The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-05-27

plain stretched away to the unbrolken
curve of the horizon without another
CLEAN to relieve it's uniformity.
The meadowlarks, balancing them
selves on long weed stalks forgotten by
the winds of winter, saw it, and with
gleeful trills scared away. A big-eyed
rabbit beside the path gazed at it in
wonder, and then, as the banner gave a
sudden, quick toss, scampered for a
grass clump.
Folks probably think I'm foolish or
crazy" unused Hester, talking to the
horse, for want of better company.
But don't care. Their amt nobody
here ez will take hold an remember tn
boys tibet fell, an SO I'll do it. l amt
forgot it in twenty years, an don't in
tend ter begin now. It's all right, any
way, fer--Whoa. What's that?"
She had left the high prairie and was
driving through a narrow ravine, the
sides of which reached upward on either
hand.
rafting of wheels caught her ear.
Nearer and nearer came the sound and
advance came two horses heads, and be-
hind creaking and swaying as the ami
mails dashed madly down the declivity,
a white canvas-covered prairie schoon-
err" that familiar ship of the plains SO
often freighted heavily with hope or
disappointment.
Frightened, yet with her wits about
-.
side and gathering her skirts leaped to
the ground. A white face showing in
side the approaching wagon determined
her to stop the runaway at any cost.
Snatching the flag by its staff from
her buggy, she suddenly waved it with
all her strength directly in the path of
the horses, now so nearly upon her.
With a bound they leaped backward
and then aside, bewildered by the
strange sight. Then crash! and then
the heavy wagon was lying on its side
among the dead sunflower stalks and
tumble weeds, while the furious horses,
broken loose from their fastenings, had
left the ravine and were tearing away
across the level prairie.
What have done?" moaned Hester,
her nervous strength vanishing as she
saw the chaos at her feet.
A groan from the heap of wheels,
boards and canvas at the foot of the
little bluff aroused her.
Going to the heap of debris she tore
away the cloth from the top of the
wagon. A mans form lay beneath it,
pinned down by a heavy cross-board
which had been a part of the wagon
box. A brass button on his coat told
that he was not a stranger to the flag
she had waved, and with stouter heart
she set to work to drag him from his
position.
At last she succeeded and had laid the
now fainting form on patch of grass
dimpled with violets that lurked in the
recesses of the ravine. She turned the
form over and wiped the dirt and blood
from the clean-shaven face.
With cry she started back and sank
for a moment helpless beside her
charge. Then with an effort she pulled
her strength together and went on with
her task
Reverently she wrapped the stars and
stripes around the stranger, and some
how managed to lift him into the old
surrey. Then with one arm steadying
the unconscious man she turned the
horse homeward.
Stretched out on the scrupulously
clean bed in the plain yet comfortable
cabin he was not bad looking. A frank,
boyish expression was on the still face,
and yet gray hairs told of a mans
years. Sickness had evidently made