Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-07-09


been higher than she had ever known it
to be, and its sullen roar filled her heart
with dread
Splashing through mud and water,
stumbling over drftwood left in the road,
she soon reached her destination.
Merciful Heaven! The bridge was
gone! Nothing but the abutments were
left standing
Lillias fairly flew toward spot where
there was always a pile of rubbish left
after freshet. Here huge heap Of
driftwood met her gaze. She paused,
and with fast beating heart called:
Jack! Jacki"
Hark! Was that the echo of her own
tones, or did faint voice really answer
her?
She called again. This time she heard
quite plainly faint answer. Half fran.
tic, she clambered over the logs and rub
bish until she reached the outer edge Of
the heap. Here, entangled in the top of
large tree, and pinioned down by a log,
she found her brother.
"Oh, Jack! Jack!" sobbed Lilias, as
she began to tear away the logs from
around him.
"Thank God, you are here!" he cried,
groaning with pain. But you can not
extricate me yourself, for this log is
holding me fast, and think one of my
legs is broken"
II will procure help, said Lillias, and
without another word she sprang to her
feet and hurried awav.
Reaching the house she aroused Uncle
Peter and Aunt Martha, and by their
united efforts they soon succeeded in
rescuing poor Jack. Ono of his legs was
fractured, and he was very badly bruised.
After helping him into bed, Uncle Pc
ter went for the doctor, leaving Lillas
and Aunt Martha to do what they could
for the suffering man.
A few hours later the doctor arrived
and set the fractured limb But the
long exposure and suffering had been too
much for even Jack S har " constitution,
and ere night fell again he WAS in II rag
ing fever
When Viva Gray heard of her lover'a
misfortune she called. accom- ared by
her mother. to express her regrets
Poor Jack, am so sorry for him, +"
she said sweety. "And only think. day
after tomorrow we were to Join Aunt
Mary's party for trip to Niagara Fails.
TOO bad, that he must miss the cxp,d:-
ton. poor fellow"
You intend to go, then?' asked Lii
las.
Yes; mamma says that we can do Jack
no good by staying at home, and She
Goes not want to disappoint Aunt Mary.
I"u must write every day and let IN"
know how he is getting along. | hat" t."
leave him, but mamma insists upon il. :"
Lillias was glad when the mother and
daughter took their leave. for Niva'S sci
tishness filled her with disgust.
Poor jack" she thought as she
arranged the pillows under his restless
head. "If she can go away and enjoy
herself while you are ill, what will your
life be when you have been married a
few years?"
1t was severe blow to Jack when ho
learned that Viva had gone, although he
hid his disappointment and tried to make
himself believe all was as it should be.
Lillias knew he was unhappy and re-
Trained from saying anything that would
add to his discomfort, while she did all
in her power to please him.
Every day or so Viva sent him little
perfumed notes containing glowing ac-
counts of their trip; but Lllias noticed
that Jack did not appear very much
interested in them.
Weeks rolled away, and still Viva
made no mention of returning home.
After Jack had fully recovered she wrote
him that they were going to Newport.
and asked him to join them there.
Jack read the letter and then brought
it to Lillias.
Read that, he said briefly.
"Are you going7" asked Lillias, when
she had done so.
No, replied Jack, with curious ex.
preston on his face.
Viva's letters came less frequent, but
Jack never mentioned her name until a
month later. Then he brought another
letter to his sister. In it Viva accused
him Of indifference, and begged to be re-
leased from her engagement
Lillias read the heartless effusion, and
then crossed the room to where Jack was
sitting.
Jack, l want to tell you how sorry
am for the hasty words l spoke on the
morning that you told me you We're en-
gagged to her, she said.
"Never mind that, little sister" re.
piled Jack. you were wiser than |.
But it is all over now, and we will let the
matter drop forever"
Jack Melrose was not a man to wear
his heart on his sleeve. and none but Lii
las dreamed how fondly he had loved
the selfish beauty.
A month later they saw in the papers
the notice of her marriage with wealthy
young Southerner. and thea they knew
why Viva had wanted her freedom
a year or two aflerward. when Jack
brought home n Fl y"yed bride to
brighten his Ii, Lillias thought:
"Aft"r all, that accident WIS hor@inc
in d;-"u.". Mar, ;e 81. Winrsburg, IL
Navcrlv Ma"nzi =
A SCOtrhman who wan,rd ln sell somc
hnrs inserted the follow inL nlverli t..
~ MT in the loral par"r: "EVtruer, @
5 a. OF liv" stock. com! rising n" 81
tn "a" hundred and forty thou-au"i