The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-03-16


!. 4. !: I. !. !: !.
Ia course of the little
am ~ stream, which i'll
"-Ha,E3LNU the ancient days
SIGytlttsSS1INYSll- of its might had
AA2yY4tB III y4S IN NJ AsAA1A- cleft the towering
'SsLtIWHSCpllWRl hills asunder and
------llbbS StaWsZ> Numbered down
5gsSg esaSsT. the rock like
- giant water sprite.
The yellow sunlight hickered down
through the interlacing branches of
the huge old trees, its intense heat
tempered somewhat by that cool con-
tact. Farther down, the ravine
widened and finally lost itself in level
farming lands, through which the brook
flowed gently. watering the focks and
herds of the honest farmer-folk of this
thrifty bunker settlement. The farm
houses We're mostly Of the the same
style; plain, wooden, two-storied
structures, with wide porches running
across the fronts and shaded by locust
trees.
A young girl passed down the steps
of the house nearest to the mouth of
the rayine, and sauntered up the path
As she entered its shady recesses she
pushed back her stiff pastcboard tun-
mel Of sunbOnnet from her sweet.
pure face. There was faint trace of
tears in her innocent blue eyeys. Her
tiaXen hair was maniGcstly in rebellion
against her convictions as to what
was right and decorous for one of her
religious belief, and many riotous
little curl broke out Of its combining
bonds. Soon she began to sing, with
sweet but somewhat nasal tone. in I'M
conscious imitation of Brother Israel,
who led the singing in the brick meet
lng-house at the crossroads, the ia
miliar hymn:
And let this feeble body fail,
And let il fail and die.
Rebecca Kinsey's voice modulated
to faint thread of melody. as she
caught a glimpse of young man high
up on the cliff on the opposite side of
the creek, moving in and out among
the bushes. Suddenly she was brought
back to earth by voice almost over
her head, calling ont excitedly,
"Hello, Thorndyke, I've found the
finest specimen Of" and Il young
man, with a tin herbarium strapped tc
his waist, came tumbling down the
rocks at Rebecca's feet. Evidently as
he turned to accost his friend, the
stone upon which his weight rested
had given way. He lay across the
path, pale and motionless
Thorndyke climbed quickly down
the rocks, cleared the brook with
bound, and was at his friends side n.
he gave faint gasp and slowly opened
his eyes, Rebecca dipped her hand
kerchief in the water and bathed hi,
pallid face, Thorndyke poured SOME
brandy from his pocket flask, anC
lifting his friends head gave him t.
drink.
well, how are you now, Diamond? .
inquired he.
"AlI right, [ guess, answered Da
mond, family; then he attempted t,
rise. 81 can't do it," he added
Something's the matter with my lef
ankle and right arm.
Glow we are ever to get out of thi
I don't see,' said Thorndyke. ''Yo
can't walk step, and it's a mile dow
stream where this gorge ends.
81 think, " said Rebecca, 81 can hel
you. Jest few steps further on is
path up the rocks most as easy as sc
ing up stairs, ] am strong, and ca
go one side of him and YOU the other,
she continued, addressing Thorndyb
and indicating the injured man wit
her little brown hand.
els there any house near?" aske
Thorndyke.
Eyes, responded Rebccca, "Au1
Susy Rinchart lives right at the top
the cliff. She's real handy about Sic
ness.
, Diamond was in too much pain to |
seriously embarrassed by receiving a
sistancc from this rustic beauty,
with much difficulty they toiled up Il
rough stairway.
Aunt Susy surveyed the singul
= looking party, as they emerged fro
the gorge, with wide-eyed astonis
ment.
"Why bless your soul bring hi
right in the house, was her hospital
, greeting. "The doctors Jest making
/, visit over on the next farm. Well g
him here right away"
An hour later the hustle had su
: sided and Diamond was lying, qui
, and comfortable, listening to the co
versation going on between Aunt Su
and Rebecca.