Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-02-13


mebby she'll say yes"
He would wait longer. with his Penn
sylvania German patience. even II 1t
took another year to win her con-
sent He occupied with his parents
the brick house just across the alley
from the Rudisills.
George was idly glancing out of the
setting room" window at the flying
snowfiakes when presently the door OF
the kitchen opposite opened with a
jerk, and Maria briskly hustled across
the porch towards the pump and pro-
ceeded to pump a painful of water.
She had no sooner lifted the pail
from the pump spout and stopped
over, when her foot slipped on the
snowy porch. and the unexpected hap
pened.
For several months previous she
had noticed that the portion of the
porch directly over the rain-water els
tern was in a dangerous condition. and
she had immediately communicated
this fact to Samuel Fritz, the town car
penter, to repair the same. Sam, as
everyone knows, is habitually inclined
toward procrastination.
He had received orders from Miss
Maria In early spring, but Sam forgot,
and those treacherous planks over the
cistern gave way with the sudden
strain of Miss Maria's fall. A wide,
yawning chasm appeared, into whose
black depths she was precipitated like
a ball shot from a cannon. She was
so badly frightened at first that she
made no cutlery; but when she left the
icy cold water gurgling and swishing
about her she came to her senses and
gave lusty scream that was heard
clear across the alley
Hatless, breathless with excitement,
George rushed wildly across the alley
into the Rudisill yard and disappeared
in the doorway of the woodshed near
by. Emerging with a 15-foot ladder.
he made hasty preparation for lower
ing II into the dark abyss.
Peering over the ragged edge, he
saw to his intense relief that the wa
ter reached only to her shoulders, and
that she was In no immediate danger
of drowning, at least not so long as
she retained her hold upon the slip
perry black pump stock and did not
lose her balance and presence OF
mind.
Ell, Ell, Ell! Maria! Holt on tight
till leave down the ladder"
Her only response was shiver and
look that was pitiful in the extreme,
He knew that there was danger Of her
fainting or being cramped by the icy
water, so he cautioned her to holt
on" with all her might until the ladder
descended
Clasping her in his brawny arms,
he climbed the slippery ladder with
his dripping burden and bore her ten
derby to her mothers kitchen, where
he deposited her limp form in huge
] wooden rocking chair, and then re-
tired to call his Nom over"
| A sweet little old woman with
snowy hair presently appeared and led
the unfortunate young woman to her
room; then she briskly entered the
kitchen to set the table and made the
dinner ready" for Maria's mother was
too upset to do anything.
Just before serving the dinner, Mrs.
Becker was called upstairs. when,
after a whispered consultation with
Maria, she went across the way, and
she and George reappeared few mo-
ments later, the mother carrying a
small bundle under her arm.
Il guess the dinners ready vonce,"
announced Mrs. Rudisill. Amelia, you
and Cheorche will stay and eat with
us, amt? This accident makes us
have the dinner so late. guess things
will be all cold when we set down at
the table vonce."
well, being as we are both alone
to-day, .Cheorche and me. we might
as well stay"
The trio seated themselves about
the festive board, and George, while
experimenting the carving of the tur-
key, suddenly looked up as the door
opened, and there in the doorway stood
Maria.
He was almost startled as by an
| dppdTltlOn,. LOT ne hucW tudt uui III 3
all the years of his courtship he had
never seen her appear more beautiful
than she did then.
What was that new light which
shown In her eyes? A feeling of awe.
mingled with a deep sense OF resig.
nation fell upon him. What did it
all mean?
Maria" he gasped. Am l awake.
or do | dream"
"Ach, no, Cheorche.. but | have had
now such a troubled conscience this
while past already, and when | had
this fall to-day and you saved me
from drowning, 1t seemed like as
Though II was the hand OF Provi-
dence. Resides" she continued, fall
teringly, II found out that it ain't
fright for Nom and me to live alone
by ourselves this here way. +"
Maria" interrupted George, &C.
statically, her meaning just dawnlng
upon him with such radiance as
never before had come to his monot-
onous. slow-moving mental life.
| yes Cheorche I've give In at