Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-28
HE ExcAvATEp WITT A v1GoR.

breathed. when earth began to cover its
own his task became easier. He finished
it, tramped back across the field with the
spade, and they resumed their ride.
An expression of intensity came out ON
Judith's face The Colonel showed quiet
smile, but he kept an alert and brightened
eye upon her.
Without much talk thus they rode on to
Newark.
The procession was already moving in
the principal streets; a gorgeous pageant
full of banners, flower garlanded carriages,
brass bands, the sweet faces of children
and the gray heads of honored old men. Be-
hind this array came molly gang of human
rag bags, masked and playing pranks,
mounted on lean nags.
Small boys exploded fire crackers on the
pavements. Cannons doomed as they had
been booming since daybreak The crash
and extravaganza of typical Independence
Day stirred all of Judith's blood with de-
light.
"Go and take that old woman to safe
seat" said the girl, suddenly. She will
get hurt.'
The old woman indicated was profess
sional beggar, who had chosen the curb as
her best vantage ground.
The Colonel beckoned to colored man
and paid him silver to stand at his horses
heads. Then he went to the old woman,
and with her formed the center of a dense
crowd which thronged close to hear him
argue with her. She was, deaf, blind, dumb
and palsied by turns. She was lame, she
was liable to fall in a fit. A five-dollar note
would not move her to any other seat, but
when his bid reached ten dollars she let
him lift her, and hobbled on his arm to a
chair within a barber's shop, where he
gave her an additional five dollar piece and
paid the barber to let her stay, lest she
should return to her perch and his tasl
| would have to be repeated.
Part of the crowd took him for a tender
minded philanthropist, and gave him advice
| as to where he might soak his head. Others
| inquired if she was his long-lost mother
| and a lot of boys clamored after him fol
| fre-crackers, promising to move in AM
! direction he indicated.
| Without word he returned to his car
| rage. He had just taken up the rein!
| when cries arose from the procession; will
| lightning swiftness space opened for {
| frantic horse, and it few, dragging The
| rider by the stirrup
80 catch that horse?" screamed Judith
She would have given her life to take thu
words back as the Colonel sprang from hel
| side. She wrung her hands and covered
| down upon the floor of the carriage, seeing
1
] hid her face and prayed alone as people in
| stinctively do in utter helplessness. The
| thuds and the raging clatter ceased; an al
| ready excited multitude shouted, and she
raised her face to see the Colonel stepping
up beside her. He was covered with dust
one coat sleeve was torn of. He had 9
| bruise above his eye
ssThere's your horse,'' he said, fitting hi.
head toward the runaway. Plenty of meI
now held and soothed it, and stretchel
was already provided for it's injured rider
He was to be taken to the hospital.
| Judith set quite still beside the Colone
cession.
"Well, that's three,'' tailed the Colonel
| "Only one more"
.sAnd Pm going to ask that now"
"Let fellow breathe,'' suggested the
Colonel, and get himself repaired. The
business houses are all closed. can't ever
get coat. So we most hunt for dinner In
some inconspicuous spot"
81 won't let you breathe twice till asl
| the last thing" said Judith. 81 love YOU
| now with all my might. love you for pa
tience love you for gentleness. love
you for heroism My heart will burst,
love you so!''
"This is hard" murmured the Colonel
"when l can't even kiss your hand before
this crowd"
"Never mind My soul Is on it's knee.
kissing your hands. And we have thu
years"
Eyes, we have the yearsr'
/ "But the last thing I shall ask will b.
/ hardest of all. And it j never to mention
these tasks that set you again"
| "Why, that's no task at all"
81 think, may be, it might be in the lonl
rum" said Judith, sagely, ''for some
men, but not for you. will remember
them will remember them as four grea
/ labors.'
| "Of the wild buffalo," said the laughing
| Colonel.
| Then, having turned into desertei
street, he bent over and received her kiss
| n 81. CATHERwooD.