Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-01
A COUNTRY BOY.

spun ROtut DlB oio"H " eN :. NoeA mouth like wax dolls. She stood in the little arbor as James came up the road. and he thought be had never seen anything so beautiful. He noticed that she was little and slender, too; that her clothes were dainty and her hands white. As he came bearer she stepped out from tbe erbor and asked, with little curl of her lip:
 Are YOU my cousin, James Creeley2"
 He was only country boy and so stood and stared in amazement. Then he ejacu lated:
 nMep Yes. Your cousin? Nor'
 nBut you must be, persisted the girl. ..Tbey said I would see you, and, she added. with a glance which took in every detail of James costume from the bare feet to the ahickory,' shirt, they said you were handsome lad. And with that she sniffed disdainful little sniff and walked stif1ly toward the house.
 Jim stood looking after her, a flush mantling the freckled cheeks and the white forehead under the red hair. He 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 fin ishea milking the COWS. Don't you know there's company she asked as she swung the milk pail around to sec the bubbles dance sAnd they're going to stay for a week, and you ought to be dressed. 7
 week! Jim s heart would have sunk into his boots had he worn any. As it was, it seemed to go up into his throat and stick there ill big lump. He went around the yard, shutting tho 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 was ho came down to supper looking liko city boy. But the freckles and red hair were still there. His aunt-whom he had not seen since he was baby-quite overwhelmed him with her kind manner and her sweet voice, but he would have given it all for one glance, even disdainful 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 cheeks of the little golden haired girl and when her mother had to 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't dance and who was awkward and stupid.
 One morning she started out for q long walk. Jim saw her as she went out the gate. She had 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 peo pie were not too lazy to catch them. She would catch some. Then Jim would see that city girl could do more than eoun- try boy. Her proud little nose turned up at the very mention of the name.
 The brook was soon reached, and Nellie sat down and threw her line as far out as she could She watched the hook float moment and then disappear. She listened to the chirp of the birds in the trees along the bank. She saw the sunlight glimmer 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 supreme effort caught 1t, but could not pull it ia. One end was caught fast under stone in the middle of the brook. She thought of tho 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, and the next moment the little girl was strug- gling in the water, and the water closed above the golden head, leaving ever widen ing circles shimmering on the surface of the brook
 There was great rustling among the bushes, white face and a crown of red hair appeared for second, and then both mad plunged into the water Nell felt her hair being pulled very hard. She wonder Cd afterward why it took her breath away and why she was so-so sleepy
 When Jim made his appearance at the farmyard with his clothes wringing wet, hls balr standing on end and the little bundle Of moans in his arms, Mrs Farmer all but had hysterics She said he was brave boy when he told the story. but Knowing how to swim and giving one's ! life up for another were quite usual for her boys. The next day Nell was to 20 home. She came out to the barn where Jim was watering the cows and stood lovingly carossing the velvet nose of tho spotted calf
 1 am going away, Jim, <" she said shy ly, and l came to thank you for saving my life J Q
 She looked at him over the calf's head and smiled sweetly. Jim flushed. He stanmered something about not having done anything extraordinary.
 But you know 1 would have died. wouldn'tI, if you hadn't comeYa
 Mebbe, said Jim.
 Mamma would have been very sorry" continued Nell in her soft little voice.
 So would l, Jim managed to say.
 And no city boy could have done it. !" she continued, still batting the 'bossy's" head with her littlo hand
 "Pooh" announced Jim.
 She looked up. II want you to come ana see us--to come home with inc now. Mamma said so, sho said.
 And they havo been good friends ever since though he is only country boy Exchange. |