Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-02-09

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don't rain no more, the cricks mighty
likely to 90 down SOS you kin cross on
| the train"
II suppose l couldn't walk across n
"Walk WAL, not unless you've got
power of spunk and muscle. wouldn't
| 60 a-trying it, less | wanted to get my
self drowned
Jack walked up and down fora mo-
ment in silence Suddenly he paused.
"See here" he said, "I'm going 10
try it. There's my card and
Walk : WAL, now
But Jack was gone.
The rain had slackened to a cold
steady drizzle. and as be walked down
tho track Jack could hear the creek
rushing and roaring along far beyond
its banks, booming and eddying nearly
u mile wide The water near the edge
was comparatively calm, but out in the
channel the current, marked by drift-s
wood, was dashing and foaming furiA
ously. Z
The trestle work of the bridge was
out Of sight. \
Jack stopped. 1t was growing dark I
Through rift in the clouds the sum
had set red, and the reflection made the 1
the creek more horrible. Here and
there tall sycamore trembled IN the
water. white in the rapidly deepening
dusk.
OF course to attempt TO GROSS was
folly. Suppose the Philos did lose
what then What did it really matter
Then he seemed to hear the shouts Of tho
victorious Limos -Guthridge's triumph
ant chesr--and to see his own society
sitting crushed and silent.
He would try it.
He looked back for q moment ut theN.
station and the light dy ing in the west
behind il, Then he frightened his grasp
on his cane, the pride Of his juniors
heart, and stepping upon the stripgers
ut the side Of the track he began.
The water was an Inch, then ankle
deep and 10y cold. He could scarcely
see the ties, but felt with his cane along
the edge Of the beam.
Farther out the track sloped and the
water deepened. Jack could not see the
stringer, but felt for each step carefully.
It was growing SO dark he could not 500 /,
the further shore. He did not dare look
up or down the creek, and the whirl Of
the water made him dizzy.
Suddenly the water became knee dvep y
with the sagging of the old bridge, aud
he entered the channel. The current
nearly swept him Of his feet He stood
still, heartily repenting the foolhardy
undertaking. To return was impoasi-
bic.
Two steps more. The roar Of The
black water grew deafsning; took pos1t
session Of him. Jack looked mp the
stream. A huge dim mass doalp !
down tho creek. II was section II
covered bridge. It swayed toward one ii
shore, then toward the other, With
horrible drunken reel. The boy reeled, 4
too, stumbled, and the cane was swept {
beyond bis reach instantly. He fell on
his hands and knees, aud there clung I
to the beam, the water surging to his
neck. y
He got his head again presently. HI
caught glimpse of few lights her
and there in the town. Tho roar
the river dashing on into the nipfem
drowned his voice. He closed his Q ear.
and waited. The floating section IL /,
the bridge seemed hours coming. He
thought Of the warm dining room at
home and his mothers face above the
teacup. He could see the debating hall
through luminous mist. He wonder
cd IL Halstead would speak in his place.
He was growing numb with the chill
of the water. The river seemed 10 whirl
and rock about him. Then there Easa
noise like thunder. The bridge ha,lQ
struck the trestle. A wave swept owe
him. The trostle trembled. swayed, VI
bridge Hoated broadside, then struck
again. The trestle tottered, wavofad,
then the bridge settled against il aud
was stationary, and as Jack mechanically
crawled on again he knew that the tres
tie would hold.
Meantime in the debating hall the
debate on Resolved, Tha. strikes arc
justiGable,' had begun. Guthridge had
mounted the rostrum amid the cheers Of
his society, while the phlos wars Civ.
ing Gardiner advice enough 70 drive I y
men mad. I.
Guthridge had demolished one by onSb
the hopes Of the opposition. Every !
Philo was silent. Gardiner went hot
then cold, by turns. It was in vain for
him to answer Guthridge.
Tho brilliant aDeech draw In n closs
"'Striks till the last armed foe OK.
pires," shouted Gutheridge. waving hi,
arms madly. Strike for your altar,
and your fires. Strike for the green
graves Of your siresv There s--si
strikes los; a
He broke of silently. Ever'a si 20
was on his feet cheering 10 MS y lie
-Four times the college ysYake lrs
like battle-cry -Four ~, States
the crowd parted. There II
painting with the quick ,r->.~
bridge, his eyes ablaze With I once liv
and his figure disguised in SUI u egans
stead's old clothes, stood Jack. sys be
Of course the Philos won, and Va. /
body remembers how all the elias gel mi
cd when the class historian on q I'D the
fortnight later. told what ape no ar
and did for the glory Of the kn
-~.~ sal,
An editor known in Texa,en, ~
tired Of unappreciated endeav x . " =
TO his subject after the following -,
"Sheol is full of newspaper me-. 49,
4. Il Al