Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-22
feet, 1 found that useful member was

feet, l found that useful member was
broken.
This is the deuce of an idea, said.
Lagniappe was walking round and
round me curiously, and as looked at
him an inspiration seized me. With
some trouble, l took a pencil and scrap
OF paper from my pocket, and scrawled
few lines upon it. Then l called the
dog coaxingly, and showed him the slip,
pointing in the direction of The Oaks,
which was not more than a mile away.
He seemed to understand, for ne grab
bed the paper; but he had not gone far
before he tore it up, and ran back to me.
| coaxed, commanded, threatened in
vain. He looked roguish, and wagged
his comical tail. Then l lifted up my
voice and woke the echoes; but there
was no answering shout. / fired my
pistol several times, but no one came.
"Very well, them" said L; 81 sup
pose / must lie here till morning."
[ removed the comforter from about
my neck-it was some of Anne's handi-
work, by-the-bye-and began to roll it
up into cushion for my head, deter
mined to be as comfortable as possible,
when Lagniappe, with wicked look,
snatched it out of my hands, and darted
Off into the underbrush, to tear it into
ribbons, never doubted.
Abandoned by even my horse and
dog, you may believe that my feelings
were not enviable. The pain of the
fracture was intolerable-a violent
throbbing, varied by grinding agony
whenever I moved a hairs breadth. /
had also the consolation of rejecting
that this long delay might make an am
putation necessary, and 1 quailed at the
thought of being cripple. Fever and
the want of proper support had sent
all the blood to my head, and between
rage and pain was well-nigh crazy.
longed to strangle Lagniappe.
l was alone in the horrible silence OF
a winter night. That silence, pregnant
with half-uttered sounds, whispered
suggestions of evil ten times worse than
the broad reality. Not the chirp of a
bird, not the stir of green leaf, only
the soughing of the wind across the
naked fiat, and the river booming threat
eningly against the levee. There was
no moon, but pale, watery light spread
itself over the sky. Soon l expected to
feel the rain on my up-turned face.
Far, far off a negro began that jar
ring cry that bears a harsh resemblance
to the German jodel. 1 tried to hail
him, but my voice failed me.
Then it seemed to me that the
thoughts in my brain began to buzz like
bees with an ever dilating and decreas-
ing sound. "God! if could faint, or
die!" l gasped.
There was a cracking in the dead
leaves, and looking up, l saw Lag
niappe. His sides heaved, and foam
hung from his lips. felt for my pis-
toll; there was still one cartridge in it.
My hand was unsteady; he wavered
dizzily before my eyes; but the shot
sped true to the mark. A sharp
howl rang out on the still air, and he
fell quite close to me.
The sound sobered rue. "Lagniappe!"
/ cried in horror at my own deed, and
flung the pistol as far as my arm could
send it.
At my voice his large eyes rolled, and
he wagged his tail feebly as he dragged
himself nearer and tried to lick my
hand. Then culver ran through his
body. I felt him; he was still warm,
but he was dead.
Well, boys, 1 don't mind telling you
that cried like baby. A moment af-
terward l heard voices and footsteps.
Lights flashed through the dark, and
soon a crowd of people came out from
behind the trees. In the midst OF them
was sweet Anne herself, the dark ten
drills of hair curling up with the damp
around her face, that bloomed like rose
under the shadow of her white hood.
"Anne!' cried, bewildered.
ayes, my dearest jack" she said;
" it was all Lagniappe's work. He came
running in with your comforter, and L
knew something had happened to you.
Papa wasn't at home, so came myself,
and we followed Lagniappe."
az done tole missy free er TO- times
dat could boss dis yer job myself; but
she'll hab her own way er bust" was
Abrams characteristic rejoinder.
"And, oh, Jack!" cried Anne, Z" I
know something dreadful is the matter
with you.'
"Broken Leg" managed to say.
swell, we must take you home as
soon as we can. and where's Lagni-
appel dear little hero! Jack, he's
deadr
Ihad to tell q lie. "Annie," 1 said,
sshe came running through the bushes;
it was dark, and fired"
knew nothing after that. A merci-
full fainting fit saved me from the jolting
of the rough litter, improvised of rails
and boughs, on which they placed me,
with Lagniappe's dead body by my side:
was taken to The Oaks, and nursed
back to strength by Anne and her grand
mother; but always in the bottom of my
heart lay the cold thought that 1 had
murdered my friend.
The worst of it was, discovered af-
Observation-Disclosures soma gayyoung
bachelor-had borrowed my boots to
wear to a party; so, after all, Lagni-
appe had been blameless.
I've been fortunate man in my life,
happy in my wife and family and friends;
but yet sometimes when 1 think of the
look in Lagniappe's eyes the night l
shot him Let's talk of something else.
Basar.
Is Dog q Wolff