Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-15

me, and I placed my endorsement upon
it. She then asked me to read the
whole paper over to her. / should
have before stated that she was unable
to read, and the fact of her illiteracy
added to my admiration of her unique
and impressive individuality. I started
to read the paper. She admonished
me to read slowly. When l came to
Captain Keith's Endorsement, forward
ing the paper " disapproved, - the old
woman sprang to her feet excitedly, and
in eager surprise, and, with impulsive
incisiveness, she demanded of me inn
periously to read that again. did so
very distinctly. She seemed bewil-
dered and unable to realize the mean
ing of the words. She asked slowly if
that writing of Captain Keith meant
that he was !" agin !" her boy getting
out of the army. told her that it did.
She remarked in voice strangely
variant in its quietness with her strong
excitement of appearance, that he had
told her he had written on the paper
that he was for her boy "gittin" out.
Controlling her excitement with a
strong effort she caught up the paper
and abruptly left my tent. The simple
fact was that Captain Keith had de-
ceived her. He had repeatedly and uni
formly told her that he would favor her
sons discharge, had written out her APP
plication, and, instead of approving as
he had promised, he disapproved it, as
he afterward said, trusting that she
would never know it. He supposed she
would bring it to me, and that would
take and indorse it and forward it up
and his duplicity would never be dis
covered. 1t is a curious fact that SIM
pie, uncultured natures like hers are al
ways suspicious, and she intuitively
sought to verify the correctness of his
statements.
THE MALEDICTION.
The end of the old creatures visit to
our camp was dramatic. Her sense of
wrong at Captain Keith's hands was
deep and intense. Probably she would
hardly have been less resentful and in
dignant if he had struck her. But to
dupe her, to toy with her hopes, assent
to her wishes, give her sympathy in her
plan day after day, and then finally de-
ceive her, was cruel beyond measure,
and it awakened in her q deep, impla-
cable fury that knew no bounds. She
had entertained high respect for him,
and gave him thorough confidence
The transition was complete. Every
fiber of her strong, coarse nature was
wounded to the quick. It was won
der, with her ungovernable spirit, that
she did not attempt personal violence
upon him. But she reserved her re-
venge for something more tragical. In
her intense excitement she began to
drink, and the liquor, of course, in
famed her rage. Finally, just about
dusk, she came to my tent pretty well
intoxicated, and the scene that ensned
is wildly impressed upon my reconec-
ton.
Her disordered appearance added to
the effect she made. Her hair hung
rough and uncombed about her flushed
face. Her eyes glittered with excite
ment. Her countenanee well indexed
her turbulent SOUL Her massive frame
shock under her fiery agitation. She
poured out a volume of talk, speaking
none the less deliberately because of the
vehemence of her tones. Her language
was singularly and effectively dramatic.
She began by telling me that she had
no quarrel with me. 1t is true had
refused to do her will, but I had been
candid with her and never deceived her.
1 had told her the truth Like man.
But Reub Keith had acted like dog.
AS she spoke his name it seemed to in
tensify her wrath. She deliberately and,
it must be said, eloquently portrayed
perfdy, giving graphic picture of her
hopes, her plans, her love for her boy,
her strong yearning to get him home,
her labors, her appeals, her trust in
Keith, his ready, sympathetic co-opera-
ton in her fervent desire, his base be-
trayal of her confidence. The stern
old soul got right pathetic and touch
ing in some of her illusions. Her tale |
was told with the finest simplicity and |
effect of dramatic art. The conclusion |
was as striking as it was unexpected. |
Throwing herself upon her knees, the
declining sun casting sort of illusion |
around her homely but expressive old |
face, its marked features anguished and
vindictive, she uttered such an impreca-
ton upon Keith as Mortified me and
those who heard it. The malignancy of |
that malediction was something dread
full. She invoked deadly blight upon
his mind, heart and home. She hoped |
he might never know peace or happi-
ness; that he might live in misery and
terror, and when he died that he might |
die like hunted hound, friendless, I'M
pitied, away from friends, and his body
be left unburied ana uncoffined as food |
for carrion. And she frenziedly de-
clared that her curse would be fulfilled.
There was nothing in the scene to
break the monotony Of the old woman's
demonstration of hatred. She pre-
served her rude dignity through it all,
and never lowered her tragical effect
iveness. She certainly thrilled her |
hearers, and left an uncomfortable
horror for the object of her impreca-
tons. The deep words, the falling twi-
light, the martial surroundings, all were
fit accessories of the picture. Rising
slowly, composing her features, and
stalking silently into the woods and the
night, she disappeared, leaving only the
dark hideous memory of her appalling |
malediction.
THE FULFILLMENT.