The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-02-23
The next day Tommy drives with

me Il NY pO.4y pnaeuoA
Be it said that Tommy. as c driving
companion. is about as agreeable as
bunch of yoang eels. Now hanging Ger
the back. trailing a stick in the DUST
now standing. the better to see sonle-
thing. MS dirty little feet soon tram 1le
Hs!in into the se:r"!slc2 ct
a soiled rag.
-.: him scant attention, &c
day.
Flying fragments only OF his en-
l!vening discourse dart across the un-
happy circle of my own thoughts
such as;
Lock at that rabbit, Helen. Golly!
look at him run! Wish I had a gum
Bet you there's another in those black
berry bushes. Here's the ford, Helen
My word! the waters hight
This last speech brings me back to
material things and I drive Gc!die care
fully into the unusually swift current
"Sit up, Tommy" l command.
We are in the middle of the stream
and the water rushes just under the
body Of the phaeton. Tommy is lean
ing over sideways trying TO wet his fin-
gers.
sit up!" l repeat
Even as speak the left wheel sinks
in a hole. and with an Intellectual
clutch at the air Tommy shoots plump
into the water like startled frog.
1 drop on my knees in the phaeton
and lean over to catch his jacket. and
then my heart gives frightened leap
as I see that the current is too strong
for him to get foethold and that is
is bearing him off to deep water.
l get a glimpse of his poor, little
frightened face turned appealingly to
me, and helter-skelter am in the wat
er, half foundering, half running after
him. -
Presently l catch up with him.
AS my hand closes on him l seem to
step off into bottomless hole. For a
dreadful minute we sink helplessly:
then, as we came up, frantic strug-
gle brings us to shallow water, and
at last, am wading back to the
amazed Goldie, who has stood stock
still watching this remarkable per-
formance.
Between the fright and the water he
has swallowed. poor Tommy, for some
minutes, can do nothing but gasp and
gurgle. Then he bursts into roar
and we cling together like two rescued,
shipwrecked sailors, the while pas
sionately kiss the cropped head bur-
rowed in my shoulder.
Presently prick up my ears and lis
ten keenly. .i
What is Tom saying?
"Oh! 1 did 1T did it. I know you'll
be awfully wild" he IS sobbing ont. i
s'pose If I'd been drowned I'd gone
straight to the wicked place. said
I'd teach you an I went an did it,"
did what, Tommy" sharply.
Buried 'em!"
Buried what?"
Buried the box of flowers Dennis
sent you the day Of the ball"-his voice
rises to a wail-"in the kitchen gar
den!"
| sit speechless. So this partly ex-
plains the mystery that has tortured
me. And If ever dear little brother
Just restored from the jaws of death
comes near being severely spanked,
Tommy is that brother and the time
is now.
It is the following evening. Behold
me dressed in the white tulle, coaxed
into pristine freshness and limiting
naught of tears. Poor father, utterly be-
wildered at my sudden change Of front,
escorts his erstwile pale and languid
daughter to the carriage last
look at her bright eyes and rosy cheeks
shakes his head as if giving up the
problem and closes her in with final
bang.
There has been a resurrection and
the kitchen garden has given up Its
dead-a box of dried and broken roses
and a note. The flowers are honor
ably buried in my desk. The note lies
next to my heart.
will you carry these tonight, Helen?
Git says) They are asking question
for me that I have never dared ask
for myself. If l see them when You
come down the steps l shall be the
happiest man in the world.
DENNIS"
And I didn't carry them-oh! Tom
my.
Now I am stepping eagerly down an
other staircase My heart is choking
me-, but when l see Dennis standing in
the doorway gazing mcodily out into
the night, go straight up to him.
Dennis" I begin bravely' If un
steadily.
He starts and turns miserable face
to mine.
ooh! Dennis, Tommy buried them,'
I cry incoherently open my hand and
show a faded rose. And l never knew
it until today. But l would have worn