Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-01-07

a figure crawled cautiously out at his
very feet. One movement brought
Joe's pickax to ready position, and
with the next it would have de-
scended with crushing force on the
crawler's skull, when his winning voice
broke in:
Don't it me, don't! His IS Grace
much 'urt? AS the robbers wentp''
Joe's pickax descended harmlessly.
''Who be you, you sneakp and who's
His Grace I'd like to know2'
Hes the Duke Of, sir; hand IN is
sarvant. The thieves nearly killed us,
sir, and ran hoff with hour 'osses. and 1
took shelter in 'ollow log, sir, for the
KILLED. I guess " said J Ioe shortly
"You coward! Why didn't you come
and help him, before it was too late!
Here, help me lift him-so; we'll take
him to my cabin"
Fortunately it was not far away, and
Joe, few hours later, had the satisfac-
ton of seeing his guest warmed, fed
and comforted, his cut sewed up, and
himself in fair way to recovery,
though still weak from the loss of blood.
As, utterly weary, the miner stepped 81
lently to the side of his bunk, to give
him one last reassuring glance before
seeking his own hard bed on the floor,
the sufferer reached out white, delicate
hand and caught Joe's hard, brown one
in warm clasp.
"My friend, what is your name?' he
asked, weakly.
Joe Brady, Your Lordship,'' said
the honest fellow, his heart fluttering a
little at being thus addressed by live
aristocrat.
The Dukes eyes opened wide. els it
possiblep Kismet, as l live! I must be
their providence if they are to be my
fate, and they closed again, YEARLY.
''Light-headed, l see," muttered Joe,
turning away. ""Tain't much wonder,
either-all he's gone through tonight.
Well; he'll be all right tomorrow, L
hope" and in five minutes Joe's shores
mingled with the doughty Millard's on
the cabin floor.
The Dukes was 4 mere fiesh-wound,
though deep one, and few weeks found
him able to return to Denver and civil
ization. after tempting Providence-or,
rather, two horse hieves-by his need
less winter journey over the mountains.
But in the daily intercourse of that hum
BILE cabin, among those homely, big
hearted miners, in the solitude of
the everlasting hills, class distinction
had grown to seem very insignificant
thing. The Duke might shine in draw
| inG-rooms and assemblies even in
Parliament, or among the first men of
old-world civilization - but here his
talents availed little. He was the one
| useless member of that small commun-
ity-a mere cumberer of the ground
| and yet, no. His very refinement and
| whole-souled gentlemanliness did them
a world of good, and left the little camp
| the better for his visit.
Before he left he took Joe apart for a
long walk, and when they parted it was
| like brothers, with moistened eyes and
| a long, close grasp of the hand, while
| as Duke and servant rode slowly out of
camp, they were followed by hearty
Good lucks'' and '.Good-byes' from the
whole community, ending in three
| cheers and tiger, which echoed and
| re-echoed from the frost-bound cliffs in
| wave after wave of heartiness and
| good cheer.
1t was poisoning time when our
| aristocratic voyagers were again driv-
! ing along the Beach road where we
| first beheld them-the Duke quite re-
stored to health, while Willard, utterly
unconscious ofany past dere1iction from
| duty, sat in solemn stiffness, and with
| folded arms, behind.
A boy, looking bit uncomfortable in
clean face and new suit, came hest
tatingly toward them.
"Coachy'' bowed gayly, and burst
into fit of riotous laughter at his
sheepish, hang-dog look.
Jimmy, you rake, come here he
cried, refining the steeds to a standstill.
Il want you to direct me to the black
smith shop in the hollow
| ''Say, you amt mad then, sir-mister
Your Grace-be you," cried Jimmy
in a relieved tone, springing into the
cart 81 don't care if you be Duke,
stead of coachman. You're an awful
| good one! Joe's here all right, and
SAILS so happy she don't know whether
| she's a-foot or a-horseback. The house
is all done and furnished, and we're
a-goin' to eat the weddin' supper there.
SAILS SO afraid you mayn't like every
thing that she's most crazy-and Joe
my! he bout worships you! He didn't
have to more'n show your letter when
they took him right on at the mills, and
1 tell you he makes a boss overseer, too.
He's put all your money that was left
| from the house into the bank for nest
! egg, and calls it the 'ducal fund Swell,
amt it? And say, you don't care, do
youp but spent half that double X you
| give me for cake-basket for Sally, and
| she was most tickled to death. Here
we are, and they're all awaiting on the
porch. Say, Coachy-Mr. Duke-Your
Lordship, L mean-Sal's goin' to kiss
you! [ heard Joe tell her to, myself. :"
Fanny e. Ne,0berry, IN Chicago
| Times.