The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-07-07

o2Ifcaee, out INTO tne early tWlIlgn1
toward the church.
Dorothy always played the organ at
prayer meetings. Long before she
reached the severe white edifice the
changing bell had ceased its ringing,
and she knew she would be too late
to open services. She tip-toed into the
outside entry, and paused to listen to
Deacon Browns unctuous voice raised
in prayer.
Dorothy turned the knob noiseless-
", hoping to seat herself unobserved
with her aunt and cousins. 1t needed
but glance to find her aunt's pew
vacant. Her heart sank dejectedly.
A wave of hot air reached her through
the opening of the door. Some one
had fancied the church too cold, and
had started red-hot fire in the stove.
How they all suffered and sweltered!
Dorothy noted it with wicked feeling
Of satisfaction. Deacon Brown suf-
fered greatly, dabbing his warm face
continually with very large red hand
kerchief. A hysterical desire to<langh
outright seized Dorothy. At that mo-
ment she lost her hold of the slippery
knob, and the door swung to with a
wall that was almost human. She
waited not the result, but hastily with
drew to stifle her mirth, for everybody
had started apprehensively from their
seats. Outside, in the stiffness Of the
night, she paused for a moment to re-
fleet; then, having made up her mind,
she started forth upon the lonely two
mile road to her aunt's home. 20
give up everything was too much, she
reasoned. And then, too, there was
the possibility Of meeting Mr.. Ham
mond.
How silly am! suppose he
thinks Of me as simple country girl
If at all. I wonder If he does! 1 re-
member I couldn't think Of a single
interesting subject to talk about that
time we met. l think he did most of
the talking. But, oh, dear! How deep
the mud is! 1t will be far worse when
get to the crossway. It's the frost
coming out Of the ground. It's awfully
dark going past that stretch Of pine
ledge. I-ohl What was that?''
She stood still for a moment to re.
gain her spent breath. Across the
meadows came to her the pungent odol
of burning coal pit far up on the
side Of 'Totoket mountain, and the
frogs, with their deep, baying voices,
reminded her somehow of Deacon
Browns bass.
Heavens! What was that shadow
just under the clump of alders fringine
the highway A man-perhaps q
tramp! She made an effort to with.
draw her feet from the oozing mud
but found to her dismay she could not
move them. And, horrible discovery
she seemed to be sinking deeper and
deeper. She called for assistance, fol
she feared she was sinking into one OF
the horrible quagmires Of which she
had heard, where you keep on sinking
sinking. until
She shouted loudly now, in despera
ton, for the greater her efforts to ex
tricate herself. the deeper she seemed
to sink. At last, far on-miles, i,
seemed-she heard the thud Of ap
preaching hoofs. II only she could
hold out until they reached her! Per
haps they might take the other road
Once more her fresh, girlish treble
sounded upon the night air, and soor
there swung into view a trim cart
and sure footed cob floundering brave
~ through the mud. 1t was Tom Ham
mond and his man, driving from thu
station.
whats the trouble, RileyT"
The lanterns of the cart lit up tn,
scene as they drew near. BY the ligh1
these made he had recognized oul
heroine.
Out he was and Into the oozinl
quagmire in moment regardless Of
his own immaculate attire, with thu
oficious Riley in close attendance.
There, Miss Irving, it really is you
beg of you not to cry-just put you
arms about my neck-so. Here, Riley
drive up on the bank on solid ground
We don't want to lose the trap"
Meantime he had gathered Dorothy
uP Ill LIS otAOuS dIuSs CdIIlcu ue
safely over the perilous quagmire an(
deposited her on the high seat of tn,
cart.
Riley piled into the rear and Ton
Hammond took the reins in one hand
deeming it necessary, under the tryin,
circumstances, to support our heroin,
with the other arm. She soon revived
her good spirits, and after due ex
PLANTATION laughed merrily over he
/ somewhat unusual adventure.
| They approached her aunt's house
but all was in darkness. Evidentl,
the family had retired. Dorothy wa
secretly satisfied when Tom insiste,
upon driving on. Imagine everybody
surprise when Dorothy and Tom final
ly appeared at his home! The euchr
party was already well under way
| Dorothy's cousins were present, so an,
little secret misgivings she might hav
had vanished like air.
What contentment followed late,
when Dorothy, her little feet incase,
in the Frenchiest slippers, slipped he
hot coffee, herself ensconced on a rest
full couch, among numberless pillows