Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-12
OUT Of THE
DEPTHS
~ By MARTHA -
MCULLOCH-WiLLlAMS
Copyright. Iasi. h, 7. 4. Mcclure


the rector and Squire clark drS. I:rown
CAV" the garden pari.y where 81 much
else happened Mrs. Brown had three
girls To establish. and. as bc:us were
none Ia" plenty. naturally il was II rul-
ing principle with her Ia let no eligible
Young man gel away from EaStbridSc
without II proper experience of their
destinations.
The destinations we're all very well
until Amy Peters came Amy WAS new
or accounted Il hcauiy. hut somehow
she put all the set hcaut;c> oui of court
AMI cnnnirnance. Hchuld her AT the
party tripping airily Scout the lawn.
with Young Manson nj one side. lock
ililman at The other AMI Billy Corliss
tagging after like the faithful watch
dog he was. This while the other
young women had less than II beau
apiece. You will admit il WAS aggra-
waiting. Kate Martin. Amy's best
friend. spelled upon her fingers PIG"
as the train went past her. But Kate
WAS not in the least angry or jealous
She had hobby Shepherd all to her
self. although Essic Brown had done
her hest Ia lure the gentleman away
Let me tell you about Miss Amy"
Jock said la the stranger when pres
emily Amy WIS safely cnthronel in a
garden chair. with her court still about
her. shes nearly the only girl in
Eastb-i,lge You don't have To court.
whether ar no you want to-
But you know You always want Ia.
.Iocky. dear" Amy said saucily Billy
Corliss laughed with the rest. hut
somehow the laugh did not get into his
eyes. Young Manson kept up the
game l,ravcly. Can you imagine n
live man not wanting to-" he asked Of
the world in general AMI Billy in par
ticular. BILLY put on his most retiec-
tive look. There might he rxtcnnat-
ing circumstances" he said diplomat
icaliy. Amy gave him reproachful
glance and said loftily: II suppose.
Billy. your extcnuating circumstances
Wear frocks. Pray. dncs il happen by
any chancc that the most cxtenuating
of them is named Clarissa Brown
'NO." Billy said stuIilily. shaking his
head. "Bui that reminds me that neither
Mr.. Manson nor have more than said
'howdy' IN Miss clarissa Jock. You
stay here and keep this quicksilver
yoiin. person ont of mischief while we
scramble through the decent thing"
'lou may find us engaged unless you
hurry back" Amy flung after them.
Jock laughed aloud. Let's hide" he
said. Il know the very place Won't
II give Billy II jolt 10 come back and
find us missing:
''Ile needs one. good and hard" Amy
said. tossing her head the least bit. Il
have not told anybody else. Jock. hut
I'm going 10 marry Billy If can ever
make him show himself properly and
humanity foolish. He's 81 abnormally
steady going and sensible and settled l
should not dare try 10 live up To him
unless I knew he had II nice silly streak
somewhere
Il suppose you wouldn't any way
consider me. I'm pretty near all silly
strcaks.'' Jock said dolefully. Amy
laughed and pattcd his arm. saying:
But you have good sense strcaks. too.
Jock. els" why should you like me so
well: Wen always he the best of
friends. know
Bet your bottom dollar on it," Jock
said. huvrying her along. He WAS max
ing for u tumble,lown summer house.
thickly overgrown with vines. that
nestled in til" very farihc>t corner of
In l..ky 4 haI al
and crumbly AMI dilapidaicd rustic
bench along one si,lc-a. cool deeply
shaded nook. sweet with roses and hon
eysuckle. Amy >rrang joyou>ly inside
il. with Jock nj her heels AZ they
made Ia sit down low. hollow revcrbera-
tons came NJ from below their feet.
There WAS II dull crushing. giving
away. then before they could cry on; Il
sliding down. down 10 dark. dank. UNI
known pcrilouS depths.
Five minutes later Billy WAS asking
anxiously of those about the garden
chair. Where is Amy" Nobody
could tell him. Presently he Spicd far
ont in the grass one "f her little lace
mitts. Running away from il were
idlnt IsbtilsiThS ou iHt MiTnl IuTI.
Billy followed the marks. his face
whitening fast Jock could not he so
cruel as Ia take her near that old well
house" he said to himself then
groane,i aloud: lie had come in sight
of the we'll house. where the crumblcd
floor told him the tale.
Jock. Amy. Answer me. oh.
God he cried aloud. pccring over the
crumbling rim into the blackncss. No
articulaie answer came Ia him. hut
was il fancy that down In the decps
Of earth he heard low. gasping moans:
He sprang upwiI Il shout that brought
the whole crowd budding about him
Mrs. Brown WAS M the head weeping
and wringing her hands. They are
lost. lost" she manned ''\ohmly ever
came out of that we'll alive It's Ill
ways half full Of choke damp. That
is why my father had il built over.
Why didn't think Ia tell cvcrybody:"
Billy seemed not Ia hear. With giant
strength he wrecked the rotten lattice.
clearing the well mouth. then flung off
coat AMI shoes. and prepared To clam
Der down He had already Sent far