Chicago eagle., 1904-02-13

fore him.
Up cnmc uackett. spouting and
screaming with struggling arms. and
down again he went like u stone. The
crowd yelled and screamed. and went
silent. lie came up again and clutched
Mt square Of ice. and went down with
1t. And then and there. with one incred-
iblc lightning flash. Blanc read his own
heart. and snatchcd his own salvation.
CHAPTER NXIv.
On n spring morning the wind was
Changing ana the bells were pcaling, and
rent clouds charged over the chill blue
field of the sky ut such pace that the
random CLEANS of sunshine east between
them swept hill and dale with bird
like speed. The strong sunshine breast
cd the healthy bills and climbed them at
flash; the surly shadow crept in its
rear. and the new bright racer lcaped be.
hind the gloomy edges Of the cloudy
shade. as II eager TO annihilate Il.
Shadrach. standing at the door Of his
mothers cottage. clad In his Sunday best,
with white favor In his coat, and his
hands enshrOuded In monstrOus gloves
of Berlin thread. fixed his new hat with
an air Of resolution. as II prepared to
hold to II In any extremity Of the winds
boistcrous jollity.
~ tex It," he said. turning to Hepzi-
bah. who stood behind In q summery cos.
tune Of white muslin and very triumph
of bonnct--"1 tex It as n kind Of honor
ns amt often done the likes Of hux."
II should think It," answered Hepzi.
bah.
She spoke almost snnppishly. being
engaged with a huirpin and q refractory
glove-buttoii. but she looked up second
later with a frank and smiling face.
YES" said Shadrnch's mother, hover.
ing nbout Hcpzibnh and touching her
here and there with decided fingers, and
retiring with her hend on one side to
observe the artistic effect Of each stroke.
"lt's u thing M you'd ought to rcmem.
bers TO your dyin' day. Shndrach. TO
be tied by the same wor,ls--it's n noble
honor. Shadrach. and l hope as It be.
speaks well for your future"
"Ankore to that. says. ma'am.' said
Hcpzibah's mother. who was weak like
Shadrnch. whilst Shadrnch's mother was
jerkily decided. like nepzibal. "Hepxi-
hail." she a,lded solicitously. you're
lookin' n bit goldfish already. You'll be
froze IN that book muslin nfore yo,
reach the church. You'd better have u
shawl across your shoulders"
"Rubbihge" said Shadrach's mother.
"The wind'll keep 'cm warm enough. It's
time we started. amt It. ShadrnchY'
Shndrach. with difficulty unbuttoning
his coat. drew from an inner pocket n
| great turnip Of u watch and consulted II
| with pride.
''Theer's n good threc.Iuurters yet"
| he answered. '''rheer's no use In arriv-
ing before Everybody. Ned nnd his good
lndyll be on the stroke o. time, I bet.
Nayther too soon nor yet too late, that's
Ncd's method"
"Well, then. shut the door and sit
down." said his mother: 'and for good
ness mcrcy's sake let me button up your
coat! You'd leave all your finger tips
+ the button holes"
"Theers many curious things ns comes
TO pass" said Hepzibnh, seating herself
| with u slow. angular precision, and
| spreading out the book muslin with care
| ful hands. ''as nobody nj liver dream on.
and this Is one OF EN-"
"Ah" returned Shairach. "Aiister
Ncd's got the wish of his heart at last.
and I'm gny and glad Of 1t. Her held
| him off and on u longish time. though.
Her might ha' got II over this time last
year, without seemin' anyhow uncOm.
mon. I've no mind to speak III O. them
MS IL departed--"
"Depnrted.' repeated his mother. cut.
ting him short with an air Of disdaiu.
II wonder how you can use such a word
about such n creetur! A railer. as was
took by judgment! And you may say
what you like. Shadrach, l shall niver
think 1t anythin' hut II straightforward
hyin' l. the face q Providence as Mis-.
ter Ned should ha' tried to fish him ont
again. He was meant 10 he drowned,
an he was drowned; and what's meant
to be wool be, IN spite Of all the Neds /
the world. And as for departed all l
got to say IL. you might know better
than try to turn your own mothers stom-
a,h ON your weldin' morning"
II used the word" said Shadrnch,
meekly. "because l didn't wish to be too
hard upon him."
LET him rest, poor creetur." put In
Hcpzibah with unexpected gentleness.
"IIe was n fine figure of u man, but he'd
got a bit too much of his Granddaughter
and fcyther in him. lie had nothin' ia
do with the maxim of either y them,
50 far ns J knewd, and Them Above'H
know how far he was to be made to
answer"
THAT Is undoubtedly the way TO look
at it," returned the Bard, "ondoubtedly
the way to look at It,"
"rime we was off, Shadrach," said
IIepzibah.
They passed out at the door and over
the windy heath. the bridegroom sheep
ishly urming the bride.
I'VE shall have ran for It yet. ] de-
clare ed Shadrachs mother. ''rhere's
the carriage a-drivin' to the church.
can see the white faviour on the coach
mans bosom"
The wind-swept music of the bells
rolled round them, and ms they reached
the gate, painting In indecorous haste
Mary liackctt stepped from the carriage
and greeted them with n smile. The last
ray of cloud was horne away by the
boisterous wind. and the sky shone clear,
as II for happy omerA
Crhe end.)
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