The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1896-03-21

i ton just as it occurred, to experience
i the full agony Of their terrible situa-.
ton This was their ia ther, Ambrose
1 Winchester. ~ 81
Like one gone mad he ran aesper-
i ately along the bank after the small
bark, his eyes fixed on the two little
1 sWaying figures, dark brown and flax
l en- curls, mingling as they were. tossed
4 by the wind until a small catch Of
| woodland cut off his view. Still he
ran, Duttering cries, pray ers, until his
breath gave out, and his gasping
throat could only give vent to some
/ thing like sobs. # s3* U
! &s When he passed the little patch Of
woodland he saw the bridge had stop
! ped, caught by the branches Of a tree
fallen across the stream. But the
| bridge itself was ready to fall to
! pieces now; the rail to which the chill
dren hung was swaying and bending
and threatening every moment to part
i company with the rest Of the struct-
ure. At that moment a figure plunged
boldly into the torrent with long
board In his arms, and before the reel
ing, GREATNESS father could gain the
! spot, had taken both children upon the
board, and was struggling toward the
shore Mr.. Winchester was just in.
time to catch his dripping children as
they came to land, and as his eyes fell
on their deliverer he saw it was Hut.
ton. II I'LL. s.
Here, put the children into nv
buggy and wrap them in the robe,' he
gasped. Then, following them, he
! drove off at ,breakneck speed with
out backward glance. WIZ {.
MES. Winchester came to the door
| with an inquiring look. When Mr..
Hutton lifted in his arms the half in
animate forms of her children and
handed them to her, one by one, she
grew ashy pale. .~-3
ooh, what-what?" she cried, sharp
~. what has happened"
Mr.. Hutton explained briefly as he
followed her lead, carrying the oldest
child while she conveyed the other.
And yOu-yOu are Wetv' she eX-
claimed stealing a glance from her
darlings to notice his condition
| Never mind me- And he turned
to go.
'Oh, don't go yet said Mrs. Win
chester, appealingly. "My husband
will be home soon, and I want you to
see him. | can't thank you; words are
so weak =.
",
ton, coolly. "And as for your good
husband, I've just parted company
| with him. -.
With that he strobe from the room,
and, wrapping himself IN his warm
robe, drove home.
The next morning Hutton stood at
his gate, his hands in his pockets, evil
IDENTITY in brown study. He was pom
derlng on what move he would make
next in his puzzling game of life, now
that his home was to be snatched from
MIN. He wore a logged look, which
Dy no means softened as he observed
MI. Winchester driving up. The lat
ter stopped before the gate, and an OBJ
server would have noted that the men
mad seemed to have changed positions.
Hutton nodded coolly. without chang
ing his attitude or expression. while
Mr.. Winchester breathed quickly and
looked nervous. ',a-s. r. ss5 -
| Hutton" he said, II have called to
see you about that little affair we were
talking of yesterday .
a., yes, observed the young man,
| juggling a bunch Of keys IN his money
| less pockets. II remember you are a
man perfectly competent to take care
of your own family ~,
! LUSH. DoI /! begged Winchester.
Here, take this as an evidence of nv
gratitude. It's a Quit-claim on the
| place you occupy
"And do you suppose" said Hutton.
with a deep-drawn breath, 'tthat I am
saving other peoples lives and riskfne
my own, as mater of dollars and
cents?" .,-.--t
NO. no! God forbidr' said the farm
er. Listen! I've changed since YES
terday. Yesterday, as saw you save
my little ones, 1 felt great pain
here" and he beat his breast. ''but
this morning, as 1 thought of what I
might do to make your life easier. and
the encouragement I could give YOU
not to be beaten in the great struggle
of life, felt great joy instead of
pain. This is not matter of compen-
sation; it cones from the heart"
The two clasped hands, and in that
moment something new and deep and
warm and strange came into the lives
of each-the finding and recognition of
heart.-Chicago News.
Diamos and Dirt.
|