The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-04-17
BOBBfNG
ON BEEMER'S
BEND sy
JAMES ALLISON
coDvr,xht, 1901. by A. s. Richardson

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.Did you ever meet such a prig"
exclaimed Madge Turner as she jerked
at the laces of her skating boots. III
Tom had hunted his class over, he
couldn't have found anything more
stupid"
..He would say could not This in
mischievous tone from Katherine
Crozier. who was spending the Thanks
giving holiday with Madge at the lat
ter's home in Vermont. 81 believe your
father Is enjoying his visit tremen-
dously." Mr.. Turner was principal OF
the high school.
"Well, do think" snapped Madge,
Juggling at the buttons on her fur trim
med jacket, 'that in view of the fact
that I'm buried alive in this town nine
months in the year Tom might have
brought home real jolly college chap,
some one who would make things live
" for us all"
"You need not complain" suggested
Katherine 'You have Harry Martin,
and he probably would not welcome
any rival
That's quite enough, Kit. When
will you learn that there is absolutely
nothing between Harry and me-
"No thanks to Harry for that state
of affairs" laughed Katherine as the
two girls left the room.
A party of merry young people had
gathered round the great fireplace in
the hall, waiting for Madge and
Katherine to join them on bobbing
trip to Beemer's hill. Madge ran out
to the kitchen for farewell word with
her mother, who was never happier
than when entertaining her children's
friends. Tom was standing near the
table enjoying a hot doughnut, and as
Mrs. Turner disappeared in the direc-
ton of the hall laden with plate of
him impatiently. ..
"Who is to ride with your beloved
Mr.. Bromew
Tom turned to his sister in surprise.
"Madge, that doesn't sound like you.
l hoped you'd show him the cour-
| tesy"-
"Don't preach, brother mine. treat
him decently when I'm with him, but
to save my life don't understand why
you brought him home for the vaca-
ton when there are so many other
chaps to choose from"
$50 long as you put the question SO
bluntly, I'll tell you why, Madge-be-
cause while most of the fellows in my
class could 60 home for their holidays
Bronze felt that he ought not spend the
money for the trip to Illinois. Then
knew he wanted to come. When my
little sister came down to the Junior
prom this fall, Bronze thought she was
the most charmingly unaffected and
gentle hammered girl he had ever met,
and with his usual frankness confided
this opinion to me. Now
| Madge's cheeks famed brilliantly,
eyes. .......
"Madge, dear, it isn't always the fel.
low who talks the most brilliantly, who
goes In for sports and social gayeties,
who finally scores best at college.
There's lots in Bronze that neither you
nor I have ever fathomed, and I'm
proud to call him my friend. He's
quiet and rather delicate and not half
SO stylish as Harry Martin, butt
''That will do" exclaimed Madge
CURLY. "Never mind the list of vir-
tues. The crowd Is waiting
But when she swept into the great
hall the flush had not entirely faded
from her cheeks. 1t seemed to Char
ley Bronze that she had never looked
SO pretty as at this very moment.
He trudged along at her side, pleased
because she had quietly fallen behind
the merry throng to talk about some
new fittings for Toms room at college.
Bronze thought it must be very delight
full to have a sister to make the dainty
knickknacks which somehow never
found their way into his den. His
mother was managing a small farm
in Illinois and with three other boys
to clothe and send to school had little
time for fancy work. Madge tried to
think that she was simply doing her
duty by her brothers. guest, but before
the mile to Beemer's hill had been
covered she became deeply interested
in her companion. If he did not belong
to the football eleven, he knew the
record of every man in the team. II
he had never tobogganed or helped to
build an ice castle or played polo, be
could talk entertainingly on the latest
new books, of which he seemed to pos.
sess surprising number.
But after the first trip on the bobsled
the illusion, as she termed it, seemed
to fade again. He was just what she
had first pronounced him-a prig; more
than that-yes, a coward!
Beemers hill was the most noted
coasting ground in the county. 1t was
public highway, steep and smooth
with gorgeous incline that kept the
sleds plunging downward at an ex.
hilarating speed. To be sure. wise
acres in the neighborhood had long
predicted that some day reckless coast
ers would meet with an accident al
the bend below Mr.. Beemer's house
where the road rounded above great
cliff. But Tom Turner's bob was the
finest in all the country round, heavily
weighted to give it speed and steered
by well adjusted wheel, and thu
young people on this particular morn
ing boarded it without tremor.
Tom steered, and Madge sat well tt
the rear and in front Of Bronze. Sew
eral times during the mad ride she fell
his hand close almost convulsively OF
her arm, but she fairly reveled in tht
wild moment. She was strongly ath
letic In her tastes and afraid of moth.
ling.
When the party reached the brow OF
the hill for the second plunge, Bronze
looked very grave, and while he made
no effort to induce the others to give
mp the trip he firmly declined to make
1t again. Instead he would build a fire
and have it jolly and comfortable or
their return. Madge gave Katherine 6
significant glance, but she could moi
catch her brother Toms eye.
On their return from the run they
found Bronze chatting pleasantly will