The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-07-08

toward the church.
Dorothy always played the organ at
prayer meetings Long before she
reached the severe white edlfce the
changing bell had ceased its ringing, I
and she knew she would be too late
70 open services She tip-toed into the 1
outside entry, and paused to listen 70
Deacon Browns unetuous voice raised
In prayer.
Dorothy turned the knob noiseless-
~. hoping to seat herself nnobseryed
with her aunt and cousins. II needed
but q glance 70 ind her aunts pew
vacant Her heart sank dejeetedly.
A wave OF hot air reached her through
the opening Of the door. Some one
had fancied the church too cold. and
had started a red-hot IRE IN the stove.
How they all suffered and sweltered!
Dorothy noted II with wicked feeling
OF satisfaction. Deacon Brown sui.
fered greatly, dabbing his warm face
continually with very large red hand
kerchief A hysterical desire 70 laugh
outright seized Dorothy. At that mo
ment she lest her hold of the slippery
/ knob, aud the door swung 10 with \
/ wall that Was almost human. She
waited not the result. but hastily with
drew to stifie her mirth. for everybody
had started appFehensiyely from their
seats. Outside. ia the stiffness Of the
night. she paused for a moment 20 re-
tect; then. having made up her mind.
she started forth upon the lonely two
/ mile road To her nunt's home. 70
give up everything was too much. she
reasoned And then. too. there waa
the possibility % meeting Ar. Ham
/ mond.
How silly amt suppose he
thinks Of me as a simple country girl
n al all. l wonder IL be does. re-
member / couldn't think OF a single
interesting subject to talk about that
time we met. think he did most Of
the talking. Bur. on, dear. How deep
the mud Is. IL win be far worse when
l get 10 the crossway. LIS the frost
coming out OF The ground It's awfnlly
dark going past thar stretch Of pine
ledge. I-oh. What Was thatY-
She stood still for a moment 10 r.
gain her spent breath. Across the
readows came. 10 her the pungent odoF
% a burning coal pit far up on the
side Of Toiokct mountain. aud the
froga. with their deep. baying voices.
reminded her somehow Of Deacon
Browns bass.
Heavens. what was that shadow
Just under the elump 81 niaeFp fTinging
the highway A man-peFhaps a
traulp, She made an effort 90 with.
draw her feet from the oozing mud.
but found 10 her dlsmay she could moi
move them. Aud. horrible discovery,
abe seemed 10 BE- sinking deeper and
deeper. She called for assistance. foI
she feared she was sinking into one Of
the horrible qnngnincs of which she
had heard. where you keep on sinking
sinking. until
She shouted loudly now. In despera
sion. for The greater her Efforts % ex
tricats herself. the deeper she seemed
TO sink. Al last. far oa-milca. Il
seomei-shs heand the thpd Of ap
preaching hoofs II only she couit
hold out until they reached her, Per
bars they might take the other road
once more her fresh, EiriiAh trebl,
, sounded upon the uight air. and scot
thcrp swung into view = trim car
aud sure footed cob fiOundeTinE brave
, y through the mud. Il was Tom Ham
mond aud his man. driving from tn,
station.
What's the trouble RiicyT'
The lanterns Of the carl ilt NJ III
sccnc as they drew near. by the ligh
these made he had reeognizcd ou
, heroine.
Out be was and into the oozini
quhgmlrc in moment. regardless o
hia own immaculate attire. with thu
ofacious Riley IN close attendance.
, There. Miss Irving. Il really il you
beg Of you not to cry-just put you
arms about nay ncck-so. Here. Riley
drive On on the bank on solid ground
We don't want 10 lose the trap"
. Meantime bo had gathered Doroth,
up In his strong arms. carried he
safely over the pcrilous qnagmirc an,
deposited her on the high scat Of tn
!. cart.
! Riley piled into the rear and Ton
Hammond took the rclns In one hand
!. decmlnE Il necessary, under the try I'M
!. circumstances, 20 support our hcruln
:. with the other arm, She soon revive
: her good spirits, and after due ex
!, PLANTATION laughed merrily over he
! somewhat unusual adventure.
They approached her aunte hous,
/. but ali was in darkness. Evidentl
the family had retired. Dorothy wa
secretly satisfied when Tom irrsiste
!, upon driving on. Imagine everybody
surprise when Dorothy and Tom fina
~ appeared az his homei The euchr
party was already well under way
!, Dorothy's cousins were present. no an
! little secret misgivlngs she might hav
4 had vanished like air.
A What contcntment followed late
:, when noruthy. her little feet incasn