Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-06-03

ana across and across the creek, dOub-
ling and circling until the easy mile
was spun out into three uncommon1y
dl1ncult ones. But at bottom the mo-
tive was purely wicked. In all the
range of sentient creatures there is
none so innately and barbarously cruel
as the human boy child; and this was
the first time Thomas Jefferson had
ever had helplessly pliable subject.
The better She kept up, the more de-
term1ned he became to break her
down; but at tn very last, when she
stumbled and fell in an old leaf bed
and cried for sheer WEAKNESS, he re-
Tented enough to say: Il reckon you'll
know better than to go projectin' round
In the WOODS the next time. Come on
were most there, now"
But Ardea's troubles we're not yet at
an end. She stopped crying and got
up to follow him blind1y over more
hills and through other brier tangles;
and when they finally emerged in the
cleared lands, they were still on the
wrong side of the creek
It's only about up to your chin;
reckon you can wade it2" 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 word, and he added: Hold
on; maybe we can find a log, some
where"
There was foot log just around the
next bend above, as he very we'll knew
and thither he led the way. The dog
made the, crossing first, and stood wag
ging his tail encouragingly on the bank
of safety. Then Thomas Jefferson
passed his trembling victim out on the
log.
You go first" he directed; $50 t I
can catch you if you slip"
"Oh, you please go first, so I won't
have to look down at the water!"
No; I'm coming behind-then I can
catch you if you get dizzy and go to
fall" he said, stubbornly.
will you walk right up close, so I
can know you are there?"
Thomas Jeffersons smile was cruelty
misleading, as were his words. "All
you'll have to do will 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. 1t was too much for Ardea
to have her eye-anchor thus trans
formed into a dizzying 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 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 1T held him
wise like. Then the sight Of the great
Dane plunging to the rescue freed him.
Good dog!" he screamed, diving
headlong from his own side of the
pool; and between them Ardea was
dragged ashore, a limp little heap Of
saturation, conscious, but with her
teeth chattering and great, dark cir
cIes around the big blue eyes.
I'm awfully sorry!" he stammered.
of you can't make out to forgive me,
I'm going to have a miSer'ble time of it
after 1 get home"
1T will serve you quite right. Now
you'd better get me home as quick as
ever you can. 1 expect I'll be sick
again, after this"
He held his peace and walked her as
fast as he could across the fields and
out on the pike. But at the Dabney
gates he paused. It was not in human
courage to face the Major under exist
ing conditions.
It reckon you'll go and tell your
gran'paw on me-" he said, hopelessly
why should 1 not tell him? And I
never want to see you or hear Of you
again, you cruel. hateful boy!"
Thomas Jefferson hung about the
gate while she went stumbling up the
driveway, leaving heavily on the great
dog. When she had safely reached the
house he went slowly homeward, wad-
ing in trouble even as he waded in the
white dust Of the pike. For when one
drinks too deeply of the cup Of tyran-
ny the lees are apt to be like the little
book the Revelator ate-sweet as honey
in the mouth and bitter in the belly.
That evening at the supper table he
had one nerve-racking fear dispelled
and another confirmed by his mothers
reply to a question put by his father.
Yes; the Major sent for me again
this afternoon. That child is back in
bed again with a high fever. It seems
she was out playing with that great
dog Of hers and fell into the creek. I
wanted to tell the Major he is just
tempting Providence. the way he makes
over her and INDUCES her. but I didn't
dare to-"
And Thomas Jefferson knew that he
was the one who had tempted Provi-
dence.
CHAPTER VII.
From the grave and thoughtful van