Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-21
CHAPTER ".

IEnt rs II DlIu nv lpph'u NJ NV HauusDlHe
children and my graceful, intellectual hus-
band. A little color was on hrs cheek be-
tokoning the return of health, and l
walked on IN happy dream.
In an absent way saw Charlie climb
into the empty cart, for the story was
ended. and stand laughing and chattering
10 his sister, who was holding Teddie up
20 the back Of the cart making believe she
would put him in.
Nv husband was talking to the teamster.
"They look tired-how far have they been
to-day 2"
Not so fur. It's the heat and the lack
OF water that worrite them. You see. sir.
the creeks and branches are pretty nigh
all dried M in our neighborhood, end
started OF this morning and didn't draw no
water for thin out the well. | 'pinted 10
let 'em drink nc the mill where | cyard the
corn. but didn't. / lot 'em wait now till
we cits home. IT'S so mortal hot in
tho river-bottom / hates to 90 there.
Whoa. Jim, what YOU doin'?"
William made some suggestion about
being merciful TO his beast.
"Ior, yes. ismerciful. Why there amt
no steers like mino anywhere. They Is
lust rollin' in fat. Whoa, Lemonl IL you
crazy? Git back, git hack. IT'S this turnln'
10 tho river, sar that makes 'em wild for
water" Then came a volley of osths and
thoman beat them furiouslv in their faces
with his heavy whip-staf. William ran TO
take the child from the cart. but the little
fellow. seeing no danger, was bending. over
demonstrating with the man about striking
his new favorites and was quite out OF
reach Of his fathers arms, and so before he
could be rescued the oxen had put their
heads low down and in spite of every en-
deavor on the drivers part dashed off un-
der tho overhanging boughs straight TO
tho river.
The rope with which the man had been
guiding them only complicated matters;
for il tangled about his feet and dragged
him some wards down the hill md then
broke, leaving him much bruised and
hurt. Screaming TO Nellie and led 10 re
main where thew were William and fol-
lowed the cart, distanced, of course, every
moment by the flying oxen.
Charlie was standing erect, holding one
little hand to his father. He was white as
death. but perfectly quiet. lie knew tho
danger then.
For some time we rnu on in hopeless ST.
lence down the hill. for we knew that the
river flowed between deep banks Just at
its foot. and towards it the oxen directed
their course.
At length the suspense and exertion be
came too great for william. He put his
hand over his heart, the color left his
cheek-he staggered as he ran.
I'VE will trust our child in Gods keep
ing. You mustrest now | said, and put
nv strong arm about him and balt-slp-
ported him to tho shade Of tree by the
roadside. for We had left the woods oythis
time.
IF our little one must die now he is
still in the care of the Everlasting Father"
said softly again. Let us trust to Him."
God he thanked for you, my precious
wife" he murmured. go on Will
come" His eyes closed YEARLY, and he
sank back in o dead faint.
had been strengthened by my. own
words. the choking feeling had passed, and
I went on again, though | kr0o what |
would sec at the next turn end shivered
as ran. Again caught sight of the cart
going at fearful speed down the hill:
When il was within ten feet OF the river |
could run no longer. | stood still and
PRAYED that might faint.
But who is that in this lonely placel A
tall. slender old man is hobbling up the
bank with his rifle in his hand. lie stands
quite still moment TO steady himself.
4" Lie down. Charlie" he commands. The
little militia captain obeys instantly.
Then there is o deafening crash OF fire
arms, which echoes among the hills. The
oxen lean up into the air and all is blotted
out by thick clouds Of smoke.
/ think the danger over and sink down
upon the ground in rapture OF JOY and
thaukfulness. But no, terrible battle Is
vet TO be fought The oxen had indeed re-
ceived a bullet IN their brains, but IN tho
moments that must elapse 'ere they took
effect they were plunging forward to the
river.
Major Royden was standing before them
beating them back with the butt-end OF
his gun. II was terrible sight TO see the
old man matching his strength against that
Of the infuriated beasts. If be could hold
tho bank for FIVE minutes against tho al
vancinc enemy, probably all would be
well-Otherwise there would be the death
of two human beings. for to do or die "
was written all over his battle-scarred face.
/ cannot tell you how he did IT, for IN my
anguish ] looked oftener 20 the closed
body Of the cart for some glimpse of my
child than al his defender.
But saw strokes quick as lightning de-
scending through the smoke. | saw the
CLEAN Of the red handkerchief which be
Haunted ut them to allure them from the
deep bank they were approaching. ! saw
the stiff. ungalnly figure transformed by
the energy Of his spirit till l could scarcely
recognize him.
Then / saw that no was going slowly
backward backward. fighting as he went.
Finally / saw one of the oxen lunge for
ward, rear. fall, and lo still in death; the
other, too, sprang TO the brink OF the
downward slope and there stretching him.
self upon the green turf he gave up the
battle forever. But the old man, ] could
not SEQ him. In that moment | did not
think of the little boy first. My whole
soul went ont in thankfulness and love to
the brave old man who had stood between
him and death. =,
ran as fast as my shaking limbs would
carry me 20 the spot. The stiffness awed
me. The rush of the river down below
was the only sound that | heard. The
broken gun and tattered handkerchief Law
on the ground, but the old Major! l
looked ut the river. There at the foot of
the steep, sloping bank 1t was dark and
treacherous. and gave no answer. On the
ground lay the rods and lines with which
no had been fishing when startled by the
laundering approach of the cart and oxen.
A dead hawk, a powder-fask, and for
eign-looking newspaper were all that met
my eve. 1t was growing agonizlng:. Then
/ looked where the first OK had fallen. A
clump Of low-growing Kalmia stood
among some gray boulders before unob-
served, and there found him.
IIUDg backward Nv SlIoht pI Jupiter .
horn. he Law AGAINST the dark Kalmia sup
ported by It's branches.
Perfectly deathlike he looked with the
cash. the last of many years, showing out
wildly on his pale forehead. / remember
running down for water, searching his
pockets for spirits, though uselessly; speak
ing to him. calling 10 him. implOring HIM
to speak to me. and finally sinking beside
him to sob upon the grass.
Charlie was not like the steadfast CASH
blanca, and he crept out of the cart and
came crying to me to love and comfort
him after his terrible fright. j took him
in my arms, but could not say anything
for nv tears.
| knew-I knew the old man was dead
and that this was punishment TO me for
the cruel way in which | had despised him
and so many of Gods harmless creatures
unpleasing men and women, who had lived
their troubled poor lives Az THEY COULD
and sadly enough at best without any scOTH
from those younger and happier than they.
| had taken 1t upon myself to try him be-
fore a woman's court OF Justice; the de-
clsiOn had been against him, and now!
The one | had condemned had been q
hero and had died 10 attest it
| saw after awhile that as the teamster
and then my husband came up and looked
upon the little scene their faces paled.
" He is dead" said the carter simply
feeling the old mans heart. 1t was true
and this was the Majors last battle.