The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-30
jim.


She was terry little girl with hair like
spun gold, big brown eyes and red
mouth, like wax dolls. She stood in the
little arbor as James came up the road,
and he thought he had never seen any
thing SO beautiful He noticed that she
was little and slender, too; that her clothes
were dainty and her hands white. AS he
came nearer she stepped out from the ar
Dor and asked, with a little curl OF her lip:
.'Are you my cousin, James Greeley"
BE was only a country boy, and so stood
and stared in amazement. Then he eJac-
hlated:
"Me' Yes. Your cousin? MOI"
"But you must be-" persisted the girl.
They said would see you, and, she
added, with a glance which took in every
detail Of James costume, from the bare
feet to the hickory" shirt, they said you
Were O handsome lad" And with that
she shifted a disdainful little sniff and
walked stifiy toward the house.
Jim stood looking after her, flush
uantIing the freckled checks and the
white forehead under the red hair, be saw
the white dress vanish as she turned the
corner of the house, and he walked on. He
reached the barn just as Mary had finished
milking the cows. Don't you know
there e company" she asked as she swung
the milk pail around to see the bubbles
dance. And they're eoin to stay for 3
week, and you ought TO be dressed"
A week! Jim's heart would have sunk
into his boots had be worn any. As IL
was it seemed to go up into his throat and
stick there in a big lump. He went
around the yard shutting the chickens
into the henhouse, putting the farm tools
away. Then he went to the house. His
mother met him at the door and gave him
list Of directions which made his head
spin. The result wGs he came down to
supper looking like city boy. But the
freckles and rcd hair Were still there. His
aunt-whom he had not seen since he was
q baby-quite Cverwheln d him with her
kind manner and her sweet voice. but he
would have given it all for one glance,
even Gisdainful one from the little girl
who sat near him, her proud little head
turned away.
AS the days went by the color came into
the white checks Of the little golden haired
girl. and when her mother had 10 go back
to the city she decided to leave her TO stay
another week or so. Jim felt that the
COWS were ugly now, the horses were slow,
the fields OF wheat and timothy and the
wild roses that grew in the hedges were
all dull and drab. He could only find sun
shine when little Nell was with him. She
hated boy with dirty hands, who couldn e
dance, and who was awkward and stupid.
One morning she started out for long
walk. jim saw Der as she went out the
gate. She had q long piece of white thread
in her hand and carried three pins in her
mouth. 'Fishin, - said Jim.
She had heard her uncle say that there
were plenty OF fish in the Dee brook if
people wero Rot tco lazy to catch them.
She would catch scme. Then Jim would
see that i city girl could do more than a
country boy. EcF proud little nose turned
up at the very mention of tie name.
Tho brock was soon reached, and Nellie
sat down AID threw her line as far out as
she could. She watched the hook float a
moment and then disappear. She listened
to the ehirp IF the birds in the trees along
the bank. She saw the sunlight slimmer
through the leaves, and she became
drowsy.
Suddenly she started up. Her line had
slipped from her hand and was floating in
the water almost beyond her reach. She
leaned over and By a supreme effort caught
it, but could not pull it in. One end was
caugEt fast under stone in the middle CT
the brook. She thought Of the fish she
meant To catch and gave two or three hard
tugs. There was jerk, the string broke,
her feet slid On the slippery bank, ard the
next moment the little girl WAS struggling
in The water, and the water closed above
the golden head, leaving ever widening
circles shiInmering on the surface Of the
brock.
There was great rustling among the
bushes, a white face and crown Of red
hair appeared for a second, and then both
had plunged into the water Nell felt her
hair being pulled very h o. She Won
iered aiterwaId why it took her breath
away, and why she was $3.50 sleepy.
When Jim MADE his appearance at the
farmyard with his clothes wrinGing Wet,
his hair standing Oh end and the little
bundle of means in his arms Mrs. Farmer
all hut had Mysteries. She said he was a
brave boy when be told the story, but
knowing how 10 swim and giving ones
life up for another was quite usual for her
boys. The next day Nell was TO so home.
She came oUt 10 the barn where Jim was
watering the COWS and stood lovingly ca
ressing the velvet nose of the spotted calf.
81 am going away, Jim, she said shy
ly, 'and l came TO thank you for saving
my life "
She locked at him over the calf's head
and smiled sweetly. Jim flushed. He
stammered something about not having
done anything extraordinary.
But you know I would have died,
wouldn' I'll, II you hadn't Gomez"
''Mebbe," said Jim.
Mamma would have been very sorry"
continued Nell in her soft little voice.
$50 would 7, > Jim managed To say.
And 10 city boy could have done il"
she continued, still patting the ''bossy's"
head with her little hand.
Pooh announced Jim.
She looked up. Il want you TO come
and sec us--to come home with me now.
Mamma said so" she said.
And they have been good friends ever
since, though he is only country boy
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