The Cairo bulletin., 1907-02-08

I her hair. After that she might
scratch a little hole right back Of the
forehead and get 1t out The opera
ton sounded painful, and at heart Az
gle May was a coward She decided
that TO crop the golden trcsses might
be efiicacious. After that sine would
60 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 solue
! soap
Aggie May crept softly into her
! mothers room. It 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 tho
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 OF
bark and trunk she stood, a 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 50 latef' 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
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. II was
Aggie Mays fayorite 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 50. 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 a
pair Of scissors--her scissors.
Indians gasped Mag, turning
white
"Gipsies," yentured the mother "0h,
Aggie May, Aggie May where are
you?" 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 1t was still broad daylight,
but in the forest beyond the shadows
were always black.
Mag. said Mrs. Saagster sudden
ly turning 20 her sistcf.in.law, run
aud rouse the men, and gct lanterns
Wen search the woods
Meanwhile Aggic Mays little feet
sped fast and faster The shadows
thickened How thicklg 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 dead branch falling at her
feet. With 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 It 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 refcc-
ton of earth and sky in its dancing
rpplcs Suddenly She reelcd, the
earth slipped away. shc felt the cold
water grip hcr and then with . cry
she plunged head foremost into the
current
Some instinct Of motherhood guided
Mrs Sancsters footsteps The sound
it Aggic Mays voice reached her faint
" at first, then louder. until it re-
sounded through he stiffness in fran
ic echoes. Following the sound. she
plunged ahead. and arrived Just in
inc to see a small hand flung out
wildly from the middle of the brook.
hen sped onward.
lt was not a heroic task 10 step in
md rescue the fallen child. Mr..
waded &c the middle Of the
ream, and in a moment Aggie May
vas in her mothers arms
Behind them. in the forest. lights
were cleaning like dreaies and the
rChcd dome of tho forest rang with
h0gis of ACsic Mas name She lsy
cy white and scared while The
water tr.chlcd down in little riyuleis