Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-04-02
FABLE THE sECoNp.-Cosr,xrr,


Boyhood was upon him again. and. at a
risk OF scratched hands and torn clothes.
lt must be done. Perhaps he might find
some of the big stones with which he
and Patience, when playmates, had
spent hours in trying TO make a secret
way for themselves across the brook in
Its darkest place; that would be find,
indeed.
SO he scrambled from among the
PUSHES into the rough coppice where
water ran, and wondered little what
had become of all the mountains and
valleys, lakes, torrents and waterfalls.
chasms and precipices. that he remem-
bered so well. In truth, it was not that
all these things had grown smaller. but
that his own legs had grown longer. But
there was all the old smell of damp CLAW
and decaying leaves to bring back the
old charm-which, besides. borrowed
sweeter and better fragrance than the
new.
He was Just swinging himself round
the bole of a tree that by hanging over
the water, roots and all, barred the
way, when. in regaining the bank, his
foot slipped upon the soft clay, and he
went head foremost into tangle of
bushes and he fell. not into the mud.
but across what was the last thing he
dreamed OF finding there-the body of
man. hidden among the brambles,
bracken and reeds.
Stephen sprang to his feet in ANYTHING
but agreeable surprise. Nor was his
surprise rendered any the more pleasant
when the body scrambled to its feet,
and proved to be an active young fell
low OF his own age. with wild and
hunted look in his eyes, and wearing a
soldiers red jacket over shirt opened
at the breast, and foul with mire and
ooze. He wore no hat or cap, and his
close-cropped hair did not add to his
appearance. considered rs a trespasser.
Retired farms in those days were wont
to be haunted BY Just such fellows
able-bOdied Migrants who, on the
strength of an old red jacket, to which
they might have no more right than to
pair OF epauletteS. would extort char
ity by whineS or threats or lies, and
would think little of firing a rick if
blackmail were refused. The discharged
or disabled soldier or sailor was among
the commonest of pests: and small
wonder. considering the way in which,
when they were of no more use, they
were apt to be thrown away. Stephen
would not have seen one of the breed,
real or sham, skulking within hail of
Legs Croft for guinea and more.
Good God"' cried Stephen, sit 5
Dick Blackthornr'
Farmer Backbone son and heir:
Patiences brother, and in that garb
and guise! What could it mean-to
what had he come? That he was in
some hopeless plight, wha lever it might
be. was plain; and not even Love him.
self could make an expectant br de-
groom rejoice i'll the prospect of such
brother-in-law rs he saw before him
now.
I'm Stephen Harlow. Don't you
know me? In Heavens name. Dick
Blackthorn. what's come to you? What
are you doing here?i asked he who had
been born lucky of him who had been
born with nothing better than a silver
spoon.
Its hanged hard" he muttered.
''that Il fellow can't take forty winks
by brook. when he's thirsty and tired.
without another fellow tumbling over
him as if he was log of timber. It's
hanged hard. Its free country least
wise. so they say | suppose your being
much like it. don't prevent YOUR letting
chap alone. You let me be-
1T does. though. Dick" said Ste
phen. And I'm not going to let you
alone. No-don't think of jumping
the brook. I've got the longest legs.
and YOU never could beat me at run
ming. ever since we ran our first race to
the gate of the paddock. Are you going
home?'
May be yes-may be no." said Dick.
sullenly. ''All you need know is. I'm
going to do what l hanged please.
Apart from the sullen shame. AMI the
mire, and certain weakness OF feature.
Dick BlackthOrn was not bad-looking
young fellow. and in better clothes and
cleaned might. SO far as appearance
went. have Justified his sisters belief in
her only brother. He was by no means
unlike Patience. with the same COM
pleXion and with nearly the same ewes
and eyebrows but with this differ
ence that while hers were stra GIT.
honest, and true as the day. his were
sidelong and shifty. And so with the
features all through. down to the chin,
which in Patience was as firm as it was
tine-in Dick, a fine as it was feeble.
In short, Dick was taller and more
stalwart Patience with the strength
squeezed out of her; Patience turned
male and spoiled in the turning. What
the contrast was between the two young
meE who stood face to face among the
bushes need not be told.
You're going to do nothing of the
kind. then, said Stephen. sternly and
shortly. for he fancied he knew his
man. You re goinx to do as hanged
please. You'll make YOUR sister
wretched. and perhaps kill your father
if you 20 home without warning. and as
you are. | don't know what you've
done. but your father won't so much as
speak or hear Your name. He II forgive
you, you may be sure of that but it's
but right to tell you he's not the man
he was two years ago"
.'Ah. l suppose I've brought his gray
hairs with sorrow to the grave. Well,
all / can say is he shouldn't have
will of my own l should like to know
any chap of spirit who'd stand being
treated as if he'd stopped growing at six
years old. / should rather like him to
see me now. 1 think he'd wish he'd
treated me bit different when he had
the chance to. Not the man he was
It's pot and kettle there. No more am
T. He stuck his fists into his pockets,
tried to look defiant. and failed.
.sCome, Dick, said Stephen, a little
disguised and contemptuous. but, for
Patience's sake, not unkindly; this
won't do at all. l see you're in