Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-01-12

L. kXd III
leaned back upon one of the rude pD-
lars zeal him, glad to enjoy in thas
congenial solitude and silence the drss
delicious moment Of success.
Halo! Why, is that you, Jack?:'
said a rather uncertain voice near him;
and he started suddenly from his rev.
erie to find that Uncle Joachim had
approached unobserved. Didn't know
but you was q highwayman, Or es-
capped convict, or somethin', when l
seen you down here all alone. What
you got there ? Some new-fangled
water-wheel or sOmethin', l s'pose.
Well, well; you young folks always
think you can turn the world upside
down with some grand new plan OF
mother, but you eve do it."
Maybe not; I don't think I'd care
to try, for the side that is up now
pleases me we'll enough. What brings
you here, uncle"
"Well." answered the old man,
fumbling his way over the rocky, I'M
even mass about him, x just thought
I'd come down here and look round
for a good, big, hefty stone. I tell
you what tits Jack, I don't feel a mite
safe about them mail robbers. You
see we open the trap-door nights, and
put the mailbag right down into the
cellar; and I've been a-thinkin' if we
had one of these heavy stones hitched
on to the under side of the door, SOS
two or three men couldn't raise it,
'twould be safer"
But I don't see how you are going
to raise it yourself them" objected
Jack.
"Well, I can't tell exactly said
Uncle Joachim, somewhat discomfit-
ed, but ~persevering. "Well hav to
| think some way, for if anybody got
| down there to rob, and just touched
off some powder down there. why,
they could blow us all to finders-to
flinders, Jackr
The young man watched with an
amused smile for a moment or two, as
he wandered about near by examining
one stone after another, then forgot
him in his own occupation. A train
went laundering by on the heights
ABOVE, anu Tue OiO uudA pduSeO III LILO
search to watch it.
"Dear! how these rocks crack now
and them" lie exclaimed, as a sudden,
sharp sound fell upon his ear.
Jack started and looked up with a
thrill of horror as his quick eye de-
tected the rapidly widening assure that
was separating a mass Of o~verhangins
rock from the main wall.
"Uncle Joachim he shouted.
But before the warning cry had left
his lips the old man, too, had seen. and
turned to fly, but stumbled and fell.
Thought lives in a region above time
1t was but an instant that he paused
irresolute in the sharp, fierce strug
gle; then he sprang to the old mans
side, raised him up, and, half drag
ging, half carrying, bore him away
with the speed and strength that only
such an hour can know-hurrying III
the sloping bank until a deafenins
crash behind them told that they Were
safe.
sank down upon the ground to surve!
the scene. A great mass Of broker
stone covered all the place where the.
t had stood, and Jacks model wa
, crushed to atoms and buried beneatl
l it.
"Well, WELL" murmured Uncle Joa
l chin, TREMENDOUSLY breaking the solemn
silence that had succeeded the dyin'
: echoes, that was a narrow chance
and I'd never have got away but 70
. you, Jack. I'm 'bliged to you, I reall.
am; though, SEEM as somethin' is sur
to happen some time, I don't know a
'twOuld have made much difference
!, only for the women folks; 'twoul
e have been a great loss to the -wome
e folks. More'n likely I'll he sick fo
+ a week or two now. Jack"-as a sue
l den thought struck him-"why, Jacl
t you left that limerick Of yours dow
/ there, didn't you? Kind Of a pity t
have it smashed up, though 1 s'pose
wasn't of much USE"
Jack turned his eyes from the rui
and looked at him with a strange smil
on his pale face. How little he kne7
Ie Of all the hopes and plans that 'ha
been, o. could comprehend the yalu
q Of that which he so carelessly Gale
II worthless! And yet, perhaps he hin
It self could as little understand tn
le work of the great Creator beside hin
of comprehend His purpose in eve
s this seemingly feeble and useless lii
q that he had saved. There was nothiI
re of contemptuous pity in the gent
"a ness of Jacks voice as he said:
he Hadn't o better go home no,
W Uncle Joachim? I will go with you
~ He told Content the story that day
er only Content ever knew it all-and 81
listened with the light that sho,
through her fearful eyes CROWN
brighter at every word: 'Sorry but
1t glad!" she said, not SO paradoxical
~ but Jack could understand it.
ut was hard to decide for a minut
though it seems a shame even to s.
it now" Jack said, honestly. but
It! couldn't sell myself, you know and
a good many of our hopes and pla.
e.