The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1910-04-23

was the good-natured contempt which her
feminine tirnidity of nature excited in the mind
of her lordyc cousin Tom Tom was her ideal of boyish
perfection and she found hard to be able come
up to his idea of what admirable in every way.
Carrie was afraid of many things-"afraid of her
own shadow" to quote Tom agan-but above ALL the
darkness and loneliness of the night unequaled
by any other bogy. Unimaginable peris and dangers
lurkcd every side hiding III the shadows ready to
spring forth and to devour.
Tn glad that there's thing you are not afraid
Of, Tom said day. 81 couldn't manage Jet better
young girl coming, as she knew it did, with such
sincerity from her cousin Tom She was riding Jet
Toms own precious pony-and had come tearing across
the fields, with eyes dancing and curls flying; and
riding bareback, which was feat of no little merit
for girl-in Toms opinion.
1T was you who taught me" answered Carrie hurbly
flush of pleasure mantling her cheek.
Yes, and had my own time, too, before could
get you to even try to ride, said Tom. Il never
such little goose"
where's Uncle?" Carrie asked breathlessly. "Tack
Gardiner has brought word that your Aunt Margaret
is very i'll and wants to him right away IS
The sad news made great stir in the Atkins house
hold, and it was decided that Tom should accompany
his father to the homie of his aunt who lived six miles
distant He was to return home early in the morning
with news from the sick one although it probable
that his father might be able leave when he did
This arrangement would leave Carrie and her aunt all
alone for the night Jake, the hired man. lived in
cottage of his own, half mile away.
Now don't worry, mother" said Mr.. Atkins
iously as he bade his wife and Carrie good-by "Iu
be home soon as can
When the house closed for the night Carrie
noticed that her aunt-whose heart was weak-was
nervous and excited. 1t very seldom that Mr..
Atkins was away at night and it long time before
she became quieted and ready to retire.
"Now, Auntie, dear, please go to bed and get what
sleep you can pleaded Carrie, who felt quite weight
of responsibility resting upon her unaccustomed
shoulders In her home in the city there were serv-
ants to attend to the needs of the family and
to take care of anyone who was ILL., II promised
Uncle that would sit beside you until you went to
sleep" she added
my dear child you had better go to bed and not
mind me" said her aunt. II always like this when
anything unusual happens" But Carrie persisted, and
presently she had the satisfaction of seeing her
quietly sleeping and stole upstairs to her own little
She glanced at the clock she left the room,
and surprised to that it nearly o'clock
After reading her evening chapter in the Bible Carrie
sat down in the low rocker by the window and peeped
out into the darkness There moon, but the
stars were out in full force, twinklng merriy and
sending their bright CLEANS through the darkness to
help Tighten the world.
'What lot of them there are" thought Carrie
lcaning her elbows upon the wndow-sil, and gazing
nod drowsly-droopng- -droopng, until her chm
rested upon her hands, and she sound asleep.
An hour passed, and still she slept.
Hark what was that sound breaking the stiffness
of the nighta passenger train thundered by the
track beyond the intervening field, its shri whistle
rousing the girl from her urnber. Dazed, bewdered,
it was some time before she could recall her scattered
senses and remember where she was.
Il must have fallen asleep she said aloud, and
turned to prepare herself for bed But what the
meaning of that red glare where the railroadtrack
crossed the ravine?
Goodness the bridge Is burning !" cried Carrie in
panic. "A spark from the engine has set it on frel
And-Oh, dearl Oh, dear the Night Express passes
here at quarer of three If Uncle or Tom were only
here! dare not tell Auntie. Oh, what shall dol
What shall dol"
The clock in the sitting room below struck One
two" There three-quarters Of an hour in which
to get word to the section at the depot three miles
away-but how? Who was there to send? Carrie
shrank from blow when the thought struck her that
there not living soul go but herself She to
go out into the dark night at this hour She coudnt
-ohl she could not do it! But the burning bridge and
the people who would be mangled-the cries of the
wounded and the dying if she did not go, seemed to
sound IN her ears, driving her almost frantic with their
agony, and sense of her responsibility
What would mama think If she could see me now p
she murmured as she sped out through the avenue o
naples that led TO the main travelled road. She haC
need to urge Jet do his best for the frsky little
animal seemed to be in froicsome mood and tc
approve entirely of this unusual bit of slylaring Or
and on he cantered the open country crossing
the carriage bridge that spanned the ravine some
distance beyond the raroadcro where the smoke
and flames rost steadily. On and on they went shs
Dravely keeping her seat the saddieless pony heI
teeth chatterng. though it was summer night
without the least hint of chill in the air But wher
tne last mile had to be traversed and they x
wnere the road was bordered on each side by 1onf
stretch ct woodland, her courage was at the loves
eDb. Cowardy Carrie" was ready to drop off hei
back
suddenly JET gave great bound to one side, snort
ing with fright as dark object loorned up befor,