River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-06-30

level of appetite. II seemed more and
more 10 the grizzled settler as If thirty
five years had dropped from his shout
dcrs, and he ate with the gusto of a boy.
.'No-y for the celebration" he ex-
claimed when the lunch was finished.
1T won't be big one such as they have
over ter IN CITY, but it'll be just as lively
fer its size"
\ dry sunfiOwer stalk. a remainder of
the previous years weed-growth, served
as a tiagpole. and upon it the tattered
banner was hoisted. The wind was
variable and the flag veered from side
To side. uncertain which way to extend
its folds.
Melancthon showed his charge how TO
fire the crackers, and shook with laugh
ter at her CAV cries of half-start'ed
merriment Then lie allowed her to
break the torpedoes against his great
rough boots and enjoyed her wonder
that he did not finch from the ordeal.
Then. when there were no more eX-
plosions possible. she sat down beside
her entertainer and he played on a fife
the old marching tunes: Yankee
Doodle, America, and other patriotic
airs.
Il learned EN- when / was young"
he explained. spreading the big blue
army coat to make her more comforta-
bile. IAN l amt played in a good while. -
Then, while her curly head rested
against his arm he told her of those
times when he was you g, which to-day
seemed very near To han, of the little
sister dear. Of the celeo. atoms. of the
war and of the fearful battles.
The curly head nodded. aud nodded.
and nodded, and when the story-teller
look for the big blue eyes they were
hidden. The child was asleep.
At the same moment he noticed that
great cloud-masses were rising in the
southwest and north.
Fourth of July always ends in =
rain" muttered MelancthOn. They
saw it's on .ccount of tn gunpowder.
Guess that's what's the matter now, ="
and he showed his teeth grimly. We'll,
there's no time 10 waste. If cyclones
comm tn haystack's as good a place as
any"
Carefully wrapping the child in the
huge coat on which she lay, and depos-
iting the flag by her side, he gathered
the little burden in his strong arms and
set out for the stack on the disputed
land, only a score of rods away.
The clouds above them We're nearly
together now and. though the wind
came from the north, the storm from
the south was whirling madly to meet
its adversary. 1t was growing dark,
and it was evident that the typical
prairie ''twister" was to be born in
moment.
As MelancthOn ran with his light
bundle of humanity toward the stack
he was suddenly conscious 81 another
rerson approaching the same possible
shelter. 1t was a woman and it did
not take a second glance TO show him
that it was his rival for tie possession
of the land on which they both stood
The first pattering drops of rain came
from the blackness overhead just as
both reached the goal
MY little jane gasped the woman.
'sShe is lost-have You seen hero
Nom: that is" started Lank, in 4
bewildered manner.
sOh! what shall | do? She will be
killed in the storm. She left the house
two hours ago when l did nor see her
and have looked everywhere for the
child -
4 sudden inspiration came to the
abashed man. He turned back the la
pei of the biz blue coat and exposed the
peacel U, pretty face of the sleeping
child
The delighted mother impetuously
leaned down and kissed the red checks
aud then said in that low, sweet voice:
Thank you 50 much. :"
That's all right. That's all right, A"
ierlNed out the man. and putting the
child down he began TO dig out of the
leeward side of the stack great hand
fuls Of hay, making a spacious recess
10 shelter them
The drenehing shower was upon