The Forrest City times., 1905-12-22


 halting steps with s stout stick. made fo- the village and walked dp the youth who assisted him in his duties.
 'Dost hear yon bell, Amos?' he called, quaveringly.
 Fly, MT. Bargle," and Bargie was relieved 10 have his heal ing thus cor robora;ed. Who be it cop there. wonner?"
 Put your coat on smartly, lad. m gein' to see"
 Silent, anu quaking with cold or nervousness, they moved roise'essly over the muffiing snow, turned tho wall of the churchyard. and. Bargle grimly leading, filed in through the creaking lych gate. The narrow path between the graves brought them to the porch, and here ] Bargle, who entered first, stopped. ! fumbling for his keys. and suddenly held the lantern lower with a husky cry Of alarm.
 In the glimme.ing light of the lan- ;ern, woman lay huddled close to the church door, with child rolled in shawl, and elasped tightly in her arms
 Alice. 'faltered the old man. Alice" He flung himself on his knees be. side her, crying out, clasping her cold hands, and appealing wildly and help lessly to those who were with him. for she lay as still and unresponsire as if she were dead.
 They took the child. which woke and whimpered, and dispatched Amos with it to the nearest cottage.
 Tell 'em to light a fire" said one of the men: an get you on, lad. an get the doctor there against we come"
 Then the two lifted the woman be- tween them, and the old man. trem- ulousG, distractedly, leading with the lantern, carried Ter with what speed they could in the direction that Amos had taken.
 And every minute still the bell re- iterated its heavy, monotonous elang, though, for the nonce. they had a. most ceased to be aware of il: BargIs had become indifferent to it altogetl- CT, and only gradually awoke ts t again as he sat holding his daughter 5 hand, watching the life rckindle in her eyes, and listening to her feeble Nhis- perings.
 Tt is long way from the s:a:.oa she was telling him. satisfied with the forgiveness she could read in his every tone and look; and when got as far as the church I was so tired and faint-and I fancied about tba. time tonight you would be there. n l the belfry; so l went to the church. but the door was locked. and Bargle turned to touch or his shoulder.
 The vicar is waiting. with several others, in the next room" said rke doctor. They want the key Of the belfry. but think you had better go with them-you gre talking to my pa tient more than is good for her. Come."
 Barsle hesitated moment. then stopped to kiss the pale face on the pillow. and submissively obeyed.
 Up the steep, narrow stone stairway of the belfry tower. up, and up. and i up they clattered, one after the other. 1 till at last they streamcd in across the hollow sounding floor of the belfry. l and there through the ceiling the three ropes dangled in the shadowy emptiness. moved by no visible ing little group paused. the iron clany boomed again close above them.
 some ones up in the bell chamber" ," said Bargle, dubiously. By right of his office and of his familiarity with the place. Bargle mounted first with his lantern, the others trailing up after him. In a twinkling, he had jerked the trap door open. and stepping into the bell chamber. peered eagerly around, and was startled by vision of two white faces gazing from the shadow of one of the bells.
 Why" he ejaeulated. what are you doing here, young masters? ?a
 For he recognized them instantly as the Squire's two sons, down at Peri dale for a holiday
 They came forward shivering, but evidently bent on showing thas they were unperturbed
 Its all right. Bargle." cried thc older of them; you have been a Ions time coming"
 But why are you here. James 2" tn quired the vicar. reprovingly.
 70. we nipped out after we'd gon. up to bed. sir" said the boy, "ant came to ring the bells
 But I've got the keys" ne1eret Bargle.
 We crawled through the belf-, window"
 There was no need to come so higl as this. though" No It was too early to begir when we got here. so we came up [, see what it was like in here; and al in jlffy the trapdoor slammed dosr and the candle blew out, and we'd le, the matches below. We couldn't fee