The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-30

Luce an sech names, for I allus think
of how kind an sens BILE she We're when
Andy had the dip-thery, an :. we
thought he was goin' TIL die He were
! took down on Saturday, an -''
Here a piercing scream followed by
voice calling frantically - Ma! ma
| Charles fast in the apple tree! Hurry,
hurry, he'll be killed. interrupted the
| interesting details of Andys illness,
and that young gentlemen found him
SuddennesS that somewhat surprised
him-to say the least.
The orchard was just back of the
| house, and Mrs. Gray, closely followed
by Miss Stanley, was not long in reach
ing the tree where Charlie hung, cling
ing frantically with his fingers to a
small limb half way to the top, his legs
dangling helplessly in the air. There
was no Dough strong enough to sus-
tain his weight within reach. IT was
evident that he could not hold on much
! longer.
Mrs. Gray ran back and forth, wiring
ing her hands. and crying franticaIIy
for help; May. screaming at the top
of her voice, jumped straight I'D and
down in frey of fright,
After one glance Miss Stanley sank
weakly to her knees, pressing both
hands over her eyes to shut ont the
horrible sight
Suddenly a clear voice called out:
There ma, don't take on sol TIL
save him. and looking up Miss sta
ley saw a slight girl with dark ewes
and hair coming toward them, throwing
off her bonnet as she ran. In an instant
she was scaling the tree with the rap
idity and agility of a monkey.
She walked out on a thick, gnarled
bough below where the boy hung, with
as much GOODNESS and self possession as
if she were walking on the level ground.
Reaching up her arms, she clasped his
legs firmly, saying cheerily: Steady
yourself by the branches, Charlie. as
you let yourself down. I'll hold YOU.
Do not be afraid. Therei now you're
all right, though pretty white and ner-
Vous- Hold fast to my hand until we
Get down.
Mrs. Gray caught him to her breast,
sobbing and crying over him as though
he had been restored to her from the
grave
Lucille. without having noticed the
presence Of Miss Staley, was walking
quietly away, when a white hand was
LAID UPON her shoulder, and a low,
musical voice exclaimed warmly:
You are brave grill Any man
might be proud of the feat you have
Just accomDlishedr'
d
flushed, frightened face toward the
speaker.
g! am your new teacher Miss
Staley exclaimed, smiling kindly into
the big, wistful brown eyes.
"Oh, I'm SO gladr' Lucille exclaimed,
impulsively; then, as if frightened at
her holiness, froze into her usual awk-
ward reserve.
But that was the beginning of new
life for Lucille Gray. She was of a timid,
shrinking, sensitive nature, with re-
fined thoughts and tastes as unlike her
voluble, good-natured stepmother as
possible.
She was an ardent lover of nature in
all her moods. When some unusual
in her stepmother Jared
upon her more refined feelings, and the
narrow, petty life became almost I'M
endurable, she had only to turn her
face 10 the hills. the beautiful blue
yelled hills and sunny meadows, to find
rest and peace. She began writing little
nature sketches, crude and unpublished.
put containing beautiful thoughts and
fancies.
One day, when Miss Staley had been
there about a month, Lucille, in a sud
den burst of confidence, showed her !
some OF these little sketches. She had !
been gradually thawing out-crawIing
out of her shell, as it were-and Miss
otaley watched the process with inter !
EST, feeling that there was more in the |
girl than she had thought.
She began reading the sketches care
essdy, but soon with growing wonder
and delight Why, child, you have a
real talent" she exclaimed, warmly. |
They are little crude perhaps, but |
With little polishing Mr.. Arnold, the |
editor Of the - Magazine, would be |
glad to publish them. know
''Oh, Miss Staley, you don't mean it? |
You are only jokingr' Lucille cried,
changing to white and red by turns
But / do mean it" Miss Staley said,
putting her arm around the girls
waist, and drawing the small, %-nned I
ace close to her own, 1--WE viii go to +
york now-this very minute-on two of
he best ones, and I'll send them to
dr. Arnold this very day. He is
on, how good you are!" was all
lucille could say.
But few weeks later, when she re
eived a letter from Mr.. Arnold con-
aiming a small check, and request
or more of the pretty Sketches her
oy and gratitude knew no bounds.
he came out Of her shell, a glad, eager
hid.
We'll, now! who'd a thunk it!' Mrs.
tray said when she heard the Won
erful news. She was washing dishes,
nd she stood with the dishcloth sus-
ended in the air. her eyes and mouth
ride open.
''An' IT, think they called her crazy
.uce,' when all the time she We're a
linl1in' out things that were fittin' to
0 in a paperi allus knowed that she
-eren't jest what you'd call common
hid; but 1 never thought she'd turn
ut tn be author. [ reckon we
in hold up our heads now with the
eat of EN- she aided, her black eyes
mapping. "'Tain't ev'rybody that kin
ev a author i'm the family"