The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-12-02
THE OLD WELL.

garet, leaning back in her easy chair,
with mild, reflective look upon her
/ peaceful face. Eyes, something did
happen to me once that may seem
like one to you, though l never
thought of calling it by that name"
Let's hear it, auntie, please, "
answered, pushing the velvet has
sock nearer to her, and giving an ex-
ira shake to the bright coal fire.
The night was somewhat cold and
blustery outside, but that only made
Aunt Margaret's room, with its
warmhued furniture, its softly cush-
ioned easy chairs, its glowing fire
and shaded astral lamp, look all the
more inviting.
| She was distant relative who had
cone to pay long promised visit,
and from my first glance at her fine,
stately figure and her noble, placid
/ countensnce, knowing that she had
never married, 1 got the notion into
my head that she must have had TO-
nance. Her hair was still brown
and abundant, and her eyes shone
as clear and tlue as young girls.
And yet Aunt Margaret was we'll
past fifty.
"Well my dear, J" she began, smil-
ing softly, "'once upon time, as
the story books says, I was young,
and considered rather pretty"
"Oh, no need to tell me that, Aunt
Margaret, interrupted, gazing with
unfeigned admiration at the handsome
face into which delicate rose color
came so bright at the memory of her
girlish loveliness. "You might east
ly carry off the palm of beauty from
all of us now, if you felt 50 inclined. 7"
She smiled again as she saw how
sincere was my tribute to her charms,
and resumed her story:
II had, of course, my share of ad-
mirers among the village youth, and
was favorite at balls, husking
bees, quilting parties, and all the
other entertainments of village So
ciety yet reached the age of 20,
heart whole and fancy free, still
keeping house for my widowed father
as I had done rlmost from my child
hood, and never caring to make any
change"
Because the right one hadn't come
along, auntie," 1 said eagerly, think
ing of my "bonnie Charley" with
his curly locks and lightsome heart,
and wondered how girls in any age
of the world could have loved, mar
ried and lived happily without ever
having known the sunlight of his
presence.
"Well, Madge, he came at last,
continued Aunt Margaret with a
gentle sigh which seemed to watt her
far back into the happy past, land
the manner of his coming was one
that can never forget. Our house
stood at one end of the street and in
| a far corner of the lot stood an old
we'll, neglected and unused for years
save by us silly girls, who found it
romantic spot to try our fortunes by
on Halloween. But it was very
dangerous, being unprotected by
curb or fence, and standing as it did
close to the public road, had often
begged my father to make it more Sc
cure, but he neglected it until my
prophecy of danger from it was at
last fulfilled.
Zone dark, starless evening in
October, returning from visit to
neighbor's, / was passing the old
well, when suddenly low groan OF
agony caught my ear. Instantly
realized the awful truth that some
traveller had fallen into the dark and
dangerous pit, and my heart stood
still with horror. But only for a
moment. 1 saw the need of instant
action, and, leaning over the edge OF
the black, yawning hole called
loudly to the person within not to
despair for would soon bring assis-
tatiCe.
"Then rushing to the house, and
calling wildly at every step for help,
began an eager, trembling search
for rope, which I soon had knotted
firmly around stout, crooked, old
pear tree near the we'll. Then l
called again to the poor groaning VIC
tim below. l bade him grasp the
rope tightly and let me pull him up.
But it was no use. My only answer
another moan, so low and deep that l
thought the poor wretch was dying.
"What to do 1 did not know. No
| help had come, and I feared to lose a
moment by going after it. But !
was young and strong aud nerved
with the courage of desperation, SO |
did not hesitate long. How / man,
aged it successfully 1 never could tell
but I let myself down by the rope
until 1 reached the bottom OF that
dark abyss and found the helpless
being whom Providence had sent me
torescue, too much injured to move.
"As gently and as quickly as
could in that awful situation l fasten-
ed the rope around his body and lift
ed him in more convenient position
to be drawn up, then, hand over hane
. like sailor, and blistering the skin
as went, slowly climbed to the tol
again, where 1 found my father ant
two or three anxious neighbors JUS
. beginning to realize what had occur
red. 1t was we'll they had come, to
my girls's strength, try as l would
, could never have drawn that large
heavy man to the surface, nor coul'
. he have lived much longer in tn
: deadly gases of the old well.
, "He seemed more dead than alive
f when he came up and one arm wa
t found to be broken. He proved Z
: be a young merchant from a distan
: city, who had come to visit frien.
: in the village, and had met with III 81
: accident while walking to his friend
house. He was too badly hurt to b
1 IL CO. xr,ooLc he WAS an IN