Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-02-21

well, IL WouIu mean duotneT yeal
that's all.
Bess looked soberly at the baked
looking earth 1t looked so thirsty,
and the great ditch rolling along be-
side them seemed anxious to turn Its
rich torrent into the little bitches that
ran like veins up and down between
the trees.
"Well, suppose it would be risky,
she said. but, my the trees do
want drink p
Supper was waiting for them and
their father called gayly to them as
they galloped up to the door.
81 met Jessie Wright at the store
doing some trading for her mother,and
she wants you to go down the valley
tomorrow and spend the day with
her" he said, ae they sat down tc
supper.
"Oh, may I go, mother p cried Bess
They were great friends-"Jess and
Bess," as they were called by the
ranch and village people-and the
fruit farm wound down the valley
very close to the sheep ranch Of Jes-
sizes father.
"Why, yes, you may, said Mrs
Harris, Bessies mother. "Did Jessie
want her to stay all night, John ?"
"Of course-as usual, replied Mr.
Harris.
But guess you can spare her that
long, eh, mother"
mo, need you, dearie. But you
can have long day together and come
home in the evening" said Mrs. Har-
ris.
So next morning Bess shouted gay
good-by as Brandy danced around the
mounting block, and she whistled the
long thongs Of her quiIt merrily
around his flank, which Brandy
promptly resented by bringing his
four hoofs together, rising in the air
and coming down on his sturdy little
legs with a jar that nearly sent Bess
out of the saddle.
"Oh, you'll buck, will you?' she
cried, while the rest cheered Brandy.
"Wait till you want some sugar.
Brandy repented and stretched him
self into a swinging, rockingham
lope that carried him swiftly down
the trail. The air was sharp and
clear and tingled through Bessie's
veins, while the cold turned her
cheeks rosy.
Frost tonight, Brandy" she cried
to the broncho, whose ears twitched
back at the sound of her voice And
the frost came.
The girls had long, merry day,
and as the moon rose in a clear purple
sky Bess turned Brandy's willing nose
homeward. She turned up the collar
of her heavy little coat and pulled on
her buckskin gloves, for the cold was
growing sharp. And calling cheerily
to Brandy, she flew along the trail
toward home. 1t was cold and clear
and still, and she rode along little
sleepily, while Brandy's hoofs made
the only sound that broke the still
ness. But soon another sound startled
her into wakefulness. She had reached
the water gate on the big ditch, and
through the stiffness came a low tink-
ling and gurgling that sounded like
fairy music. But the fairy music sent
all the color out of the girls cheeks,
and with frightened cry to Brandy
she slipped out of the saddle and ran
to the ditch.
Brandy meandered along after her
with lazy curiosity and found her
kneeling beside the gate with heI
arms plunged down into the cold water
J And when she stood up her pretty
bright face had grown still whittier
For she had found small "cavs-in
near the gate, and the water was trick
ling through in steady little stream
that was steadily and quickly growing
larger as the earth broke and crum-
bled and gave way around it. In a
very short time that cave-in would
send volume of water rushing and
leaping along all the bitches through
the ranch, and by mOrning-what?
"Oh, the fruit, the fruit, Brandy,
Bess sobbed, wildly. ut will be
killed and mother, heart will break T.
She wrung her hands as she looked
down the long road cleaning white
and lonely in the moonlight. Too late
for that. Before she could go mile
toward help the ranch would be food
ed aud the ruin complete. Again she
plunged her arm into the water. Il
she could only stop mp that hole She