The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1907-09-28

curlS, began Softly 10 cry.
Then followed a burst of sobs, wild,
enraged, from Pearl, mingled with
abuse of her sister and Aunt Jane.
That very night everything was set
tied. Mr.. and Mrs. Margrave held
a conference with Aunt Jane which
lasted far into the night. 1t was
decided that in a week Amy and Bert
lie should accompany their aunt 10
New York, and as 500 as they could
be gotten ready they would all three
sail. l vas rejoiced at Amy's good
fortune, but / was also much grieved
at losing her, and rather dreaded be-
ing left to the companiOnship of Pearl.
That young person had for the pres
ent taken to her bed, declaring her
self i'll, and poor Mrs. Margrave had
a hard time of 1t. The latter was di-
yided between joy at the blessing that
might come to her little son and grief
at her idols disappointment,
But true indeed are those words
that man proposes and God dis.
poses" A dark cloud was hanging
over the household so full of hope,
plans, and joyful a|nticipations. In
scrutable indeed are the ways of
Providence, but as an infinite wisdom
orders them, we must believe all is
for the best, hard though this may be
when the heart is crushed beneath an
anguish which seems heavier than hui
a strength can bear.
1t was the evening before the de-
parture, and Amy proposed to me to
go down to the wharf and have a
good-by row together. BERTHE was of
course with us, and Teddy came stroll
ing along behind. l had noticed that
he kept pretty close to Amy and Bert
lie in a sneaky sort of a way, for the
whole week.
AS we reached the wharf a party of
boatmen were coming up, and we
came into collision with them. No
one could, afterward, tell exactly how
it happened, but BERTHE was forced
away from Amy, and in a moment
was struggling in the water.
In an instant there was wild confu-
sion; l shrieked loudly, Amy ut
tered a sound, but l caught her as she
dashed forward to throw herself into
the water after the boy, She strus-
gled with me silently, but like a mad
thing, and | couldn't have held her If
some of the others had not come to
my assistance.
The moment that the child went
over, however, Teddy had thrown off
his coat and plunged in after him. He
swan out to where BERTHE had gone
under, and when he arose again to
the surface, caught him. BY this
time assistance had reached them
and a moment later both we're on
shore.
1t had all happened in less than five
minutes, and Amy was bending with
a face whittier than marble over the
child's dripping form. His eyes were
closed and the blood was trickling
from a wound in his temple where he
had struck a log or pole. She raised
her eyes to my face and / shall carr!
the memory of that look to my dying
day.
rs he dead?" she asked, in
strangely quiet tone.
mo, no, l can't think So" 1 re
piled, bursting into tears.
I'll go send the DOCTOR" said Ted
dy, as he stood shivering beside m,
in his dripping clothes, while you
take him home"
l bent quickly and kissed him ant
he ran off, the tears in his bluc
eyes.
Fatally injured by the blow OIL
his temple; could not live through tn,
night"
Such was the verdict of the physI
| clan after a brief examination Of tn,
: small unconscious form on the bed
1t was heard with bursts of weeping
and sobs, but the girl %crouching be
side the bed listened to it in utter
t stony silence. Her fearless eyes wer,
riveted on the pretty, white face Oh
the pillows, and one hand was burieI
in the damp curls flowing over them
l All during the long hours of tn
| night we watched round that littl
bed, and toward daylight there wa
a slight shudder through the child
t body, and the beautiful, sightless eye
opened wide. AS he had always fel
: the presence Of the sister he so deal
ly loved, then he turned his head t
e ward her and murmured her name.
3 Eyes, darling" she whispered
Amy is here
!, Amy" he whispered again; then h
smiled, and with his face still turne
t toward her, died.
= But the girl still knelt m~otionlesl
e and no one dared tell that the DO
b was dead. At length Aunt Jane wen
:, up and laid her hand gently on Amy
d shoulder.
Amy" she said, and I could nc
v have imagined that her sharp, brusQu
S voice could be so tender and pitifu
a 1T is all over, my poor child; littl
l BERTHE is blind no longer"
" Two days later we laid little Bert
4 20 roet among tho rocao w tho nratf