St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-03-02

gle Mays reach. Sh& turned bacI
to the orchard triumphantly. By nigh
her soul should be clean.
Through the orchard, over the
| meadow into the cool darkness of the
woods, Aggie May sped The brook
was deep in the heart of the forest
and she had never been there alone
before, but she knew the way. I'm
| der the dim aisles of quiet trees the
child ran swiftly, now one direc
ton, now another, until in a maze oil
bark and trunk she stood, a great fear
arising in her heart. Where was
she? Eut she went on determinedly
The brook must be found.
Mrs. Sangster stood at the door
shading her eyes with her hand. What
can make the child so late?" she said
Her sister glanced up from her
work. Perhaps she has gone to meet
her father" she suggested
But the mother caught sight of q
figure moving across the meadow.
No. she said; there comes Abe
alone. Mag, something has happened
to Aggie May"
She started down the path, and her
sister rose, and reluctantly followed.
i last saw her under the apple tree
about three, l should say" answered
Mag.
The three hurried to the spot, half
expecting to find her at play. 1t was
Aggie Mays favorite spot to play, to
think or to pout. All the great crises
of her life had been enacted here.
But her swing hung limp and motion
less.
Mr.. Sangster turned to go, but his
wife suddenly called him back with Z
piercing cry.
Look" she said. At her feet lay
heap of golden curls, and beside
them, thrown upon the ground, lay a
pair of scissOrs-her scissors.
Indians" gasped Mag, turning
white.
"Gipsies," ventured the mother. ooh,
Aggie May, Aggie May, where are
your" she called, wildly.
Mr.. Sangster said nothing. He
stopped and gathered up the handful
of golden hair, and crammed it in his
pocket.
Then he crossed the meadow. In the
open space it was still broad daylight,
but in the forest beyond the shadows
were always black.
Meanwhile Aggie Mays little feet
sped fast and faster. The shadows
thickened. How thickly they fell
amid the dense growth of the forest.
Ghosts and COLLINS lcomed fantas-
tically behind each tree. A sharp
cracking sound overhead made her
crouch and hold her breath in terror.
It was dead branch falling at her
feet. With a nameless fear that
choked her, she fastened on.
Suddenly the trees became less
dense, and the light grew brighter, as
she neared the open space. She stood
in wonder. 1t was not the fairies,
after all. She had reached the brook.
She knelt down beside it. She took
from her pocket the soap, and rubbed
it carefully on the spot just behind
her forehead. Her mamma would be
glad to see her without that black
word On her brow The little shorn
head bent low over the swiftly NOV.
ing stream, and she caught the ref1ec-
ton of earth and sky in it's dancing
ripples. Suddenly she reeled, the
earth slipped away, she felt the cold
water grip her, and then with a cry
she plunged head foremost into the
Some instinct of motherhood guided
Mrs. Sangster's footsteps. The sound
If Aggie Mays voice reached her faint
Y at first, then louder, until it re-
sounded through the stiffness in fran
ic echoes Following the sound, she
plunged ahead, and arrived just in
ime to see a small hand flung out
wildly from the middle of the brook.
hen sped onward.
1t was not heroic task to step in
md rescue the fallen child. Mr..
waded to the middle of the
stream, and in moment Aggie May
" 40 AAA A4SA ALAol1AC1 al Ills.
Behind them, in the forest, lights
we're cleaning like frefies, and the
lrched dome of the forest rang with
shouts of Aggie Mays name. She Law |
'ery. white and scared, while the
water trickled down in little rivulets |
rom her limp arms and legs. Aggie
Nay flung dripping arm about her
neck. 1T was very cold i"
he said, nesting closed in the pro-
Getting arms, "and the water getted
n my froat, but I fink it must have
omed off. They amt no sugar on nv
oul now, is they, mammal"
And Mrs. Sangster, with choking
'oice, answered: mo, dear; your soul
8 very white now"
Aggie May clappe0 her hands low
usly. Il knowed it." she said. Then
quick shadow passed over her face,
It must "a been the soap, though"
he said, "'cause l wasn't in the brook
cry long"