Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-05-27

for panel-the Flight into Egypt-afd an
nounced that any one who chose might un-
dertake the work; that he would return in a
month Che had found there was access to Co.
lumbia by railway through the Valley, and
would then buy the best panel offered at fair
price, and; If the skill shown in the work sat
isfied him, would send the carver to London
free ofexpense, and insure him high and steady
wages
The day he left all the village collected about
the well to talk the matter over. Here was a
strange gust from the outer world blowing
into their dead claim Most of them had for
gotten that there was world outside of Wal
halla. They titled their farms and bartered
with the mountaineers. Twice year Schopf
went to Charlotte for goods to fill his drowsy
shop. Londons Riches! Fames The blast
of a strange trumpet, truly. The blood be-
gan to quicken. Such of them as had been
wood-carvers felt their fingers itch for the
knife.
''No doubt it is George Heller who will win
it," everybody said. ''That fellow has ambi-
ton to conquer the world. Did you see how
he followed the Englishmen aboutl He could
talk to them in their own fashion. George is
no ordinary man?'
nodding as Hans on his mare came down the
street. g Hans is good fellow. But he will
never make stir in the world. Now Georges
fingers used to be as nimble as his tongue"
Heler's tongue, meanwhile, was wagging
nimbly enough at the other side of the well.
He was little, why, ed-haired, specialized fell
low, with perpetual movement and sparkle
about him, as if his thoughts were flame.
"That's the right sort of talk. Fame
profit! Why should we always drag behind
the world here at Walhalla! Pillow and dig,
pillow and dig! The richest man in New York
left Germany butchers son, with his wallet
strapped on his back; and what is New York
to London? just give me foothold in Lon
don and I'll show you what bakers son can
do, let Hans Becht laugh as he chooses!r For
Hans, who had come down to the well, was
listening with quiZZical twinkle in his eye.
He filed his pipe, laughed, sat down and said
nothing. Everybody knew Hans to be the
most silent man in Walhalla.
The pretty girls gathered shyly closer to
Heller; and the boys thrust their hands in their
pockets and stared admiringly up at him. Hans
was their especial friend, but what stout,
commonplace creature he beside this
brilliant fellow!
"a man only needs foothold in this world !"
George said, adjusting his spectacles and look
girl sat holding her baby brother The child
a solid lump of flesh, but she locked down
at him with the tenderest eyes in the world.
The sight of her drove the blood through Hell
ler's veins almost as hotly as the smell OF a
glass of liquor would do so. if I win, I'll
take a wife from Walhallan' he cried, laugh
ing excitedly, looking at her and not caring
that the whole village saw his look. "!'ll
come back for the girl love!' He fancied
that the shy eyes had caught the fire from his
own and answered with a sudden flash.
Hans thought so, too; his pipe went out in
his mouth. When she rose to 60 home he took
the heavy boy out of her arms and walked be-
side her. Hellers shri]l voice sounded behind
them like vehement fife!
sS-mOney-mOney!
Hans looked anxiously down into her face.
They are good things" she said, very
good things"
Hanss tongue was tied as usual. He
dropped Phil in the cradle in the kitchen, and
then came out and led Christine down to the
garden of his own house.
What was London-money, to home! Surely
she must see that! He led her slowly past the
well-built barn and piggeries, past the bee
hives hidden behind the cherry trees, and seat
ed her on the porch. He thought these things
would speak for him. Hans chung as closely to
But Christine looked sulleH.
Hans said nothing.
A man should not be satisfied with a kitch-
en- garden" she said sharply.
They sat on the porch steps. The night air
was warm and pure, the moon hung low over
the rice fields to the left, throwing fantastic
shadows that chased each other like noiseless
ghosts as the wind swayed the grain To the
right, beyond the valley, the mountains pierced
dumb as himself Il they could only speak
and say of how little account money was, after
all 1t seemed to Hans as if they were always
just going to speak,
But Christine did not look at sky, or mount
aims, or sleeping valley. She looked at the
gravel at her feet, and gave it little kick.
No doubt George Heller will succeed. 1
hope he will, too!' she said, vehemently. "If a
man has the real stuff in him let him show it
to the world I'll go home now, Mr.. Becht."
That evening Hans violin was silent. He
used to play until late in the night; but he was
sharpening his long unused knives, with a pale
face. He, too was beginning a Flight into
Egypt.
During the next two weeks tremendous
whiting went on in Walhalla. Some old fell
lows, who had never cut anything but paper
knives and match boxes, were fred with the
cobbler, or Fritz, the butcher, chip his way to
wealth, fame and Londons There is net
butcher or cObbler of us all who does not Sc
cretly believe himself a genius equal to the
best-barred down by circumstance. George
Heller kept his work secret, but he was nightly
stirred by it in soul and body. Twice, in
rage, he broke the panel into bits, and came
out pale and covered with perspiration; he
a dream; he went to Godfrey STEMS inn and
drank wine and brandy, and then more brandy,
and forgot to pay. Genius is apt to leave the
lesser virtues in the lurch. He kicked the
was insolent to his Old father who still fed and
clothed him.
"He's no better than VOLTS whelp" said
Stein. But he's got the true artist soul. He'll
winw Now if anybody knew the world, it was
Nobody thought Hans Becht would win but
his old mother. She was sure of it. She sat
beside him with her knitting, talking all the
time. Why did he not give himself more time!
The rice-teld must be foodeds Let the rice
go this year. He spent three hours in the cot
ton this morning. And what with fOddering
the stock, and rubbing down even the pigs
-. What were cotton and pigs to this
chance! 1t would come but ence a lifetime.
Meanwhile, Hans, when free from pigs and
rice and cotton, sat by the window and cut,
cut, and whistled softly. The door of the
kitchen stood open, and the chickens came
picking their way on to the white floor. A
swift stream Of water ran through the millet
field and across the garden, shining in the sun.
The red rhododendrons nodded over it, and
the rowan bushes, scarlet with berries. Be-
yond the millet field, there was rampant of
rolling hills, bronzed with the early frost; but
here blazed the crimson leaves of the shonieho,
and there cucumber tree thrust its open gold
en- fruit, studded with scarlet seeds, through
the dull background. Beyond this rising
ground were the peaks, indistinct as gray
shadows, holding up the sky.
Sometimes Mother Becht caught Hans with
his knife idle, looking at these far off heights,
or at the minnows glancing through the brook
near at hand. There was great pleasure in
his eyes.
You are fool to throw away your time"