Evening journal., 1914-01-01
. . .

tho hour. land the rising moon cast Z
,yeird shadows on the trodden snow q
mich ~6 craIkled under ones feet in th6{T'
s-,,+,, dir IT was long past the tinOi
scheduled Tor Toms arrival
Dixie hsh always had fondneS
FOR Narsel Tom because 'he" neve =;
te8sed as ldid the other young meg :.
VINO came 10 see Betty-her idol. Anc
che always brought lollipops to her
ae well as TO Ben and Molly, and the
childish heart went out to him in
gratitude. So she, too, was on the
lookout for her young master and
rushed in every little while calling out
in a stage whisper, 20, Miss Betty,
dear. has Marse Tom coined yit?'
pnt for long while no one had
seen Dixie. and Betty had wondered
where the child was while Nanny
chloe was Wild with anxiety, as none
could be found who had seen her run
away baby.
Remembering q certain path in the
woods by which Tom was wont 10
ride home from the station, Dixie had
conceived the idea Of being the first
to greet him and b-ing him to Betty
SO had. unknown to all, slipped quiet
ly away for that purpose She had
found the path and was waiting. II
being several miles from home, she
was. of course, unable to hear Nanny
Chloe's frenzied calls.
None knew that Francis Gray had
returned from a neighboring town,
still with the though of revenge In,
his heart. He, too knew OF Tom q
habits, and of the turn in the road
and he. too, stood waiting in the dark
woods. not far from Dixie, with u
loaded revolver in his hand. al
Suddenly the sound Of horses fef
were heard, and Toms voice ringina
out in a rollicking college song, came
r nearer to the spot where Dixie stoOd
r waiting. As the horse reached the
darkest point in the path, tall figure
jumped out and caught the bride.
k Quick as a fash Tom, who was un-
A armed. jumped to the ground and
+ faced his foe.
. Just then ray of moonlight fell
y full on the latter's face, and Tom
g exclaimed in horror. Francis Gray
s you. Why lad, what does this meang
S 1T means this, Tom Leighton" said
4 the maddened man. and with a NUT
4 tered oath he snapped the trigger OF
the. revalver.
e Before the bullet had reached its
y mark. there was a rush of skirts, and
" Dixie. who had been momentarily ter.
rihed, flew to Tom crying, 20, Marse
Toni Marse Toni Just in time to re
u receive heNbullet intended for hel
young masker. With a groan she
l. sank to tlk ground. Tom caugh
- her up, andltried to staunch the bpod
= as Francis e3ray fed from the s;ene
a in terror.
E, OF the watching party at the win
dow. Betty was the frst to see fhem
Il. come and rushed OUT to take tht ,amI
~ figure from Toms aims.
Before the drawing room fire. f3t
he laid Dixie down on tthe hearth rug
d. The little one opened her eyes AM
m said family. "Whar NANNY Chloe?
III But before any on9 could answf
it Nanny Chloe was down on her. M
beside her baby and caught her Hmm
breast. .ADcl.. on
m. Nanny Chloe. Tainterd aock. S
n words. Don't-whp p-psiellih and "A
ch time. Wanted-be frst 80 Interme
us -." "Tom" she wa
nd but the deadly bullec1a fiii@. eii'5 n
work and the faithful little heart wa
ge forever stilled.
" That night late, after the excite
III, ment had subsided. and Betty an
OF Tom were alone in the study, Beti
ie' suddenly caught her lover and hel
g him. close with a smothered cry, IN
'ce Tom, what if it had been your" An
ol neither one was ashamed of the bur
20 of tears which came at the thought
an the still little figure in the next roor
Sa Needless to say, there was no Ne
~ Years ball and next day the CUES
~ went quietly homeward, saddened
~ the tragic death of the child who
NJ merry ways had made her favori
no with all. Two days later Dixie W.
laid to rest in the family buryiI
in. ground. and the little grave W;
mo marked by a cross bearing the word
nd -Heroine-Aged Z Years. 81
Saved Another-Herself She Cou
Not Save"
Francis Gray was never seen ~
heard of after that fatal night To
and Betty we're married shortly afte
ward, and now live in a far aw
wn state. But each New Years Eve I'm
the them in the old home, and their fir
me pilgrimage. as soon after their arriv
ere as possible. is one of love al
thankfulness to the grave of the lit
49, |oclorod oontharu heroine