Nevada County picayune., 1889-01-23
PRESCOTT NEVADA COUNTY ARKANSAS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 189

| ueafN Wiln Wlne. one puSned nCr- self away from him and said with q forced laugh, You are joking, Mir. kingsbury, and you know I do not like jokes.'
 ''It is no joke" shouted Jack, iiercely. II will kiss you.''
 ''There-you have knocked my l hat off-go after it or it will be lost in the dark l will hold the horse" '" ] Muttering something under his breath, Jack jumped off and walked back to where the hat lay. As he picked it up he heard the snap of a whip. and looking forward saw the buggy vanishing in the distance
 His wrathful expressions are best left unreeorded. It was good three miles to the farm. cutting across fields, and the fresh mountain air soon cooled Jacks excitement. Before he had gone two miles he l called himself fool and an idiot and his admiration for the girls high handed way of ridding herself of him grew with every step homeward.
 By love-" he exclaimed, aloud, "she's worth dozen city girls :. V hat a fool I was to insult her; she will never forgive it. l know her well enough for that, = and he walked on buried in thought.
 He found the door of the farm house open. and after laying her hat carefully on the hall table, went straight to his room. threw off his coat, and lighted cigar. There was a knock at the door.
 MT. kingsbury !'
 Come in,' shouted Jack.
 You ain't seen Hester anywhere on the road, MT. Kingsbury 7" queried the farmer, stepping into the room.
 Hasn't she returned yet?" cried Jack, in astonishment.
 No, and the old lady's bit ner- vous but tell her reckon Hester's s stopped in to see friend, and like as not she's forgot the time, though 'taint like Hester to do it..
 ''She should have been here long ago, Mir. Brent" springing up and throwing on hls coat again. II fear something has happened to her. l met Miss Hester near Brook farm on my way home, and-well-er-she said she would drive home, and l walked across the fields, so you see she ought to have been home first"
 Farmer Brent's weather beaten face had puzzled, apprehensive look, as he followed Jack down the stairs.
 Wait a bit-we'll get laterns!" he shouted, as Jack opened the front door. But Jack was already out in the road, tearing along by the light of the moon. far ahead of the farmer and some of the farm hands. who fol- lowed with lanterns. On he went. looking carefully about him. until he came to the foot of steep, rough hill, By the moons light he could distinguish large, dark object lying in the middle of the road; the buggy had come to grief. Just then from q clump of trees close by came the whinny of a horse. Jack sprang to the spot from which the sound came, and at the foot of a tree. with the horse standing close beside her, lay Hester. Stopping, he raised her in his arms and spoke to her, but no sound passed the lips that were as white as her dress. He was a pow erfnl young fellow, and, lifting her easily in his arms, set out for the farm just as Farmer Brent came up.
 She has been stunned" said Jack "Pll carry her home but l fear your wagon is smashed, Mir. Brent, though the horse is safe. They must have come to grief on the hill. :"
 What that walk home was to him, Jack Kingsbury never told; but it seemed as if years passed before he laid his lifeless burden on the hard horse hair sofa in the sitting room.
 Fool that I am" he muttered to himself, in despair. "Oh, Hester ! Hester. l loved you and have killed you" and he pressed hls lips passionately against her white fore head. He thought she stirred in his arms once, but he could not be sure, and Mrs. Brent was startled by his
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