Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-28


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, "Pm going out few minutes"
"Eh? What2" shrilly questioned
granny. "Be you n goin' TO see the
new forte-pianny2 BE you bewitched
arter the new schoolma'am am, toop"
Naomi made no reply. She lighted
the lantern, bundled shawl around
her head and rushed out into tho frozen
darkness.
She gained some distance by climb
ing nimbly over a stone wall and
traversing n stubbly meadow, instead
Of following the windings OF the road,
and presently arrived, painting for
breath, at the ruined stono tavern.
She held the lantern high above her
head and looked around. Nobody was
visible. She called aloud: Miss
Stuartl Miss Stuart" No answer came.
For one second she hesitated; then,
changing the lantern from one hand TO
the other, she started on run down
the disused track until she came 10 the
spot where here and there a partially
submerged log betokened the former
traces OF the corduroy road.
Once more Naomi cried:
"Miss Stuartl Miss Stuartr
"Oh, Is that you? DO come here and
help me-" terrified voice answered.
~ stepped ON broken log, and l think
the ground must be swampy here;
tho 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
rescuer would have been too latel
With n strength at which she herself
afterwards marveled, Naomi seized Eda
around the woist and lifted her out Of
the morass.
"Do you know" she gasped, that
you have been standing face to face
with death7 Do you know that you
have wandered out Of the road into the
Shaking Bogs2"
Edas 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 brusque 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 DO
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 flurries?'
"But 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-we are friends?"
IIy 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, passiouateIy,
"forevcrl"
"It's high time you were here, Ma
omi, petulanty uttered old Granny
Pole, "when here has John Classon
been a scttin' half an hour before the
fire waitin' for you TO come back"
John Classon colored little us he
held out his broad, sunbrowRed hand TO
Naomi.
You see, said he, "Davc came over
to our house TO see my cousin Ilessie,
and-and thought II would be u good
chance to tell you what I've wanted TO
tell you SO long. Can't you guess what
it is, Naomi?"
It was late when Dave came home.
Grandma Pole had long been abcd and
asleep, but Naomi sat before the dying
fire thinking.
"llullo, Naomil you up?" was Dawes
oh-hand greeting. I've got news for
you I've engaged myself 20 Ilessie
Holt, and # the crops turn out good
next year, my wife shall have as good
piano as Miss Eda Stuart"
Naomi held out her hand; the limpid
black deeps sparkled in her eyes.
"l'm awful glad, Dave" said she.
"l'm sorry was so cross with You TO.
night; but my heart was so sore. |
NhcHH nv 4hi'n SNhhib iiuh JOlln
Classon's love away"
"And hain't she?"
"llc has never thought twice OF her,
Dave" spoke up the exultant girl. "IIe
cared for me, and me only, and tonight
he asked me TO be his wife"
The brother and sister talked late and
lovingly together, while the clock
licked behind its screen of asparagus
and the snow built up feather barri-
cndes against tho outside OF tho 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 |
think it's likely shall be married be-
fore she U.s."
And as she repeated her prayers, one
phrase fingered sweetly in her drifting
dreams
Lead us not into temptation, but de.
liver us from evilr'-Saturday Night.