The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-02-21

stances appalled, her. Clearly the first
thing to do, however. was to cut off
her hair. After that she might
scratch a little hole right back of the
forehead and get it out. The opera
tlon sounded painful, and at heart Ag-
gle May was a coward. She decided
that to crop the golden tresses might
be efficacious. After that she would
go down and hold her head In the
brook all day. Maybe the water would
soak in. She started back to the
house. Obviously the first thing to do
was to get pair of scissors and some
soap.
Aggie May crept softly into her
mothers room. 1t was empty, with
her work-basket lying just within Ag-
gle Mays reach. She turned back
to the orchard triumphantly. BY night
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
der the dim aisles of quiet trees the
child ran swiftly, now one direc-
ton, now another, until in maze of
bark and trunk she stood, great fear
arising in her heart. Where was
she? But 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 later 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 a
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.
She wanted to finish her sewing.
Il last saw her under the apple tree
about three, / 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
Jess.
Mr.. Sangster turned TO go, but his
wife suddenly called him back with a
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. "Oh,
Aggie May, Aggie May, where are
you?" she called, wildly.
Mr. Sangster said nothing. He
of golden hair. and crammed 1t in his
| pocket.
Then he crossed the meadow. In the
| open space II was still broad daylight.
but in the forest beyond the shadows
were always black.
Mag" said Mrs. Sangster, sudden.
| IT, turning TO her sister-in.law, run
a I'd rouse the men, and get lanterns.
| Wen search the woods
Meanwhile Aggie Mays little feet
| sped fast and faster. The shadows
| thickened. How thickly they fell
mid the dense growth of the forest
Ghosts and goblins loomed fantas-
tically behind each tree. A sharp
cracking sound overhead made her
crouch and hold her breath in terror.
1t was a 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. II 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
ltuu DcHl IOW over lHt swiftly NOV
| ing stream, and she caught the refiec.
| tion 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
current
Some instinct of motherhood guided
Mrs. Sangster's footsteps. The sound
Of Aggie Mays voice reached her faint,
| ly at first, then louder, until 1t re-
sounded through the stiffness in fran.
tic echoes. Following the sound, she
plunged ahead and arrived just in
time to see small hand flung out
wildly from the middle of the brook
then sped onward.
1t was not heroic task to step in
and rescue the fallen child. Mr.
SangSter Waded to the middle of the