Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-14
seceshioner. vote not with him. send


on the hill. Out of the forest, hundred
yards distant, sprang a great yellow horse
and a blue-shirted rider. They came down
upon the house like tornado-the fierce,
ugly, splendid-eye dsbroad- chested mi ghty
Gmbed creature struggling with his bit and
striving to throw his master, swarthy
youth of twenty. Just at the frail gate,
which a touch from shoulder or hoof would
have shattered, the stormy onset ended
the heavy Chileno bit did its work; pas
sionate onward motion changed in abso-
lutely one second to a gigantic effort to
check their momentum: the unshod hoofs
furrowed the red gravel: and stormy action
was arrested in statuesque pose. The young
man lifted his hat. and whirllng his horse,
disappeared in a dust-cloud.
milne brothers SON Antoine," said
a temper; and it ees like evil spirit he
rides. See he did stop Eat horse, Roland,
in thirty feet from gallop."
Rawlins resumed the interrupted con-
versation, and within one hour had en-
gagged the school from Michenay, who ad
vised him mot to go near Eat ignoramus
Kester." Then the new teacher made a
frank avowal. Kester's consent had
already been obtained.
Michenay vas angry; but the thought of
getting a weeks free teaching appealed to
his ideas of polisical economy. and he
agreed to let Rawlins have his way; so
one of his boys rode over the district that
afternoon to inform every one that the
trustees had hired teacher.
In spring, toward the close of the term,
Rawlins got up an oldfashioned spelling
match, novelty in the country. 1t took
the public fancy, and people rode or drove
from farm houses and pioneer cabins miles
away when the evening came.
The dark-eyed young lady of the ferry
boat came under escort Of Antoine Niche
nay, who did not leave her side the entire
evening. He was jauntily dressed, and in
high spirits: the girl seemed troubled and
i'll at ease as the evening wore on.
Mary Kester was expected to carry OFF
the spelling honors, as a matter OF course;
fathers intense disgust, she missed one of
the first words, and Adele Michenay won
an unwonted victory.
After the entertainment was over, the
girls went outside in the clear moonlight,
and laughed and chatted, while the boys
carried the benches back into the school
room, and arranged them as usual. Wagon
after wagon was driven away, and soon
the last of the merry group had left the
door Mr.. Rawlins Strengthened the desks,
rubbed off the blackboard, blew out the
candles, locked the school-house and start
ed for Michenay's, along the wOod-path,
haunted with an indescribable eXhilarating
fragrance, mingling Of sweet and spicy
odors from blossoms, leaves, stems, from
pines overhead and grass blades close to
the joyous earth.
At the foot of the hill the path widened
into grassy opening. Over it the full
moon nunS, making IL So IlSut tudb Oiit
could see the brown specks on the droop
ing bells of the carnelian- colored wild lilies
the girls had for many days watched and
guarded. Besides the lily stems, all in a
pitifuI little heap, with her head on
messy log, was Mary kester, crying as if
her heart would break.
Now Mary was the most modest and
generous girl in the world, and no lost
spelling school honors would have made
her cry that way.
1t was impossible to leave the girl alone
at night, crying in the forest a mile from
home. Rawlins went up close to her, and
spoke kindly, leaning over to take her
hand. Come, Mary, you must not stay
here | will walk home with you"
She started when he spoke. but almost at
once controlled her sobs, rose without a
word and took his arm. They turned back
across the clearing. In few moments she
went round by the road, teacher; Thought
no one crossed this way"
They we're walking from the moonlit cir
Gle into the forest again, as Mary said this !;
but before Rawlins could reply they heard
voices in the path before them-Antoine's
and Flora Wilson's.
The girlsh form on Rawlins' arm trem-
bled perceptiblv: little hand urged him
still further back in the shadow. But they
could not escape, for the steep bank of a
dry bdTrGncd curved behind them.
"You shall listen to me-" Antoine was
saying eXcitedly.
Il Will not listen any iAuit' It 4oI " leu
"Ye have had your answer already" she
| went on, touch of her Scotch fathers bor-
| derland burr coming into her voice. She
| took her hand from his arm and faced him
angrily. we've treated Mary ill, and ye
| know It; but twas no doing of mine. /
| never wanted ye."
| Antoine broke into q passionate and in
| coherent appeal.
Take me home. Q, take me home. !
| won't hear any MORE" cried the perplexed
| and angry girl.
| Antoine threw himself down in an aban-
donAent of grief on log. Flora, both in
| dignant and troubled, stood beside him.
| "This is hard on us both, - she said pres
emily. more kindly. III be friends with
| you STILL but you must take me home now,
| and give this all up"
He sprang wildly to his feet: "No! Mop
he shouted Curse your soft words. l
| shall die because of you"
| Lifting both hands to his mouth he gave
loud whistle, three times repeated. The
| fat off neigh of a horse answered him.
| Antoine whistled again, stamped his feet
Another wild neigh sounded nearer, but
still on the farther bank of the deep and
rapid river; then splash, the sound OF
swimming, the rattle of stones, the snap
| and dull swish of branches thrust aside,
and into the clearing ran the great yellow
stallion. Antoine seized him by the name
! and turned to Flora.
go home" he said. 81 shall ride to my
death tonight. You don't know the
mountain boys yet. ought to take you
along"
He caught her by the wrist roughly, but
before she could scream his manner
| changed, and he kissed her hand with q
sudden hereditary French courtliness. He
leaped upon Hollands dripping back
Mary screamed, but neither Antoine MOI
Flora heard her voice, for Roland sprang
forward like huge stone from mediRva
catapult, crashed through the chappara
down the slope, and into the river again
They heard him breasting the steep be.
yond, snorting as he ran through fright
ened bands of sheep and droves of cattle
while more terrific still, Antoine raised his
voice in a half insane shout: "Good bye
love-"
A few seconds later there came ye
| louder shout, then sudden crash, as the
nonadd of horses in the farther pasture
ran shrieking against the rail fence, tore il
to pieces and fed, still shreking with ter
TOR, stampeded over the hillsides, while
Antoine rode his unbridled whirlwind Oh
into the deeper forest.
Flora stood terrified beside the tramplet
mountain lilies over which Roland hac
passed. The school teacher bent over anc
whispered to Mary: "Win you do jus
what l ask"
YES
"Then sit on this fat rock; lean you
head against my overcoat. Don't NOV
| till come back"
, He stepped out into the clearing, mucl
to Flora's surprise.
"Miss Wilson, do you know the way K
Michenay's?"
mo. don't; wish 1 did" She triet
to speak defiantly, but it was easy to SCI
she was in trouble. "Mr. Rawlins, VIVA
do you know about what has happened
here!" she asked abruptly.
81 know all about Antoine, and l an
going to see that you get home safely
She turned without a word and walked be