Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-03-24

clutch at the air Tommy shoots plump
into the water like a startled frog.
| drop on my knees in the phaeton
and lean over to catch his jacket, and
then my heart gives a frightened leap
as see that the current is too strong
for him to get a foothold and that is
is bearing him off to deep water.
| 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 catch up with him.
AS my hand closes on him seem to
step off into a 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-
Torrance.
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 a 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.
What is Tom saying?
ooh! did It'll did it. | know you'll
be awfully Wild" he is sobbing out. Il
s'pose if I'd a been drowned I'd gone
straight to the wicked place. | said
I'd teach you an | 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 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.
1t 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-steals a 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 note. The flowers are honor
ably buried in my desk. The note lies
next to my heart.
Twill you carry these tonight, Helen ?
tit says They are asking a question
for me that l have never dared ask
for myself. If see them when you
come down the steps | shall be the
happiest man. in the world.
DENNIS
And l didn't carry them-oh! Tom
my.
Now am stepping eagerly down an
other staircase. My heart is choking
me, but when l see Dennis standing III
the doorway gazing moodily out into
the night, go straight up to him.
Dennis" l begin bravely, if UNI
steadily
He starts and turns miserable face
to mine.
"Ohi Dennis, Tommy buried them, "
| cry incoherently. open my hand and
show faded rose. And | never knew
it until today. But would have worn
them-I-"
Dennis draws long breath as of one
waking from an evil dream. He
catches my hand in grasp of iron.
Regardless of onlookers, we stand
joyously looking into each others eyes.
like two children. Then
Come" he says, and we run down
the steps and are lost in the moon
lit Observation-Disclosures Bits.