Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-04

Marbury's corn-husking, INA Naomi
had sat by among the wall-nowers, 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. 4"
"Eh? What?" shrilly questioned
granny. "l}c you goin' to see the
new forte-pianny? BE you bcwitchcd
arter the new schoolma'am, too?"
Naomi made no reply. She lighted
the lantern, bundled shawl around
her head and rushed ont into the frozen
darkness.
She gained some distance by climb
ing nimbly over stone wall and
travcrsing n 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 was
visible. She called aloud: "Aliss
Stuart Miss Stuart" No answer came.
For one second she hcsitated; then,
changing the lantern from one hand to
the other, she started on run down
the disused track until she came to the
spot where here and there n partially
submerged log bctokcned the former
traces OF the corduroy road.
Once more Naomi cried:
"NIiss Stuart Miss Stuartw
"Oh, is that you? Do come here and
help me-" terrified voice answered.
81 stepped on broken log, and think
the ground must be swampy here;
the log seems to be sinking in. But
I've got tight hold of young birch
tree"
Naomi sprang to the rescue. Eda
had already set her foot upon the
doomed spot In another moment the
rescucr 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
lamplight, was very white.
"And You have saved mel" she ex-
claimed. "oh, how can ever find
words TO thank you?"
Never mind that now" said Ma omi,
in the old brusquc way. LET us make
haste back to Skene'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 mp long ago, and didn't
remember to tell you. There are tho
lights OF SSene's Corners now. Can
you see them glistening through the
snow hurries?'
"llut you are coming with mep"
mo. ] must hurry back TO granny.
But'-she hesitated and flushed deeply
you will kiss me just once TO show
--that-wc are friends?"
by way OF answer Eda flung both her
arms around Naomi Poles neck and
showered score of fragrant kisses on
her checks, lips and brow.
Friends" she cried, passionately,
"foreverv
"Its high time you were here, Ma
oni," patulantly uttered old Granny
Pole, 'when here has John Classon
been q settin' half an hour before the
fire waitin' for you to come back"
John Classon colored n little as he
held out his broad, sunbrowRed hand to
Naomi
"Iou see" said he, "Dave came over
20 our house to SEQ my cousin Hcssic,
nnd-and thought It would be good
chance to tell you what I've wanted TO
tell you so long, Can't you guess what
It is, Naomi2"
1t was late when Dave scnme home.
Grandma Pole had long been abed and
asleep, but Naomi sat before the dying
dre thinking.