Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-04-26
BOBBING
ON BEEMER'S
BEND By
JAMES ALLISON
JAMES ALLISON
Copyright. 1901. by a. 5. Richardson

did you ever meet such a prig?"
exclaimed Madge Turner as she jerkcd
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
Crozier. who was spending the Thanks
giving holiday with Madge mt the lat
ter's hcme In Vermont. Il believe your
father is enjoying his visit tremen.
dously." Mr.. Turner was principal OF
the high school.
We'll. | 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 a 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-
mo thanks 10 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 n 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 childrcn's
friends. Tom was standing near the
table enjoying hot doughnut and ms
Mrs. Turner disappeared in the direc-
ton of the hall laden with plate of
the toothsome cakes Madge turned to
him impatiently.
who is TO ride with your beloved
Mr. BromeT'
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
rto 4 g..
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 frankncss coniided
| this opinion To me. Now
Madge's cheeks famed brilliantly.
and the twinkle faded from Toms
eyes
"Madge. dear. II isn't always the fell
low who talks the most brilliantly. who
goes in for sports and social gaycties.
who finally scores best at college.
There's lots in Bronze that neither YOU
nor | 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. but
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 ut her side pleased
because she had quietly fallen behind
the merry throng to talk about some
new fittings for Toms room mt college
Bronze thought il must be very delight
full To have Il sister To make the dainty
knickknacks which somehow never
found their way into his dem His
mother was managing small farm
In Illinois and with three other bows
to clothe and send to school had little
time for fancy work. Madgc tried to
think that she was simply doing her
duty by her brothers guest. hut 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. If
he had never toboggancd or helped to
build an Ice castle or played polo. he
could talk entertainngly on the latest
new books. of which he seemed to pos
sess surprising number.
But after the first trip on the bobslcd
the Illusion. as she termed il. seemed
TO fade again. lie was just what she
had first pronounced him prig: more
than that-yes. coward.
Beemers hill WAS the most noted
coasting ground in the county Ii was
public highway. steep and smooth,
with gorgeous incline that kept the
sleds plunging downward nj an ex-
hilarating speed. To he sure wise
acres in the neighborhood had long
predicted that some day reckless coast
ers would meet with an accident at
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 ii speed and steered
by well adjusted wheel. and the
young people on this particular morn
ing boarded il without a tremor.
Tom steerel. and Madge sat well to
the rear and in front of Bronze. Sew