating Zip. There was a sus-
! picion of tears in her eyes, and u
little culver around her mouth, as she
murmured to herself: "Fool Zipl He
is going away because he thinks am
going to marry that hateful Ben Button,
and is jealous. But can't make him
see, and won't ask him to stay. I'll
die first. Therer'
The truth was that serious thought
had at last come to Zip. He was in
love, and he knew it. He had looked
at himself as in looking glass, and
found out his own worthlessness, More
than that, he had determined to
go away, change his habits of shift
lessness, and become useful man aud
citizen. He would not ask Melinda
for her love until he had made himself
worthy of it. If, however, in the mean
time some other man-Ben Button,
perhaps stepped in ahead of him.
why, he would still be the gamer by
an ambition for higher things which,
in an Indirect way, would be gift
from Melinda.
That evening, Ben Button asked
Melinda to become his wife; but she
was in no mood to answer him then, for
lips foolish determination TO go away
troubled her in no small degree. She
knew, too, that her mother favored
Ben above any one else, and that she
would be grieved if Ben received a curt
refusal, so she told him she would have
an answer ready for him when he
should call again, and Ben was happy.
Days passed away. They were days
of hope to Ben, days of doubt and ir-
resolution to Melinda, and busy days
for hand and thought with Zip.
The decisive evening came at last.
and Ben was on hand with his usual
regularity to receive what
he fully expected TO be favorable
answer to his suit.
1t had been rainy day, but the sun
bad broken through the clouds in the
evening, and was setting bright and
clear, casting its last rays upon Mrs.
Spratt, Melinda and Ben Button, as
hey sat on the west gallery of the
house.
Il declare, Melinda" said Mrs.
Spratt suddenly, "if them well-diggers
haven't gone off and forgot to shut the
zap in the fence around the we'll"
7'And there is Blossie's calf in the
ard now, and going straight for the
veil. I'll go and shut up the gap,
mother; you sit still, y said Melinda, as
hrs. Spratt was about to rise.
Melinda ran toward the we'll, head
ng the calf off at the same time. She
vas about to close the gap in the fence,
rhen her eyes fell upon the wideopen-
ng in the ground. She hesitated
then entered the gap. and APP
'roached the well cautiously. On the
rink, she peered over and looked into
epth below. She was about to with
raw again, but the ground under her
eet gave way, and with a loud scream
he was hurled to the bottom OF the
7ell.
Mrs. Spratt and Ben saw what hap
,ened, for their eyes had fondly fol-
owed Melinda in her every movement,
nd they now rushed to the scene of the
Stepping carefully upon some planks
hat were lying across the opening of
he well, they peered into the abyss be-
wv them. There was no sound ex-
ept of crumbling earth and pebbles
llling from the sides of the well. The
arth was loose from the rain during
he day, and the break where Melinda I
ad fallen in had started the walls to | ]
lving all around.
Then a large mass Of earth fell crash
lg to the bottom OF the well and laid
are huge bowlder hanging as if I
eady to topple the next moment.
A faint moan from the bottom of the
ell reached the ears of those above. l
80, Ben, she is alive! Save her! {
I'VE her!" cried Mrs Spratt
Il can't, Mrs. Spratt. That rock in I
ie side of the well will fall in t
rectly,n whined Ben. I
20, save her, Ben! I'll lower you
own with the windlass and hoist you
1t again." pleaded Mrs. Spratt.
"'Tain't no use. That rock will A
mble in in minute" still moaned
en-.
Just then Zip, with head bent, came n
alking toward the house. Mrs. Spratt 5
w him and called out to him excit- n
lily: Zip! Zip! come quick, and save
Zip heard and did not lose moment
running to the well. a
He took in the situation at once. With b
! speed possible he unwound the c
pc from the windlass, and after tell il
g Mrs. Spratt and Ben to stand v
ady to hoist, went down in the well, t
md over hand, on the rope. 4
The earth was still falling, striking Y
e bottom with hollow sound, when a
p with lusty shout told them to a
list away. +