The Press., 1888-10-04
saaa mgnnua; aE.rrr srrurs was about to

sa1d MeTnua, as GrS SprHTS was about to rise.
 Melinda ran toward the well, heading the calf of at the same time She was about to close the gap in the fence when her eyes fell upon the wide opening in the ground. She hesitated moment, then entered the gap and approached the well cautiously. Onthe brink, she peered over and looked into the depth below. She was about to withdraw again, but the ground under her feet gave way, and with a loud scream she was hurled to the bottom of the well. Mra SpEatt and Ben saw what happened, for their eyes had fondly followed Melinda in her every movement, and they now rushed to the scene of the catastrophe.
 Stepping carefully upon some blanks that were lying across the opening of the well, they peered into the abyss below them. There was no sound except of crumbling earth and pebbles falling from the sides of the well The earth was loose from the rain during the day, and the break where Ma linda had fallen in had started the walls to caving all around.
 Then large mass of earth fell crashing to the bottom of the we'll and laid bare huge powder hanging as if ready to toppbe the nexS moment
 A faint moan from the bottom of the well reached the ears of those above. OAP OcA9 SU0 4S d1N0B OdN0 u0TI SSto herr" cried Mrs. Spratt.
 "I can't, Mrs Spratt. That rock in the side of the we'll will fall in directly" whined Ben.
 "Oh, save her, BenI I'll lower you down with the windlass and hoist you out again." pleaded Mrs. Spratt
 '''Taint no use. That rock will tumble in fin minute" still moaned Ben.
 Just then Zip, with head bent, came walk ing toward the house. Mrs. Spratt saw him and called out to him excitedly: "zip! zipI come quick, and save Malinda."
 Kip heard and did not lose moment in running to the we'll
 He took in the situation at once With all speed possible he unwound the rope from the wind1ass, and after telling Mrs. Spratt and Ben to stand ready to hoist, went down in the well, hand over hand, on the rope.
 The earth was still falling, striking the bot tom with g hollow sound, when Zip with lusty shout told them to hoist away.
 Melinda was landed above ground at last, bleeding, bruised and unconscious. The rope was lowered again, and just as Zip's head was above ground the large rock in the side of the weH and masses of earth from all around crurhbled in and fell wi6h sound as of thun- der to the bottom of the well.
 It was narrow escape,
 Melinda was carried to the house and @ doctor was sent for. Before he arrived, how ever, she regained consciousness, and seeing Zip bending over her, glad smile lighted up her fair young face, while she murmured, 'sDont go away, Zip; don't go away"
 Just then Mrs Spratt, accompanied by the doctor, entered the room and approached the bed. When the good mother saw the smile on her daughters faee and Zip bending low above the pillow, glad tears came to her eyes and her voice was low and tender.
 ''You can kiss her, Zip, if you want to-" she said.
 Zip did "want to-" and kissed Melinda on her smiling lips.
 Then Mrs. Bpratt put her arms around Zip's neck and kissed him too, and told him that he must leave the room while the doc tor attended to Melinda's hurts, which upon examination proved to be mere bruises after ald.
 Ben hung around the house for while, but when he sew that he was left out in the cold by everybody, even by Mrs. Spratt, he thought 1t best to ge.-John P. Sjolander in Times-D Democrat.