The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-06-07

Ralph. 'ii ~ W win
For several days Percy tried to be
opedlent But he was lonesome. He
boy. '''0 0'-iei
When he thought that he could en-
dufe the separation no longer and that
ne mad a good chance to get uff I'M
observed, Percy paid visit to Ralph.
he mad to give some explanation for
MS absence. So he told the truth, all
though be did not like to do so, on
his mothers account.
Ii your mother don't want you to
go with me" said Ralph you'd bet
ter stay home"
But l don't want to stay away from
you" replied Percy; Its so dull all
alone by myself and besides, 1 like
YOU
Well, I like you, too" answered
ralph, but my mother says we must
do as we are told''
- don't care" responded Percy,
L m here now and I'm going to stay,
even II L never come again.
SO the boys played together for an
hour or two. Then Percy went to go
nome. Just as he left the yard of
roses Mrs. Desmond drove out of her
gate. She saw where her son had
! been.
After that, Percy did not appear at
/ the rose cottage. He wandered
through his own grounds, a miserable
boy. He could not see why he should
not like Ralph, even if the latter was
poor.
About a week later Percy resolved to
go fishing in the mill stream on the
| other side of the town.
1t happened that Ralph went there,
TOO, that same day. But he was lit
tie late and he did not go within an
eighth of mile of where Percy was.
While Percy was fishing near deep
hole in the mill stream he got bite
from some big FISH. In his excitement
to pull in his capture he stepped too
near the edge of the bank. A foot of
turf fell into the stream and the boy
fell with it.
As Percy struck the cool water he
gave a shrill cry of fear. Then he
fioundered around, and the little river
began to carry him down stream, and
presently he sank, just as he rounded
bend
Ralph had heard the Shrek Of fear
He did not recognize Percy's voice.
But he guessed that someone had fall
len into the water who could not swim.
SO he ran as hard as he could up
the bank and came upon Percy as the
latter was coming up to the top of the
river, unconscious from fright and
shock
Ralph grabbed Perey's jacket with
one hand and with the other caught
hold of a bush. Then he tried to pull
him up on the bank. But this he
could not do. So he shouted for help,
But when no one came for some time,
he was almost exhausted. He feared
that he would have to let go. Then
he screamed long and loud. Just as
his strength failed him Mr.. Desmond,
attracted by his cries from the road,
came to his assistance and lifted his
own son from watery death.
He carried Percy to the carriage all
dripping and now again coming back
to consciousness. He told Ralph to
come, too. So the three were driven,
first to the doctors, and then to the
Desmond house.
After the ladies learned how Percy
had been rescued, and found that be-
meath a poor jacket beat a brave
heart, and that Ralph was good,
honest, well-bred and truthful boy,
they had no more objection to the two
hinys going together.
And so Percy and Ralph grew up
through life firm friends, each loving
the other for what he was and not for
the quality of his clothes.-Uncle An
thony in Pittsburg Observer.