Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-06-18
A LOST HERO.
BY ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS AND HERBER
WARD


BY ELIZABETH STUART PHELPS AND HERBERT D.
WARD.
The express from Columbia was due.
1t was almost 8 o'clock on Tuesday
night, the 31st of August, 1886. 1t had
been hot day, sultry toward night, and
the loungers at the Summerv;lle station
were divided between pitving and
envying their neighbors on the excur-
sion train. In such weather home
seems either the most intolerable OF
the most comfortable place in the world.
Tt had not rained for six weeks, and
South Carolina painted.
There was larger crowd than usual
at the little station to see the Columbia
excursionists come in. The enterprise
of the Summerville merchant who
placarded the pine-trees of this forest
village with legends to the effect that
his ice-cream would be found Opp. the
tdepot" was we'll rewarded that scorch-
ing night. The streets thrOnged-if
Summerville streets can ever be said to
throng-With warm and thirsty loungers
of both sexes and of every color.
South Carolinians though they were,
they objected to the heat of that day
In the group at the station stood a
white boy about 10 years old-a neatly
dressed, well-behaved little fellow, with
an expression of crushing and delight
full responsibility. He wandered back
and forth restlessly and proudly from
the track to a tree in the square, where
an old horse and wagon were fastened
with unnecessary security. The boy
tested the halter and patted the horse
continually.
1t was very important thing to drive
two miles in the dark for ones father
and bring him home from the 8 O'Clock
express. Add to this situation the ex-
element of an excursion, and Denny
De None felt that life lacked nothing
more to the position and dignity of man
hood. Besides, Denny was very fond
of his father, and had not seen him for
two weeks.
Now there there was one curious thing
about this crowd which would have
been noticeable to a stranger, but had
not as yet attracted the attention of the
residents This was the extraordinary
number of animals that seemed to be
waiting for this train. One would have
thought that half the dogs in the neigh
borhood had relatives coming from Col
almb;a.
Stray goats and mules gazed expect
antly up and down the track Cats had
followed their owners from the houses,
and betrayed their devotion by SUBJ
dued squeals from under their masters
regardless heels A brindle-brown pig
Wiggl5 ed its way among the crowd, grunt-
ing with persistent uneasiness; while a
couple of wandering COWS, unmolested
by the strangely restless dogs, passed
and repassed the railroad crossing, bel
lowing nonotonously. The horses at
the station exhibited curious discomfort,
and Denny De Mone's venerable nag,
ben Bow" astoGished the community
by pulling at his halter.
While the boy stood valiantly holding
the bride, an old negro came up and
pulled his sleeve. He was shabby old
negro. His lean knees protruded
through his trousers mass of patches
from under which the original material,
like the jackknife in the mental phil
osophy problem, had wholly disap-
peared. It was especially noticeable
that tufts Of white hair found their way
through the holes in his coon-skin cap.
Across his shoulder he carried bundle
sknotted into an old red handkerchief
with a polka spot.
Say, boss, cud We tell me whar a
poah niggah cud fine bit O. kivered
hay to sleep on an mouful O pone in
de mauhnin? Use footed it clean from
whar my dahter, Juno 500, is a-dyin' OBJ
fever. She amt long fob dis wohl.
Use got money huff fob de brefust.
We looked wistfully at, the lad Don
ny answered with the heartiness of a
child who has been brought up to think
of others.
1'My fathor will tell when he comes
in. | expect him every minute. But
why don't you 90 to Kittie B-?" He
mentioned the name of woman well
known in Summerville foF strong char
acter and wise benevolence. "She
lives up the track there Anybody
will show you-she'n help you. She's
the best colored woman in town."
The old man turned away without
answering. Perhaps he thought this a
pleasant device on the boys part to get
rid of him Perhaps he meant to follow
his counsel. Who can say? He plod-
ded slowly up the track and disap-
peared in the darkness.
Now while Denny stood holding Ben
Bow by the bride, the old horse reared,
plunged violently, snapped his halter
and broke away. The boy, at the same
instant, was hurled to the ground The
ringing of hoofs and whir of wheels
made strange sensations in his ears.
He thought what a fool he was to be
knocked down by old Ben Bow
Then he tottered to his feet Com
plete darkness had come There was
an unearthly silence. Then a moan
theI4 howl and shrek arose, which
reached from group to group, from
house to house, from square to forest
Human and animal cries blended in one
f1ifao11c ar1paal for raQpou
Again the unknown power smote the
raging sea- 1t rocked-it rolled. Terri
fed, the child no longer attempted to
stand. He got down on his hands and
knees and crawled.
The trees whistled overhead. Flocks