The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-28


dom, excepting sub rosa, left the house
and walked down to the lake to think.
BE stopped at the Derens boathouse
for racquet he had left there that
morning, and sat down in the shade to
have his think out.
It was not very pleasant think, as
any young man who has been similarly
situated can testify. John Blunt was
partly dazed, partly in rage, and it vas
some time before he could bring him
self to view the matter in manner in
anywise calm. His heart was very bitter
as he gazed moodiiy out over the pretty
lake, dotted with white sails, ard he
took no note of time or surroundings
He might have sat where he was until
dark had not something occurred to
bring him back to q realization Of
things.
There was a sudden burst of childish
/ laughter from the other side of the boat
| house. patter Of baby feet. and little
three-year-old Benny. the only son Of
the house Of Deyens, its idol and pride
and greatest joy, ran By where Blunt
sat and out on to the pier, where, on
the end of loose plank which pro-
Jected slightly over the water, he stood
clapping his hands and laughing, I'M
mindful of the cries of his distracted
nurse, who was running wildly down
the path from the house
An idea burst in 10 John Biunt's brain.
He was an honest and honorable young
man, but there are some ends, the at
tainment OF which justilies even ques-
tionable means. To think was to act.
Quick as fash he leaned over, grasped
the end of the plank on which Benny
stood and gave it a wrench sidewise.
precipitating the unfortunate child into
a dozen feet of water. Then, with a
hoarse cry. he sprang forward, threw
off his coat as he rushed and leaped in
after poor little Benny.
1t was all over in a few seconds, and
in two minutes John Blunt, carrying
the dripping, half-conscious form of
the pride of the house of Deveus and
followed by the hysterical nurse, strobe
up the walk. down which rushed to
meet him papa, mamma and Harriet
Devens- ltdid not detract from his sat-
isfaction that they had all seen little
Benny's fall and the timely rescue, nor
that Papa Devens shook his hand
warmly and said: God bless you, my
boy!' and that Mamma Devens kissed
him tearfully, and Harriet did likewise,
calling him: Dear, darling, brave
jack" before them all Then he mod
estly disappeared and was not seen by
any of them again until Papa Devens,
after serious interview with Harriet
and her mother, which left them both
smiling happily. called upon him at
the hotel that evening
Some one at the lake telegraphed a
thrilling account of Benny's accident
and rescue to the papers, and s'Dubs"
and the other boys felt certain pride
in the fact that Blunt was Continent
man. They were still feeling proud of
him three days later, and were discuss
ing him, when the society editor came
in, all excitement, with:
What do you suppose has happened
move"
Give it up!' was the prompt reply
did some one pay you five dollars you
never expected to get" added one.
"Pshaw! No. Look here" said the
society man, extracting from mass of
papers letter from local correspond
ent at Forest lake. Listen"
THE engagement of MIR. John Blunt,
the well-known journalist, and Miss
Devens, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ralph Devens, is announced. The we'd
ding, it is understood. is set for late
October"
An ejaculation of surprise and salts
faction went round the city room, and
Dubs' face beamed as he remarked, en-
phatically:
Bully for Dibs"'
It is with an air half embarrassed,
half serene, that John Blunt (the
scamp0 listens to that oft-repeated tale
of his father-in-law's about the time he
rescued little Benny from a watcry
grave; and he receives the old gentle
mans illusions to his gallantry with
modesty that is truly of the blush rose
variety. John Blunt, whatever may be
his general idea of honesty, believes
that the truth is not always best when
told.-R. L. Ketchum, in Omaha Bee