The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-19
HE HAD REAL GRIT.

The artist abruptly Strengthened his
back and sharply declared his sketch at an
end. He desired his model to run away
and find any amusement, short of mischief,
elsewhere, with bride that in two days
ha should see the picture Of himself as
GOOD Temper complete.
Then Cressy squared his shoulders,
walked straight to the hammock where
Nellie Needham lay and gave her an op
portunity to utter the negative which she
had been secretly rehearsing
you know well what I have to tell
you, Nellie" he said. Ny life, love
you! I reverence the very breath you
breathei Can you condescend to think Of
me for husband?''
She had known her second cousin Bry-
on Cressy, fer exactly two weeks, during
which time he had been a guest in her IA
theirs country home. Those two weeks
had been sufficient to give her an implicit
belief in his truth. Still she resolutely hard
ened her heart, which was usually as soft
as jelly, setting herself to keep her pre-
vious resolution.
a. Forgive me, Bryon, - she answered. Il
think it an honor that you should care for
me, but must say no to you. You are
not exactly the sort Of man whom would
wish 10 marry
Miss Nellie, - called an excited voice
close to her hammock, the voice Of Della,
a colOred servant, in woeful terror. q" Miss
Nellie, sure as you're alive, the ground
near that ole pump in the back yard has
broke down at last, and that chile Rob
has fallen clear into the black vvellP'
The scene which greeted them whom
they reached the back yard nournfully
confirmed Delia's words. In one corner
of this Enclosure was an ancient pump,
which had long been neglected, because
the pavement surrounding it was judged
insecure But heavy stone trough, fixed
fAc ryHi oI To hod
formerly drunk, had not been removed A
barFicade of narrow planks a foot or 50
apart had been erected round the danger
Gus spot.
Rob Needham had been driven from the
society of his sister Nell And in his pres
ent mood Of mischief that timber barricade
offered no obstacle to him. He ounningly
wriRgled his body between the pianks and
started to work at the rusty, stiff pump
handle.
Under the boys weight as he worked
portion Of the treacherOus pavement gave
way. Down it went and Rob with it into
the dark shaft of the pump.
Not into the we'll Della was wrong
there The child's fail had been stopped
by two planks placed across each other in
the shaft, about midway between the black
depths of water and the surface. To these
he chung, bruised and dizzy.
Della had evidently carried her news far
the orchard, for Nellie saw that the yard
was already half filed with men. One
dread WAS on every tongue. The pavement
near the trough had not yet given way.
But if it did?
''That would simply mean goodby
child, said a member Of the throng sor-
rowfully.
Suddenly amid the babbIe voice spoke
out sharply and with command.
We can't stir that trough, y said the
artist. I'VE daren't try it. But we may
get ropes through its rings before we at
tempt to lower a ladder. -
The strongest hemp at hand was passed
through solid rings attached to the great
stone vessel and held by two or three of
the Rblest men. A ladder was lowered
Nov came the desperate moment.
Rob's cries had been gradually growing
fainter. Byron shouted to him, but could
not distinguish his reply. 1t was evident
that the boy was beyond making any ef-
fort to free himself from the rubbish that
had fallen with him.
Men who in an ordinary brawl or riot
were daredevils enough eyed that cruni-
bling pavement, pictured the black depths
of the well beneath and sneaked aside
One alone stood pale at the top of the
ladder. For an instant only his dark eyes
which Nell had called dreamy and woIn-
anish-looked at the men with the ropes,
like fires Of appeal.
Boys, " he said, you'll keep hold Of
the trough -
BY our souls we wilI'' came chorus
Of answer.
Then Greasy, the hero of unheroic ap-
pearance, vanished from their sight down
the insecure ladder amid another shower
of stones and clay.
Twenty minutes passed slowly-tontur-
ingly-20 minutes of a suspense which
brought sweat like rain from rough faces
and made Nell's lips too dry to give forth
another sound.
Then, amid a climax Of excitement, q
black head showed at the top of the lad
der. Bryon reappeared his face piebald
with dirt, his shirt ragged, but his arms
clasping Rob's living body.
.Give him brandyr' yelled the men.
But ere the cordial was at his lips, sick
from the poisonous air of the shaft the
artist faiDted.
find his head pillowed tenderly upon a
girls arm
You dear, noble boy % Whispered Nell
to him TREMENDOUSLY. Rob will soon be
ali right; he is not badly injured in any
way. oh, Byron, as long as live I shall
love you for thisr
Enough to change that no you said
awhile ago?'' questioned Cressy in weak
accents.
Yes, indeed. The question is whether
you can think of me for a wife. -
ssWeIl, II try, said Byron amiably, 6 if
youth start me with kiss. BOSTON
Globe.
A Mountain Prinna Donna.
ST was travelling through north Geor-