Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-05-26

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 d narrow ravine, the
sides OF which reached upward on either
hand.
= rafting of wheels caught her ear.
Nearer and nearer came the sound and
then over the crest of a little knoll in
advance came two horses heads, and be-
hind. creaking and swaying as the ami
mails dashed madIy down the declivity,
white canvas-cosered prairie schOon-
err" that familiar ship of the plains so
often freighted heavily with hope or
disappointment.
Frightened, yet witt. her wits about
her, Hester refined her horse to one
side :ss gathering her skirts 1eaped 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
strange sight. Then u crash. and then
the heavy wagon was lying on its side
among the dead sunfower stalks and
tumble weeds. while the furious horses,
broken loose from their fastenings, had
left the ravine and were tearing away
across the leve- prairie.
What have I 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. y mans form lay beneath it,
pinned down by a heavy cross-board
which had been a part of the wagon
box. y brass button on his coat told
that ne was not d 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 a patch of grass
dimpled with .iolets 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 a cry she started back and sank
for 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 vet comfortable
ca bin 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
ravages in the faces fullness and the
thin hands were almost CHASTITY in their
nervousness.
Having seen that the stranger was
lying quietly. Hester closed the door
behind her and taking her buggy set
off at the old horses best pace across
the prairie after the individual who
combined the professions of agriculture
and medicine for livelihood.
us IT, : you, Miss Hester?" asked
the jolly doctor as she rode up to his
cabin after a three miles journey.
Not sick, l hope" he added before
she could answer.
No. but" then she stopped, the
delicacy of the situation dawned upon
her sensitive mind and the faintest sus-
picion of blush freshened the wind
tanned cheek. You see it was this
way" she began, resolutely. Il took
a man from runaway an he's over to
tn house, unconscious. You must come
an fix him"
In moment the two were jogging
along over the plain. As they APP
preached the ''shack" Hester grew Wis