The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-07

master Godfrey whipped!out flute, a
bow welded an accordion powerfully,
nd stalwart youth beat large tin
kettle with superb effect.
Dave Brown, of the opposition, turned
purple with rage, and yelled down the
line Of his command: s'Sing, yer. fools!
why don't yer sing?" But as this had
not been laid down in the programme,
people only looked at each other sheep
ishly, and nobody liked to begin. The
whole Holloway line was now one great
choir. Everybody sang at the top of his
lungs. Godfrey, mounted astride the
barrel of root-beer, which was made fast
upon a blackboard wagon, led off the
tunes th his, shrill flute, while the
colors of freedom streamed from his hat,
and his heart rose high in triumph and
pride.
On went the two armies, exactly
abreast until, just before reaching
Clapp's River, that white mare took a
notion to show her mettle. So the
Dodd procession was delayed, and fully
a dozen yards ahead of its van little
Mabel put her foot upon the first plank
of Clapp's Bridge. Over this bridge
was the only way of reaching Clapps
Hill, and the structure was hardly wide
enough to take in the rival columns
abreast. Finding his party so far in adj
vance, Godfrey, from his perch on the
beer barrel, yelled: "We've got the
right of way. Hurrahr'
sNo yer hain't," answered Dave
Brown, urging his friends forward.
"Savr" shouted Cooley, rs the eX-
cited enemy neared him, ..keep back,
won't you? 1 don't believe in this
bridge much"
"Yahr howled Brown in fury.
"Yah! No you don'tr' and encouraged
his army with: Don't let Holloway
folks beat u.s." "Don't give in, boys, "
and other battle-cries.
"Keep backr' cried Goodfrey again.
'.The old bridge is rotten"
think we're green, don't yer?'
Dave flung the defiant answer, and with
a squirt the tagging company came
alongside. The white mare kicked and
trampled bravely, the horn blared, the
young men of the opposing factions
elbowed each other, the girls exchanged
ooh, you horrid thingr" and such fem
1 i
barrel had reached the center of the
bridge; the ice-cream cart struggled
along to the same point, and desperately
tried to pass; the wheels of the two vehi-
cles became locked. Godfrey shouted,
Brown jeered, the people pressed madly
forward, and suddenly a strange
cracking sound, then a sickening, sway
ing motion, crash, and-Clapp's
Bridge with its burden of humanity has
given away.
There were wild cries, vain struggles,
selfish graspings that dragged those at
the edges into the pit which had opened;
another and another support fell in, I'M
til both gallant companies lay in the
shallow river-bed. Except in the chan
mel, which had swift current, but was
at this season only few feet wide, the
water was hardly knee-deep. Then the
bridge was luckily very low one; so,
though bcdraggled, scared, and bruised.
the people soon stood up in great num-
beers, and began running about and cal
ling for their friends and relations. The
CHEEKY answers, Here we are!' and
"All rightr' came faster and faster, and
no one was so efficient in helping as big
Dave Brown, who had done most to-
ward causing the disaster. At last he
climbed out of the water with Abby,
and her first cry was: "Mabel!-where' s
Mabel?"
Somebody had seen the child 60 down
in the crash, carrying with her the
banner; but though men and boys did
wonders among the timbers, and though
every one else was accounted for, there
was no trace of little Mabel.
The distracted father came rushing
to the spot, and plunged into the mar
row channel. He risked his life madly;
he raised every fallen beam in the search
and after hours of vain labor he crawled
up the bank, so white, so despairingly,
that Peep e, in every awe of such grief,
fell back. Abby alone came to him,
saying, between bitter sobs:
You trusted her to me. Oh! can you
ever forgive me?'
my poor Abbyr' said the doctor,
tender and kind even in all his great
sorrow. And as the nioNrnful train
moved away from the fatal spot, Abby
chung to his arm.
The two ministers coming to meet
their congregations, Mr. Dodd wrune
Mr.. Holloway's hand, and said. my
poor people have not understood me
l never dreamed of this wicked rivalry
MIR. Holloway returned, earnestly
"Over this innocent child's body, when
that cruel river gives it up, we mus
join hands, and teach plainly thai
brotherly love stands as the first article
of our belief"
But, oh! what was to heal that father:
broken heart? With a poor weeping
girl clinging to him, the stricken mar
u bent his steps towards his desolatt
home. With vacant, unseelng eyes HI
slowly passed by each familiar land
mark-the mill, the brook, the apple
orchard, the wicker gate that led tt
Browns farmhouse, then
But Just here q cry was heard o
doctor! doctor!'
Mrs. Brown came tearing down thu
garden walk, and dragged him witt
her to the house, and into the darkenel
best parlor. From the sofa came +.
faint voice: ''Father!" and lying there
pale but safe and warm, was the small
Mabel. .'
Abby, with one great outburst of joy
clasped the child, and the perseverin;
little maid asked at once. s'Won't vol
come and live at clubhouse, Abby?"
3 Dave saved her," Mrs. Brown ex
planned, volubly. "Ae spied bit o
/; the blue silk banner floatin' Almost on
I of sight way down that river channel
He made for it. got holt of the child
7 Just cut across lots. and brought her VI
1 here. Dear sus! she's only just come to
e l couldn't leave her alone to come an,
t tell YOU, and Dave he wouldn't shoy