Feliciana sentinel., 1892-07-09

20 her own gait! j amt tresponsaOie! |
A sudden light blazcd IN her eyes, as
II S;.tan's self had flashed lurid bomb
she'll across her soul. John Classon,
her own "steady company" had been
dazzled-at least SO spoke the tongue
of popular rumor-by the glitter Of Eda
Stuart's sen-blue eyes. She. the late
belle of Skcnc's Corners, was quite ont
of fashion now!
Eda had danced every dance at Squire
Marbury's corn-husking, and Naomi
had sat by among the wall-lowcrs, her |
heart swelling with secret anger.
Though Naomi hated the beautiful
blonde, she rose. mp again and reached |
down the lantern that David had re-
placed on Its hook by the kitchen Chin |
ncy. .-..-.r -..-......... ,-....r...-..,
st;ranny," said she to the DOING OIL
woman. Nm going out few minutes.
..Eh? .What?" shrilly questioned
granny. '.l,c you n Soin' to see the
new forte piannyf He yo', be.v'tched
artcr the new schoolma'am.to too9"
Naomi made no reply. She. lighted
the lantern, bundled n shawl around
| her head and rushed out into the frozen
| darlsnes,,.
| Z She gained some distance by climb
in. nimbly oyer n stone wall and
travcrsing !, stubbly meadow, instead
I of following tae windfugs OF the road,
and presently arrived. painting for
breath, at the ruined stone tavern.
| : She held tho lantern high above her
head and booked around Nosn.:s was
i-visiblc She called a1oud:4 '.Miss
Stuart! Miss Stuart" No answer came.
| Tor one second she hesitated; then,
changing the lantern from ono hand: to
the other, she started on run down
the tisuscd track until she came to the
spot where here and there a partially
submerged log betokcned the former
traces of the corduroy road.
Once moro Naomi cried:
Miss Stuart! Miss Stuart g
''Oh, is that You? DO come here and
help me-" 4 terrified voice answered.
IL stepped on a broken log, and l think
the ground must be swampy here;
. the Hr seems to be sinking in. But
I've got tight hold of a young birch
tree
Naomi sprang to tho rescue. Eds
had already set her foot upon tho
, doomed spot. In another moment the
rescucr would have been too late!
! With strength at which she hrrselt
afterwards, marrelcd. Naomi seized Eda
l around the waist and lifted her ont O.
| the morass.
..Do YOU know" she gaspcd, ''tha
you have been standing face to face
, with death? Do You know that yo'
Z. have wandered out OF the road into th'
r Shaking Bogs?"
g Eaa's face, in the glimmcr OF th
= lampi2ht. was very white.
And 20" nav. ".---a - -" = '
!, c,.i,noa .'Oh, how can l ever fin
n words to thank yon"'
!, "Nevcr mind that now, said Ma ON
Il in the old brusate way Let us max
- haste back to Sllcnc's Corners. IT
showing faster every moment, ana you
l. feet are wet in that awful moraa
, Look Here's where You missed III
{ right road. OF course You couidn
N expected to know that this old trac
was closed up long ago, and dian
remember to tell you. There are u
lights of SEenc's Corners row. {;
." lou sec them gtisten1nS through u
snow flurries?'
"Eut Won are coming with me?
~ mo. l must hurry back to gram
"a Hut'-shc hcsitated and flushed deep
~, -"you will kiss me just once to sho
oh -that-wc are friends:
~; Bv wny OF answer Eda flung both II
c,, arms around Naomi "olc'S neck a
,id showcrcd Il score of fragrant kisses
! it her checks, lips and brow.
,.t "Friends," she cried, passionate
ect "forcvcr!'
+ "It's high time you were hero, .
,,,. or,; ,,c;ulautly uttered old Gran
no Pole. '.when here has John Class
nv been n scttin' half an hour before
fire ,vaitin' for you to come back.
mi John Classon colorcd a little as
y-n held ont his broad, sunbrowncd hant
inc Naomi.
out You scc," said he, 'Dave camc
to our house to see my COUSIN lies
,ck. and-aud thought it would be a g
,rn chance to tell YOU what I've wanted
tell you so long. Can't You guess y"
can it is. Naomi?'
I,.. It WAS late when Dave came no
Grandma Pole had long been abed
,sIcc,- but Naomi sat before the d'
fire thinking.
o,, .HuI1o. Naomi: you up?" was pa
mid off-hand greeting. 1--WE got news
, =, | YOU. I've engaged myself to lie
~ , Holt, and If the crops turn out {
next year, my wife shall have as go
a piano as Miss Eda Stuart
Naomi held ont her hand; the, lin
,.;., black deeps sparl1led in her eyes.
..I; "Im awful glad, Dave" said
I'm sorry I was so cross with yo'
ON; night; but my heart was SO sort
thought Miss Stuart had charmed :
Classon's love away"
"And hain't she?'
.sue has never thought twice OF
Dave" spoke up the cxultant Eiri.
and cared for me- anu me 80. ;,
S of he asked me W 'e ht'
dden The brother ana sls'e. '"'n
lovingly together, while the
tions licked behind lts screen " :,
ene's and the suo" pnliI ny -,
oung cades against tne ou'si~ ,.;5
head on the pillow her last though
, th,t of Gratitude that she had lis