Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-05-27
Hans, then! She's had to work her fingers
to the bone. She knows the weight of a full


to the bone She knows the weight of full
purse"
'Hans is welcome to bring her home whether
he wins or not,'' said Father Becht g He earns
the loaf, and it's big enough for four. There's
not sweeter voice in Walhalla than Christy
Vogers."
"She's well enough" said Mrs. Becht, eau
tiously. "Vogel's tobacco brought half a ce4t
in the pound more than ours, and It was Chris
tines raising and drying. Her beers fair, too.
Hans. "Only win, and Christine will marry
you. She'll follow the full purse"
"She'l follow the man she loves, and that is
not L. thought Hans, and he stopped whist
ling His mothers voice sounded on click
'When we are rich-when we are in London
when we drive in carriag e-'
"She, tOos" he considered, looking out
thoughtfully above him at the fat farm-lands,
the pleasant house. the CHEEKY fire. and then
away to the scarlet rowan burning in the brown
underground, and the misty, heaven-reaching
heights
Even his mother counted these things as
nothing beside fame, London, money. Was
Nobody thought he would win. Yet, every
body stopped to look in the window with " good
luck, Hans!''
"See what favorite you are, my lad," said
his mother. "There's not man or woman
in Walhalla to whom you have not done kind
ness. Do you think the Lord does not know
YOU deserve success? If He does not give you
the prize instead of that drunken Heller, there's
no Justice in heaven!'
At last the Englishman returned. The de-
cision was to be made that night. Hans had
finished his panel that very day. He did not
know whether it was bad or good. He had
cut away at it as faithfully as he had rubbed
aoS We EMS Down to the p stoepia9 At
on the way. The old people were at the well !;
Christine had cooked the supper, MIXED the
cows, and now she was up in her chamber sing
ing little Phil to sleep.
Her voice came down to Hans below full OF
passion and sadness.
Who is it she loves IN that way!, he won
dered. He stood in the path of the little yard,
listening. Heller, coming ACROSS the street
eyed the square jawed, heavy figure. What an
linen clothes bagged about it'll He glanced
down at his own natty little legs and shining
boots, and tossed his head jerkfiy. He carried
his panel wrapped in cloth, and came in, bang
ing the gate after him.
els that you Becht? Been whiting, tooP'
he said, with an insolent chuckle.
Hans looked at him steadfastly, not hearing
word that he said. Was it Heller she loveds
If he were sure Of it, be would not speak a
word for himself. No matter what became Of
him, if she were content. He was hurt to the
core.
Christine came down. She wore some stuff
of pale blue, and had fastened a bunch OF wild
roses in her bosom. She was SO silent and
cold with both the young men that one could
hardly believe that it was the woman who had
sung with such passionate longing over the
child.
"Now you shall see my panel p cried Heller,
nervously adjusting his speetaeles;; He set it
on the bench and dragged off the cloth.
"Ah-h!' cried Christine, clasping her hands;
then she turned anXieusly to Hans.
Hans was not ready with his words. His eyes
filled with tears. He laid his hand on Heller's
shoulder with hearty goodwill I'D The work ok
mother bending over the child there was that
inscrutable meaning which he found in the
quiet valleys, the far heights. But Heller, odd
~, did not seem to see it.
eyes, very nice bits Of chipping therer
fifty dollars for that
Christine TUNED her searching eyes on him.
eyes, fifty" he repeated, feeling that he had
impressed her.
Hans, too, looked at him wondering: How
could this paltry sot compel the secret into his
work, which to htF was but holy dreams
I IS that your panelT' szs saA at Sst.
Hans nodded, hesitated fffement, and then
broke the thin bit of wood in tive and hung 1t
into the road.
at was nothing but passably cut mule, I"
he Said.
Heller laughed loud:
swell, time to be off. Wish me good luck,
Christiner'
She smiled and walked with him to the gate.
Hans followed, but she did not once look at
Hans. As she opened the gate Heller laid his
hand quickly on hers; rose fell from her
His breath was rank with liquor. Hans thrust
him back and strobe between them.
"This must end Christine, you must choose
between this man and me-"
81 can easily do that she said, quickly.
Heller laughed. Hans gulped down lump
in his throat.
" Not tonight he said.
BY tomorrow, no doubt, Heller would be
known as successful, the map whose purse
would always be full Christine must know
Hans to think of these things. lin spite of
it all-she came to him
''There is another rose ON your breast. Send
it tomorrow to the man you love-"
81 WILL She did pot look at him. She was
as pale as himself. He went down the street,
leaving her with Heller.
Twehours afterward he went to the inn where
Reid was, and sat or bench at the door.
Half the village was inside waiting to hear the
decision. His heart beat rebellio5fsly against
his breast What if, after all, there had been
great hidden merit in his panel! 1t was only
natural that Christine should be won by clap
trap of success and mOney-she was only a
woman. "But no." be answered himself;
"what I AMI am. l want no varnish of
praise or money"
Out came the crowd
81 knew it!'' "The most worthless lout in
Walhalla!' GA drunkard for luck!' "He
goes to London next week.
"Then he must come back for his wife, ;" said
Stein. " He told me tonight he was betrothed
to Christy."
Hans stood up, aud nodded goodnight to
them as he pushed through the crowd. He did
not go home. A damp breeze blew up the val
ley. Down yender were the far-reaching
meadows, the tapping streams, the great friend
ly trees He went to them as a child goes to
its mother in trouble.
About six miles from Walhalla lies the trunk
line of the Atlanta & Richmond railroad. At
ten O'Clock that evening, the moon being at
the full, the engineer OF the express train,
going north, saw man at turn of the road
signaling him vehemently to STOP Now, a
way train in that leisurely region will pull up
for any signal But this engineer looked out
In calm contempt.
"Reckon he don't know the express ~ he
said. A little child in the cars saw the man
gesticulating wildly and laughed at him
through the open window.
The man disappeared over the brow of the
hill. The road made long circuit around its
base. When the engine came around this bend
the engineer, Hurst, saw on the track in front
prison hand-oar used to transport the con-
Wet laborers from one division to another.
The convicts had been taken to the stOckade
for the night, and the driver of the car was in
side of it dead drunk.