The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-09

MtMRSCHHNhl hills asunder and
@-~Il4RNsMAh% Numbered down
~EASsS;. the rock like d
giant water.sprite..
The yellow sunlight fickered down
through the interlacing branches of
the huge old trees, it's intense heat
tempered somewhat by that cool conf
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 were 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 nearegt to the mouth of
the %favine, and sauntered up the path.
As she entered its shady recesses she
pushed back her stiff pasteboard tun-
mel of a sunbonnet from her sweet,
pure face. There was a faint trace of
tears in her innocent blue eyeys. Her
iaxen hair was manifestly in rebellion
against her convictions as to what
was right and decorous for one of her
religious belief, and many a ~riotous
little curl broke out of its confirming
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
ing-house at the crossroads, the IA
miliar hymn: u
'.And let this feeble body fail,
AND let it fail and die"
Rebecca Kinsey's voice modulated
TO a faint thread of melody. as she
caught a glimpse of a 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 a voice almost over
her head, calling out excitedly,
Hello, Thorndyke, I've found the
finest specimen Of" and a young
man, with a tin herbarium strapped to
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 a
bound, and was at his friends side as
he gave a faint gasp and slowly opened
his eyes. Rebecca dipped her hand
kerchief in the water and bathed his
pallid face. Thorndyke poured some
brandy from his pocket flask, and
lifting his friends head, gave him to
drink.
well, how are you now, Damond9"
inquired he.
HAll right, J guess answered Da-
mond, family; then he attempted to
rise. can't do it." he added.
"Something's the matter with my left
ankle and right arm"
"How we are ever to get out Of this
! don't see,' said Thorndyke. nYou
can't walk a step, and its q mile down
stream where this gorge ends"
II think said Rebecca, IT can help
you. Jest a few steps further on il q
path up the rocks most as easy as GO
ing up stairs. / am strong, and / can
90 one side Of him and you the other"
she continued, addressing Thorndyke
and Indicating the injured man with
her little brown hand.
els there any house near?" asked
Thorndyke.
Eyes" responded Rebecca, "Aunt
Susy Rinehart lives right atshe top of
the cliff. She's real handy about sick
ness"
Diamond was in too much pain TO be
eriously embarrassed by receiving as.
sistance from this rustic beauty, as
with much difficulty they toiled up the
rough stairway.
Aunt Susy surveyed the singular
looking party, as they emerged from
the gorge, with wide-eyed astonish-
ment.
why! bless your soul! bring him
right in the house, " was her hospitable
greeting. @The doctors jest making q
visit over on the next farm. Wen get
him here right away"
An hour later the hustle had sub
sided and Diamond was lying, quiet
and comfortable, listening to the con-
versation going on between Aunt Susy
and Rebecca.
"Icome over to tell you," said Re-
beeca, ssthat Sister Rachel Miller's
wuss and has been an'inted for death,
and they want you to come v
Mothers been there most ali day and
jest got home as I started here"
Il reckon I can CO. replied Aunt
Susy, IF you'll stay while I'm gone
and kind O. get things started for sup
per. I've got q quilt goin' in the
settin.-room, and it won't be handy to
have about, and I wish you'd come
over for q few days and help finish it
up. The doctor says this young man
must stay here . couple Of weeks. and
I amt sorry. I've got tired ru min
in 8 rut. The same old things over
and over again. ! thought I'd change
it ) little this mornin' and get my own
breakfast first, but, law | old Brindle
hawled 50 I Jest gave up.
ssBy JoveI" fumed Fred Diamond,
two weeks after his accident, sup
pose / looked like . fool lying there
6prawIed ont ut that pretty girls feet,
70 say nothing Of ~clatfArinr dawn