The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-09-19
THE VERGE OF DEATH

81 don't propose to make fool of my
SELF" Jim replied, ''by parading before
Miss Newell like a circus clown. Pm
not so anxious to show off what little
clothing l own, and guess she's seen
better many time
'Humphl Have you fellows got an
idea that Miss Newell is going to take
any notice of your It's hardly likely she's
going to come out here and get dazzled
by such common COW punchers with a
lot of gaudy trappings. amt fool
enough to make a spectacle of myself
and give Miss Newell chance to laugh
at me, you betl"
When the carriage bearing Miss Rose
arrived at the ranch, the cowboys, with
the exception of the deacon, stood about
the door, each one with his best foot
forward" anxious to be seen by the
young lady and hopeful of making an
impression ON her heart.
That night when Jim came in from
the plains they gathered about him, in
tent on singing the praises of Roses
loneliness.
81 tell you, Deacon" Arson said, "you
Just ought to seen her; never saw a
woman so beautiful in all my lfe."
81 don't doubt her beauty" the deacon
replied, "but what good would it have
done me to have seen her? She's not go
ing to care anything for u.s."
"Maybe you know about that" said
Arson, "and maybe you don't. If you
had seen her smile when she saw us, you
might think differently from what you
do now"
Eyes, and she was looking right smart
at me when she smiledl'' cried Alb John
son. 81 noticed that"
"Humphl' said Arson. "She was look
ing as straight at me as she could look"
''She wasn'tr exclaimed Alb angrily.
"Hold on now" said Jim. ut isn't
worth while for you to fight over that
can easily believe that she'd "a smiled,
whichever one of you she was looking
at, when she saw the clothes you had
on. 1t was enough to make her SMILE
I'm sure"
Alb and Arson muttered something,
then went away, and the subject was
dropped.
From that time on they viewed each
other as rivals and were never ON good
terms again.
A month passed.
Miss Newell proved a very sensible
young lady, and though she had grown
up under the influences of the highest
refinement she adapted herself readily
to her new surroundings.
She treated her fathers employees
with the kindest consideration, laughing
and chatting with them with perfect
freedom, little suspecting what stress
they placed upon every word and every
ripple of laughter that fell from her
lips.
Arson and Alb both grew more san
guine and hopeful as the days went by,
and each in his own heart came to feel
assured that he was winning his way
into Roses love.
Deacon Jim had continued on from the
first in the even tenor of his way.
He never thrust himself forward at all
never made any effort to gain admis-
sion to Roses society, but if anything
rather seemed to avoid her.
A change had come over the deacon
too. Always serious, he had become al
most melancholy.
He liked to NOPE about alone or sit for
hours gazing thoughtfully into space.
He was in love, though he tried hard
to conceal the fact from himself, and for
all the world would not have admitted
it to any one else.
One morning when the men were pre-
pairing to begin the work of the day
dispute arose between Arson and Alb,
and as it grew warmer and more bitter
the former said:
when | become a partner on this
ranch, you'll go, Alb Johnson, as sure as
shooting. l won't have you here"
when you get to be partnerp sneer-
ed Alb. when l get to be partner,
you'll go, and don't you forget it."
You a partnerl' Arson said mock
ingly. why, Rose Newell wouldn't
have you if you were the last man on
earthV
my notion is you'll both see that you
are making fools of yourselves" old Bar
ton observed. "Miss Rose will never
have either of you. If l had to name
anybody on this ranch that she was most
likely to marry, I'd say it was Deacon
Jim.
There was a universal roar of laugh
ter at that last remark, and every one
seemed to think it good joke.
why" said Arson, "the deacon don't
stand a ghost OF show. He amt shined
around her bit, and they never take any
uotice of each other. scarcely. You're
off, Bartoh-away off. Jim amt in it at
ALL"
That day Rose rode with her father
across the country, and late In the after
noon was returning alone to the ranch.
When within two miles of her destina-
ton, she was aroused from drowsy rev.
erie by rushing, surging noise that
came suddenly up from behind her like
the onsweep of great storm.
She listened an instant, glanced back,
then uttered cry full of terror.
A little distance away she saw great
| herd of cattle in full stampede, sweeping
down upon her in one mighty, irresisti-
| BILE mass.
On over the level prairie the horse
sped, and on, on, in the rear came the
surging sea of horns.
One mile was thus run and part Of an
other, and the girl, bending low over the
horses neck. urged the animal to still
greater speed, while hope of escape
came to her heart.
But at that instant the horse STUN
bled and fell to its knees. and she was
thrown forward to the ground.
The horse recovered its footing and
sped away
She arose, looked about her in daze
Of wonder, saw the herd almost upon
her, and in a hopeless despair attempted
to run, but with cry Of pain she sank
down helpless.
She had sustained sprain and could
not support her weight.
She heard the cattle as they swept up
nearer and nearer over the hard, dry
sod.
Another minute would bring them
upon her.
She shuddered and covered her face
with her hands.
Then she felt a pair of strong arms
about her.
| EIH