The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-09


Eda had danced every dance al Squire
Marbury's corn-husking, and Naomi
had sat by among the wall-howers her
heart swelling with secret anger.
Though Naomi hated the beautiful
blonde, She rose up again and reached
down the lantern that David had re-
placed on its hook by the kitchen Chin
ney.
Granny, said She TO the doing old
woman, I'm going out few minutes
'.Eh? What" shrilly questioned
granny. BE you goin' TO see the
new forte-pianny? BE you bewitched
arter the new schoolma'am, too?"
Naomi made no reply. She lighted
the lantern, bundled shawl around
her head and rushed out into the frozen
darkness.
She gained some distance by climb
ing nimbly over a stone wall and
traversing a stubbly meadow, instead
Of following the windings Of the road,
and presently arrived, painting for
breath, at the ruined stone tavern.
She held the lantern high above her
head and looked around. Nobody WIS
visible. She called aloud: mis-,
stuart, Miss stuart" No answer came.
For one second she hesitated: then,
the other, she started on a run down
the disused track until She came to the
spot where here and there d partially
submerged log betokened the former
traces of the corduroy road.
Once more Naomi cried:
Miss Stuart, Miss stuart
''oh. j. that you? DO come here and
help me. a" a terrified voice answered.
II stepped on a broken log. and / think
the ground must be swampy here:
the log seems TO be sinking in. But
I've got tight hold Of a young birch
tree"
Naomi sprang to the rescue Eda
had already set her foot upon the
doomed spot. In another moment the
rescuer would have been too late!
With strength AT which she herself
afterwards marvelcd, Naomi seized Eda
around the waist and lifted her out Of
the morass.
do you know" she gasped, that
you have been standing face to face
with death? Do you know that you
have wandered out of the road into the
Shaking Bogs?'
Eda's face, in the glimmer of the
iamplight, was very white
And you have saved me-" she ex-
fldlAlfh- 'll. NO" can ever uuu
words to thank you?"
Never mind that now" said Ma omi.
in the old brusque way. Let US make
haste back to SlSene's Corners. It's
showing faster every moment, and your
feet are wet in that awful morass.
Look. Here's where you missed the
right road. OF course you couldn't be
expected TO know that this old track
was closed up long ago, and / didn't
remember TO tell you. There are the
lights of Skene's Corners now. Can
you see them glistening through the
snow lurries?'
But you are coming with me?"
No. / must hurry back to granny.
But"-she hesitated and flushed deeply
you will kiss me just once to show
-that-we are friends?"
BY way Of answer Eda flung both her
arms around Naomi "ole's neck and
showered score of fragrant kisses on
her cheeks, lips and brow.
Friends" she cried, passionately,
forever"
Its high time you were here, Ma
omi," petulantly uttered old Granny
Pole. when here has John Classon
been settin' half an hour before the
fire waitin for you TO come back"
John Classon colored little as he
held out his broad, sunbrowned hand to
Naomi.
You see said he, Dave came over
to our house To see my cousin Hessie,
and-and / thought il would be a good
chance 10 tell you what I've wanted TO
tell YOU so long. Can't you guess what
il is. Naomi"
II was late when Dave came home.
Grandma Pole had long been abed and
asleen but Naomi sat before the dying
fire thinking.
''liullo, Naomi! you up?" was Dawes
off-hand greeting I've got news for
YOU I've engaged myself to Hessie
Holt, and If the crops turn out good
next year, my wife shall have as good a
piano as Miss Eda Stuart
Naomi held ont her hand: the limpid
black deeps sparkled in her eyes.
I'm awful glad, Dave" said she.
I'm sorry | was SO cross with you to-
night; bat my heart was so sore.
thought Miss Stuart had charmed John
Classon's love away"
And hain't she?"
"ie has never thought twice of her,
Dave" spoke up the exultant girl. He
cared for me, and me only, and to-night
he asked me TO be his wife"
The brother and sister talked late and
lovingly together, while the clock
ticked behind its screen of asparagus
and the snow built up feather barri-
cades against the outside of the win
dow panes; and when Naomi laid her
head on the pillow her last thought was
that of gratitude that she had listened
To the trumpet call of conscience and
hastened to Eda Stuart's rescue.
''For after ALL" pondered Naomi.
''she was no rival Of mine, and-and 1
think it's likely i shall be married be-
fore She is"
And as she repeated her prayers, one
phrase fingered sweetly in her drifting
dreams:
Lead us not into temptation, but de-
liver us from evil!'-Saturday Night.