Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-01-07

difficult ones. But at bottom the mo-
tive was purely wicked. In all the
range of sentient creatures there Is
none 30 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-
termined 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 youth
know better than to go projectin' round
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 to follow him blindly 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 it?" asked Thorn
as Jefferson, in a sudden access OF
heart-hardening. But 1t 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 log, some
where"
There was a 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; so t I
can catch you II you slip"
"Oh, you please go first, 80 I won't
have to look down at the water!"
NE; I'm coming behind-then / can
catch you II you get dizzy and 20 to
fall" he said, stubbornly.
win you walk right up close. so 1
can know you are there?"
Thomas Jsfferson's 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 fool
ish puppy. It was too much for Ardea
to have her aye-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 ell 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
moment the horror of It held him
vise-like. Then the sight OF the great
Dane plunging to the rescue freed him.
Good dogl" 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
cles around the big blue eyes.
I'm awfully sorryl" he stammered
IF you can't make out to forgive me
I'm going to have a misar'ble time of II
after get home"
1T will serve you quito right. Now
you'd better get me home as quick as
ever you can. I expect I'll be sich
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.
q reckon you'n go and tell your
gran'paw on me-" he said, hopelessly
why should 1 not tell him? And
never want to see you or hear of yoI
again, you cruel. hateful boyi"
Thomas Jefferson hung about tn,
gate while she went stumbling up tn,
driveway, leaving heavily on the grea
dog. When she had safely reached tn,
house he went slowly homeward. wad.
ing in trOubls even as he waded In thu
white dust Of the pike For when on,
QTlnhb TOO OceplJ VI Ills cup VI lyidH'
ny the lees are apt to be like the littl,
book the Rsvelator ate-sweet as honel
in the mouth and bitter in the belly
That evening at the supper-table b.
had one nsrve-racking fear dispelleC
and another confirmed by his mother
reply to a question put by his father
Yes; the Major sent for me agair
this afternoon. That child Is back II
bod again with high fever. 1t seems
she was out playing with that grea
dog OF hers and fell into the creek
wanted to tell the Major he is jus
tempting Providence, the way he malxel
over her and INDUCES her, but didn'
dare to-"
And Thomas Jefferson knew that n
was the one who had tempted Provi
dence.
CHA PTEn VII