Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-23

West. jane converted the little prop
erty that had been left her into money,
and bought small cottage on the out
skirts Of the village, where she now
lived In genuine old-maid fashion.
Alonzo, who was 43 years old, still
lived with his aged parents, and cared
for them. For ten years he had driven
the stage between Gllead and Gilead
station where a remote corner of the
township was intersected by a railroad.
He had never been to see Jane Par
melee since she moved into her own
cottage, but they were still "'Lonzo"
and Jane" to each other whenever
they met, and the memory Of faded
romance did not seem to embitter their
present friendship. Jane indeed some
times wondered, with choking sensa-
ton In her throat, why Alonzo jackson
had never asked her to be his wife. but
she had long since got over the keen
anguish of her girlhood disappoint-
ment, and schooled herself to believe
that since God willed 1t SO, 1t was "all
for the best"
On this stormy March day Jane Par
melee was going to Gilead station, to
take the train for Lancaster, where
lived her life-long friend Susan Rich,
in pleasant home whose welcome
Jane had often gratefully tasted. The
day and train having been set, Jane
would as soon have thought of betray-
ing her friends confidence as falling
to arrive at the precise hoar named in
her letter. Fidelity was the bed rock
of her character. 1t would seem as il
Alonzo Jackson might have known this.
us lie sat doubling in the rain before
her gate.
Jane was the only passenger that
morning. She sat on the middle seat
under her big umbrella, and Alonzo
chatted internationally with her over
his left shoulder, us they logged along
through the storm. One would never
have suspected that these two sober,
middle-aged persons had been lovers In
the sweet days gone by.
When they reached the covered
bridge over the river, 1t seemed as IL
all the clouds of heaven had opened
their sluice-gates together. A perfect
torrent of rain was falling.
"'Lonzo. can't you stop for a few
minutes in the bridge, till the worst of
this shower is overg asked Jane. "My
new bunnit it gittin' awfully damp.
The rain drives right through this UNI
brel."
.Lemme see" said Alonzo, consult
Ing his watch. Eyes. guess SO. We've
got twenty minutes to spare. and 1t
does rain middllng hard. My! but the
river is high, amt It? A little more,
and 1t would be over the foor-boards
Of the bridge"
Alonzo drove to the middle of the
gloomy covered bridge and stopped his
horses. Then he and Jane sat listen
ing to the thunder Of the storm over
their heads.
1.-THE bridge kind of quiyers, doesn't
it?" said Jane.
Eyes, 1t does seem to joggle somen
replied Alonzo. "The waters up to
the foorbeams and pushes kind of
hard against 'em. But don't be-
lieve@"
Just then the steady vibration of the
bridge increased to sort of conyul.
sive shudder. The structure suddenly
lurched, gave grinding slide, grated
off Its stone piers, and went whirling
down stream with the current!
Jane uttered n cry of terror and
caught hold Of Alonzo's arm. He could
feel her whole body tremble. The SEN
saticn sent strange thrill through
him. His lethargic nature ut last was
stirred!
'There-therer he said. soothlngly.
Don't you be afraid, jane. There amt
any real danger. The bridge amt
a-going to sink. Well ground against
the shore somewhere and then can
drive right out again.
But the bridge tossed and spun and
careened, and the muddy water raced
along the floor. Jane began. to sob
like frightened child.
Come, come" said Alonzo, drawing
the reins hard as iron over the plung-
Ing horses with his right hand. Don't
be scared. I'll-there!"
His left arm reached over the back
of the seat and slid around Jane Par
melee's waist, her head dropped ON his
shoulder, her best bonnet needless of
the drippings of the old felt hat. "There
nowhere now!" murmured the strong
man, tenderly. "Oh, Jane if something
OF this sort had only happened twenty
years agol"
"Yes'" whispered Jane, all Of o tgep.