The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-02-15

her hair. After that she might
scratch a little hole right back of the
forehead and get it out. The opera
ton sounded painful, and at heart Ag'
gle May wbN I coward. She decided
that to crop the golden tresses might
be efficacious. After that she woull
go down and hold her head In the
brook all day. Maybe he water would
soak in. Size started back to the
house. Obviously the first thing to do
was to get a pair OF scissors and some
soap.
Aggle May crept softly into her
mothers room. 1t was empty. with
her work.basket lying just within Ag-
to the orchard tri%umphantly. BY night
her soul should be clean.
Through the orchard, owe 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 lever been there lone
before, but she knew the way. Tn
der the dim aisles of quiet trees the
| child ran swiftly, now n direc-
ton, now another, until in a maze of
bark and trunk she stood, a great fear
arising in her heart. Where was
she? But she went on de~terminedly.
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 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.
Il 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 YVES
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 a
piercing cry.
Look" she said. At her feet lay
a heap of golden curls, and beside
them, thrown upon the ground, lay q
pair of scissors-her scissors.
Indians" gasped Mag, turning
white. Z
"Gipsies," ventured the mother. ooh,
Aggie May, Aggie May, where are
you?" she called, wildly.
MI. 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 doomed 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, az
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 tool
from her pocket the soap, and rubbed
it carefully on the spot just behint
her forehead. Her mamma would b.
glad to sec her without that blacl
word on her brow. The little shorI
head bent low over the swiftly NOV
ing stream, and she caught the reflec
ton Of earth and sky in its daacinl
ripples. Suddenly she recled, tn
earth slipped away, she felt the cox
water grip her, and then With a or.
: she plunged head foremos. into tn
current.
, Some instinct of motherhood guide,
Mrs. Sangster's footsteps. The sour
r Of Aggie Mays voice reached her faint
ly at first, then louder, until 1t re
: sounded through the stiffness in frar
tic echoes. Following the sound, sh
plunged ahead, and arrived just i
time to see a small hand flung on
wildly from the middle of the brool
then sped onward.
1t was not a heroic task to step 4
. arr rescue the fallen child. M
Shngster waded to the middle of tn
stream, and in a moment Aggie Ma
r was in her mothers arms.
t Behind them, in the forest, light
were cleaning like firefies, and tn
arched dome Of the forest rang wit
shouts of Aggie Mays name. She la
8 very white and scared, while tn
water trickled down In little rivulet
from her limp arms and legs. AggI
May flung a dripping arm about hi
b mothers neck. 1T was very cold
she said, nesting closed in the pr