The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-03-16

reached the severe white edifce the
changing bell had ceased It's ringing
and she knew she would be too late
outside entry, and paused 10 listen 10
Deacon Browns uDctuons voice raised
Ia prayer.
Dorothy turned the knob noiseiess-
| ~. hoping 10 seat herself unobserred
with her aunt and cousins. IL needed
but glance 10 ind her aunfs 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 a red-hot fire IN the stove.
How they all suffered ana sweltered.
Dorothy noted il with a wicked feeling
Of satisfaction. Deacon Brown sur
fered greatly. dabbiDg his warm face
continually with very large red hand
kerchief. hyS,erical desire 10 laugh
outright seized Dorothy. AT that go
ment she lost her hold of the slippery
knob, aud the door swung 20 with a
wall that WIS almost human. She
waited not the result. but hastily with
drew 10 sIifie her miIth. for everybody
lad started apprehensiyely from their
seats. Outside In the stiffness Of the
night. she paused for moment 10 re
feet: then. having made up her mind. |
she started forth upon the lonely two
mile road 20 her aunts home. 20
give up everything was too much. she
reasoned And then. too. there was
the possibility OF meeting Mr.. Ham
mond
How silly I am. suppose he
thinks Of me as a simple country girl
II az all. ] wonder II he does. re-
member ! couldn't think OF a single
interesting subject 20 talk about that
time We met. ! think be did most OF
the talking. But. on. dear, How deep
the mud il. IL VIII be far worse when
get 10 the erossway. Its the frost
coming out Of the ground. It's awfuily
dark going past that stretch Of pine
ledge. l-oh. What WIS THAR
She stood stiil for a moment 20 re-
gain her spent breath. Across the
meadows came 10 her the pungent odor
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 fringing
the highway A man-perhaps
tramp, She made an effort 10 with ,
draw her feet from the oozing mud.
but found 10 her dismay she could not /,
move them. And. horrible discovery. !
She seemed 10 be sinking deeper and
deeper. She called for assistance. for
she feared she WAS sinking into one OF /.
HE horrible qusginires OF which she
lad heard. where you keep ON sinking.
until
She shouted loudly now. I'm despera- (,
Jon. for the greater her efforts 10 ex- J,
ricate herself. the deeper she seemed /
o sink. Al last. far off-miles. IL
'ecmed-she heani the thnd Of APP :
preaching hoofs. II only she could !
loid out until they neschcd her, Per =
laps they might take the other road. !.
)nce more her fresh. girlish treble :
-
here swung into view a trim cart
nd sure. footed cob noundering brave
= through the mud. II was Tom Ham :
aond and his man. driving from the :
iaiion.
What's the trouble. Rileyr =
The lanterns Of the cart M up the
Gene az they drew near. by the light -
hcse made he had recognized our :.
croine. :,
Out he was and into the oozing :,
uagmire ia a moment. regardless OF :
is own immaculate attire. with the -
ficious Riley IN close attendance
There. Miss Irving. II really is your ~
beg OF you not TO cry--Jnst pu; your
rms about my neck--so. Here. Riley. -
rive up on the bank on solid ground. -
'e don't want TO lose the trap
Meantime he had gathered Dorothy -
, In his strong arms. carried her ~
Ifely over the pcrilous quagmire and -
posted her on the high seat OF the :.
Irt. ~
Riley piled into the rear and Tom
almond took the rcins in one hand. ".
,cming II necessary. under the tr, ing :,
to support our heroine -
iih the other arm. She soon revived :.
r good spirits, and after due ex- =.
anation laughed merrily over her !,
unusual adventure. =.
They approached her aunt's house.
Il all was in darkness. Evidently ="
e family had retired. Dorothy was
crctly satisfied when Tom insisted =.
'on driving on. Imagine evcrybody's
rprise when Dorothy and Tom final. -
appeared at his home. The cuchre 80
rty was already Wet under way. "
,rothy's cousins We're present. SO any -
tie secret misgivings she nigh; have a"
a vanished like air.
What contentment followed later
Zen Dorothy. her little feet incased Pr
the Frcnchiest slippers. slipped her =
( coffee, herself cnsconccd on rest
couch. among numberless pillows. low
th Tom for entertainer. and no one thi
disturb their tete-a-tete until after ev,
; euchre party had broken up. And hui
m himself with comforting brier- the
'od. sitting not so very far away. pie
a..