Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-03-05
HE HAD REAL GRIT.

end. He desired his model To run away
and find any amusement, short of mischief,
elsewhere, with "a bribe that in two days
no should see the picture of himself rs
GOOD Temper" complete.
Then Cressy squared his shoulders,
walked straight to the hammock where
Nellie Needham lay and gave her an OPP
portunity To utter the negative which she
had been secretly rehearsing.
you know well what | have 10 tel.
you, Nellie" he said My life, / love
youl i reverence the very breath you
breathe Can you condescend To think of
me for a husband"
She had known her second cousin Bry-
on Cressy, for exactly two weeks, during
which time he had been n guest in her ia
Tiers country home Those two weeks
had been sufficient to give her an implicit
belief in his truth Still she rcsolutely hard
ened her heart, which was usually as soft
as jelly, setting herself to keep her pre-
vious resolution.
Forgive me, Bryon, she answered. II
think IL an honor that you should care for
me, but l must say no TO you. You arc
not exactly the sort of man whom l would
wish To marry"
Miss Nellie" called an excited voice
close To her hammock, the voice of Della,
. 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
bias fallen clear into the black WELL
The scene which greeted them when
they reached the back yard mournfully
confirmed Delias 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 "a heavy stone trough, fixed
under its mouth, from which cattle had
formerly drunk, had not been removed. A
barricade of marrow planks foot or so
apart had been erected round the danger
Gus spot.
Rob Needham had Teen driven from the
society of his sister Nell And in his pres
ent mood of mischief that timber barricado
offered no obstacle to him. He cunningly
wriggled his body between the planks 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 well. Della was wrong
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 filled with men. one
dread was on every tongue. The pavement
hn haH
But if it did,
"That would simply mean goodby
child, said IA member of the t.rong sor-
rowfully
Suddenly amid the babble voice spoke
out sharply and with command
I'VE can't stir that trough said the
artist. We daren't try it, But we may
get ropes through its rings before we at.
tempt 10 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 ut the top Of the
ladder For an instant only his dark eyes
which Nell had called dreamy and wom-
anish-loOkcd at the men with the ropes,
like fires Of appeal
Boys" he said, you'll keep hold of
the trough
BY our souls we will came chorus
of answer
Then Cressy, the hero of unheroic APP
pearancc, vanished from their sight down
the insecure ladder amid another shower
of stones and clay.
Twenty minutes passed slowly--tortur
ingly-20 minutes Of a suspense which
brought sweat like rain from rough faces
and made Nell ) lips too dry TO give forth
another sound.
Then, amid climax of excitement,
black head showed at the top of the lad
der I}ryon rcappeared, his face piebald
with dirt, his shirt ragged, but his arms
clasping Rob's living body.
Give him brandy yelled the men.
But ere the cordial was at his lips, sick
from the poisonous air Of tho Shaft, the
artist tainted
BY ana by he recovered consciousness to
find his head pillowed tenderly upon
girls arm.
You dear, 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 ! live l shall
love you for thsl''
Enough to change that no you said
awhile ago. questioned Greasy in weak
accents
Yes, indeed. The question is whether
you can think Of me for wife -
well, / II try, said Byron amiably, "if
you'll start me with kiss. boston
Globe.