The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-06-10

In the woods the next time. Come on
we're most there, now"
But Ardea's troubles were not yet at
an end. She stopped crying and got
up 20 follow him blindly over more
hills and through other brier tangles;
and when they finally emerged in the
cleared lands, they were stlll on the
wrong side of the creek.
IT'S only about up to your chin;
reckon You can wade it?" asked Thorn
as Jefferson, In a sudden access Of
heart-hardening. But It softened him
little TO see her gather her torn frock
and stumble down to the waters edge
without a word, and he added: Hold
on; maybe we can find a log, some
where"
There was a foot log just around the
next bend above, as he very well knew,
and thither he led the way. The dog
made the crossing first, and stood wag-
ging his tail encouragiugly on the bank
Of safety. Then Thomas Jefferson
passed his trembling victim out on the
log.
You go first" he directed; so I /
can catch you II you slip"
"Oh, you please go first, so I won't
have 70 look down at the water!"
NO; I'm coming behind-then can
catch you If you get dizzy and so 70
fan" he said, stubhornly.
WIN you walk right up close, so I
can know you are there?"
Thomas Jenerson's smile was cruelty
misleading, as were his words "AH
youlI have to do viii be to reach your
hand back and grab me-" he assured
her; and thereupon she began in inch
her way out over the swirling pool.
When he saw that she could by no
possibility turn TO look back, Thomas
Jefferson deliberately sat down on the
bank TO watch her. There had never
been anything in his life so tigerishly
delightful as this game Of playing on
the feelings and fears of the girl whose
coming had spoiled the solitudes.
For the first few feet Ardea went
steadily forward. keeping her eyes fixed
on the Great Dane sitting motionless
at the farther end of the bridge of peril.
Then, suddenly the dog grew impatient
and began to leap and bark like a fool
ish puppy. It was too much for Ardea
to have her eye-anchor thus trans
formed into a dizzyng whirlwind Of
gray monsters. She reached backward
for the reassuring hand; it was not
there, and the next instant the hungry
pool rose up to engulf her.
In all his years Thomas Jefferson
had never had such a stab as that
which an instantly awakened con-
science gave him when she slipped and
fell Now he was her murderer be-
yong any hope of future mercies. For
a moment the horror of It held htm
yise-like. Then the sight Of the great
Dane plunging to the rescue freed him.
Good dog!" he screamed, diving
leadlong from his own side of the
pool; and between them Ardea was
dragged ashore, a limp little heap of
conscious, but with her
teeth chattering and great, dark cir
lies around the big blue eyes.
I'm awfully sorry!" he stammered. !
If you can't make out to forgive me, !
I'm going to have a miser'ble time Of it !
after get home"
1T will serve you quite right. Now |
you'd better get me home as quick as |
ever you can. I expect I'll be sick |
lgain after this"
He held his peace and walked her as |
asst as he could across the fields and /
,ut on the pike. But at the Dabney |
yates he paused 1t was not in human !
TO face the Major under exist
ug conditions.
II reckon you'll go and tell your
sran paw on me-" he said, hopelessly
"Why should I not tell him? And / |
,5,-r.r want IN see Won or hear of ,,ot,
gain, you cruel, hateful boy!"
Thomas jefferson hung about the
ate while she went stumbling up the
driveway, leaving heavily on the great
log. When she had safely reached the
.ouse he went slowly homeward, wad-
ng in trouble even as he waded in the
white dust of the pike. For when one
thinks too deeply OF the cup Of tyran-
.y the lees are apt to be like the little
ook the Reyelator ate-sweet as honey !
n the mouth and bitter in the belly.
That evening at the supper-table he
.ad one nerve -racking fear dispelled
nd another confirmed by his mothers
eply to a question put by his father.
Yes; the Major sent for me again
his afternoon. That child is back in
ed again with a high fever. 1t seems
he was out playing with that great
log Of hers and fell into the creek. I
yanted to tell the Major he is just
Providence, the way he makes
yer her and INDUCES her, but I didn't
are to-"
And Thomas Jefferson knew that he
,as the one who had tempted Provi-
ence.