The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-03-19
How jacks
Debts Were Paid
BY A. b. SCUDDER.

| Down to Mr.. Carruthers' Office rushed
Helen, but she had to be content with
his saying:
Very well, Mrs. Reeve, | will do my
best"
| The days went on, and Mr. Carruth.
ers said that Mr.. Bartlett was out of
town. SO nothing could be done with
the money which awaited him.
Summer came, and Aunt Eliza de-
cided that after their worry they
| needed a change. Aunt Eliza was
neither a tyrant nor a mser She
cared little whether Helen had a penny
| or not; she had plenty for both. But
| she had chosen to be delighted when
Helen's fortune came to her. for she
had been left with little and had a
great love for beautiful things. and
this money would. make her feel indie
pendent III the qualification Of her de-
sires.
Il am sure I am thankful that we
have anything left" said Aunt Eliza.
and she gave a sigh Of relief. as if
there had been time when she
thought that Helen was in fair way
to give away not only her own money,
but her aunt's. also.
They decided to visit the Yosemite,
and Aunt Eliza was in her element
She would arrange and rearrange
finery for herself and Helen: refuse to
buy a ribbon because they must econ
omize. and next day purchase some
article not at all needed and pay a
most extravagant price with smiling
satisfaction.
Every one knows the almost impos-
sible roads by stage to "Clark's" in 60
ing down the Yosemite Valley. Helen
and her aunt had gone as far as pos
sible by rail. and were now in the last
stages Of their journey behind six
horses in the numbering six-seated
coach usually used to finish this trip
and convey patrons to their final desti-
nation. There were two ladies besides
Helen and her aunt, and on the rear
seat the brother of the ladies and an
other gentleman.
Helen was enjoying the ride and
paying no attention to the fears and
complaints of the others over the
roughness of the road. There were
magnificent views, and as they went
higher the ladies grasped the sides Of
the vehicle and held on to it in fear
and trembling, as they looked down the
dangerous mountainside.
Helen had well balanced nerves, and
thought of on danger; but suddenly she
was conscious of a crash. fall, one
horrible shrek from the other ladies,
then it seemed to her that she was
rolling OH, on into eternity. She stopped
at last and lay still. Was this death?
But after a moment the inconveni-
ence Of supporting weight that lay
across her convinced her that she was
much alive. She managed to turn
partly over and crawl out from under
the debris. She was not much hurt
Aunt Eliza: Aunt Eliza" called
Helen.
All was silence. She looked about
her. but could see only wreckage. A
little way up the hill man lay still
and motionless, his white face turned
upward in the sunlight. Sudden fear
made her turn away. Just then man
came from behind clump of bushes,
pale, and with his right arm hanging
helplessly.
Thank Cod, somebody is alive"''
cried Helen:
"It is a miracle, he. family an
swered.
"Where are the others:'
"Oh. I can't tell. 1 fear they are all
under the wagon"
What slRll we do:" .-....
He looked down helplessly at his arm
and Helen asked .pityingly:
"BrOken?' -.
"Never mind" he said, eve can't
lament over that until we know there
is nothing worse" i
just then several men appeared, who
had been driving in sight Of the acci:
dent. They first released the ladies un-
der the coach and then placed them
gently in 4 wagon. Finally every one
was disposed Of but Helen and the
gentleman with the broken arm.
Il have a one-seated buck not far
from here" one Of the mountainears
suggested. ss<: -".' -.
The ktAtaemsn' lo8kea dolefuny at
his arm.
''Oh. I can drive. il that's ALL said
Helen. Lets 60. It's only short
distance. You are suffering terribly"
as she saw him growing pale
Il believe / am," he answered.
They drove of, and after the first
few minutes began to talk.