Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-03-05
BOBBfNG
ON BEEMER'S
BEND 3,
JAMES ALLISON
Copyright. 1901. by AS. richardson

"Did you ever meet such prigT"
exclaimed Madge Turner as she jerked
at the laces of her skating boots. IF
Tom had hunted his class over. he
couldn't have found anything more
stupid"
HE would say could not This in
a mischievous tone from Katherine
Crozier. who was spending the Thanks-
giving holiday with Madge at the lat
ter's home In Vermont. Il believe your
father is enjoying his visit tremen-
dously" Mr.. Turner was principal of
the high school.
well. l do think" snapped Madge.
tugging 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 VINO 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
viii 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 10 join them on a 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.. Brome2"
Tom turned TO his sister I'm surprise.
"Madge. that doesn't sound like you.
1 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 I 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. III tell you why. Madge-be-
cause while most Of the fellows I'm my
class could go home for their holidays
Bronze felt that he ought not spend the
money FOR the trip 10 Illinois, Then I
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 hamed brilliantly,
and the twinkle faded from Toms
eyes.
'Madge. dear. Ii isn't always the fell
low who talks the most brilliantly, who
goes I'm for sports and social gayeties.
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 VIII do" exclaimed Madge
CURLY. Never mind the list Of vlr-
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.
ful 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 bows
/ 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. he
could talk entertainingly on the latest
new books. Of which he seemed to pos
sess a 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, cowardI
Beemer's hill was the most noted
eoasting ground in the county. 1t was
a 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 at
| the bend below Mr.. Beemer's house,
where the road rounded above a great
cliff. But Tom Turner's bob was the
| finest in all the country round, heavily
weighted to give it speed and steered
by a well adjusted wheel. and the
young people on this particular morn
ing boarded 1t without tremor.
Tom steered, and Aadge sat we'll to
Il 4 a N.