Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-08-12
A sudden light hlazed in her eyes ~.

pN'h ltSiSl 81 spoke lll'
tongue of popular rumor-by the gilt.
ter of Eda Stuart's sea-blue eyes. She,
the late belle of Skene's Corners, was
quite out of fashion now.
Eda had danced every dance at
Squire Marburys -husking, and
Naomi had sat by among the wall
flowers, 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
ncy.
Granny" said she to the doing old
woman. I'm going out a few min
uteS''
"Eh? What?' shrilly questioned
Granny. BE you a-goin' to see the
new fortc-panny? Be you bewitched
arter the new schoolma'am, too?"
Naomi made no reply. She lighted
the lantern, bundled a shawl around
her head and rushed out into the frozen
darkness
She gained some distance by climb
ing nimbly over a stone wall and trav-
| erstng stubbly meadow, instead of
following the windings of the road,
t'hNi piNo'h'iJ dlllNCN, lOl
breath, at the ruined stone tavern.
She held the lantern high above her
head and looked around Nobody was
visible. She called aloud, Miss Stuart.
Miss Stuartw No answer came.
For one second she hesitatcd; then,
changing the lantern from one hand to
the other, she started on a run down
the disused track until she came to the
spot where here and there a partially
submerged log betokened the former
traces Of the corduroy road.
Once more Naomi called:
Miss Stuart! Miss Stuartr
"Oh, Is that you? Do come here and
help me-" a terrified voice answered
Il stepped on broken log, and l think
the ground must be swampy here; Sic
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 feet upon the
doomed spot. In another moment the
rescuer would have been too late!
With strength at which she herself
afterwards marvelled, 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 limmer of the lamp
light, was very white.
And you have saved me?' she ex-
claimed. "Oh, how can l ever find
words to thank you?'
Never mind that now," said Naomi,
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 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 Skenc's Corners now. Can
you see them glistening through the
snow furries?"
But you are coming with MOP
NO. | must hurry back to granny.
But'-she hesitatcd 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 Poles neck
and showered a score of fragrant
kisses on her checks, lips and brow.
''Friends.' she cried, passionatcly,
''forever"'
Its high time you were here
Naomi" petulantly uttered old Granny
Pole, when here has John ClasSon
been a settin' half an hour before the
fire Waitin' for you to come back
John ClaSSOn cOlOred Il little as he
held out his broad, sun-browned hand
to Naomi
You see," said he, Dave came over
to our house to see my Cousin Hessic.
and-and l thought it would be a good
chance to tell you what I've wanted
to tell you so long. Can't you guess
what it is, Naomi?"
1t was late when Dave came homo,
Grandma Pole had long been abcd and
asleep, but Naomi sat before the diving
fire, thinking.
"Hullo, Naomi. you up?" was Dawes
off-hand greeting 1--WE got news for
you. I've engaged myself to HcsSic
Holt, and if the crops turn out good
next year my wife shall have as good
a piano as Miss Eda Stuart!
Naomi held out her hand; the limpid
black deeps sparkled in her eyes.
I'm awful glad, Dave" said she.
I'm sorry l was so cross with YOU to-
ulSnti Out my neart was so sore [
thought Miss Stuart had charmed John
Classon's love away"
And hadn't she?
He 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 licked
behind its screen of asparagus and the
snow built up feathery barricadcs
against the outside of the window
panes; and when Naomi laid her head
on the pillow her hast 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 I
think it's likely l 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
deliver us from evil"-Saturday Night.