The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-21
HE HAD REAL GRIT.

ne hiLlsD 6DEIpt1y SLfdlGnleD64 DIS
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
he should see the picture Of himself as
Good Temper complete.
Their Greasy 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 have to tell
you, Nellie" he said. My life, I love
you I reverence the very breath you
breathel Can you cOndescend to think Of
me for a husband2'
She had known her second cousin Iry-
on Greasy, for 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.
Forgive me, Bryon, - she answered. 81
think it an honor that you should care for
me, but I must say no to you. You are
not exactly the sort of man whom I would
wish to marry.
Miss Nellie called an excited voice
close to her hammock, the voice of Della,
a colored servant, in woeful terror. 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 she black wellr'
The scene which greeted them when
they reached the back yard mournfuly
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
under its mouth from which cattle had
formerly drunk had not been removed. A
barricade of narrow planks a foot or SO
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 cunningly
wriRgled his body between the pIanks and
started to work at the rusty, stiff pump
handle.
Under the boys weight as he worked a
portion Of the treacherous pavement gave
way. Down it went and Rob with it into
the dark shaft of the pump.
Not into the well. Della was wrong
there. The child's fall 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
and wide before she startled the pair in
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?
''Ihas would simply mean goodby
child. said a member of the throng soT-
rowfully.
Suddenly amid the babble voice spoke
out sharply and with command.
We can't stir that trough, said the
artist. eve daren't try 1t. But we may
get ropes through its rings before we at
tempt to lower 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 ablest men. A ladder was lowered.
Now 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 eff
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 crum-
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 holO Of
the trough"
"By our souls we will" came a chorus
of answer.
Then Cresay, the hero of unheroio ap-
pearance, vanished from their sight down
the insecure ladder amid another shower
of stones and clay.
Twenty minutes passed slowly-toreur-
ingly-2O 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 q climax of excitement,
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 brandyI' yelled the men.
But ere the cordial was at his lips, sick
from the poisonous air of the shaft, the
artist tainted.
By and by he recovered consciousness to
find his head pillowed tenderly upon a
girls arm.
''You deaEs noble boyr whispered Nell
to him TREMENDOUSLY. Rob will soon be
all right; he is not badly injured IN any
way oh, Byron, as long as I live I shall
love you for thisr'
Enough to change that no you said
awhile agoS' questioned Cressy in weak
accents.
''Yes, indeed. The question is whether
you can think of me for wife. -
Well 1 j try said Byron amiably, Elf
you II start me with a kiss. Boston
Globe.
A Mountain Prima Donna.
al was travelling through north Geor-
gia " said a drummer to reporter. Il
efcuUpd q IN 0iurh1 At, q Thin where a v0Tnr7