The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1894-01-11

ui sight
d JACK stopped Il va fr1rlug dan
b Through MT 10 the clouds the sua hs
q So, red aud the reflection made the cree
q more bornble, Hors aud there q tai
sycamore tfemb'el 10 toe vstsr, White II
tbe rapidly desreaing dusk
OF icaarse to att,mpt 10 cross vas 4 lIy
Suppose the P1llos did lose what then
What dii It really matterg Then be seem
ed to hear the shouts Of yictotiou. Lluo
-Gutbtlse's triumphant cheer aud 'c
see his osa society sitting crushed aud
silent
lie w0ull ty 1t,
lie looked back Tor q moment at the
station and the light dying 10 the west
bebind 1t,
Tueu be tlsbtoued bis grasp o. bis cane,
the pride Of his Juniors heart aud stepl
ping upon the stnngers At the eide Of the
track be began.
The water was an inch then ankle deep
aud icy cold. He could scarcely see the
ties, but be felt with bis cane along the
edge Of the bstm.
Farther out the track sloped and the
water deepened. Jack could not see the
suinser, bnt be iettor each step careful
ly. II wss growing so dark he could not
see the farther shore lie dli not dare
look up OF down toe creek, and the whul
OF the water made him dizzy.
Suddenly tie water became knre deep
with the sagging Of the old bridge, aud
ha entered the channel The current
nearly swept him of his feet. He stood
still, heartily repentlng the foolssriy un,
dertaking. To retura was impossible.
Two steps more Tue roar of the black
vat rev deaieuing; took possession OF
him JACK Looked up stream. A huge
dim mass was fuOtIog swiftly down the
creek. 1t was a section cf covered
bridge
It swOyed toward one shore and then
the other with a hornble drunken reel.
The boy feeled, too, stumbled aud the
cane was swept beyond his reach instant
Iy. He fell on his hands and knees, and
there clupg to the bean, the water eurkl
ng to his neck.
He OF his head again presently. He
caught a glimpse OF few lights here and
here IN the town. The roar OF the river
issLing on into the night drowned bis
7oce. lie closed his eyes aud waited.
Fhe hou my section OF the biIdge seemed
,onrs coming. He thought Of the warm
lining room at home and bis mott ors =
ace above the tea cups. he could ste
he debating hall through q luminous
mist He wondered il Halstead would y
peak 10 his place. i
He was growing numb with the chill Of g,
be water. The river seemed TO wbirl and
1ck about him. Then there was a solse a
Ike thunder. The brldge bad struck the II
este.
A wave swept over lin The trestle
rem bled. swayed. the bridge foated
roadside, then struck again. The tres
G totttrci, wavered, then the bridge setI
ed a alust it and was stationary, and AZ .
sck mechanically crawled on again he -
new the tie tie would hold
Meantime in the debating hall the de.
tie on Resolved, That strikes are inst
able, lad begun. Guthridge had noun. "
d the roslrum amid the cheers Of bis
oiety, while the Philos were giving Gar W.
ner advice enough to have driven 10
en- mad.
duthfidge had demolished one by one
2 hopes OF the opposition. Every PHI =.
was silent. Gardiner went hot, then
ID, by turIs. 1t was in vain for him -
answer Gnhridgc. ~
The brilliant speech drew to close.
Str Ike TIL the last armed foe expires, -
outed Guthridge, waving bis arms madr w. ="
Strike for your atsrs and your fires.
Ike for the green graves of your sires
ere ire strike'--
ie broke of sil,utly Every Ph.l5 vas ,
his feet cheering like m0d Four TIM 6
the college yell rang out like battler po'
-Four limes, and then the crowd 'or'
ted, There in their midst, painting "o
b the quick run from tue bridge, hls aug
s ablsz7 with txcitemen: and his fig ~ l.
disguised IN su,t Of Halsteads old Rta
thes, stool Jack. M l'
" course the PbiIos po1, aud every, 'e''
iy I,n,nl,It Low I'll tie Glass cheer p'rI
y hen the cIes, historian on cl sss day, s1.u
rtuight later, told what Jack dared l
did for the glory Of the Phiosl Out