The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-03-23
LORD BYRON'S BOY.

LORD BYR0N'S BOY.
Lord Byron and Jimmy Kerr were
eoiling up the hill toward home. The
1saveiing was not very good, but they
aid not mind this much. Lord Byron
and Jimmy Kerr were not so very
good. either, it may as well be acknowl-
edged. If they had been truly good,
ehey would not have fingered at the
Eagle Bird saloon until such an u1,-
1eemly hour, when Fred Parks (pro-
Prietor of the corral where they had
left their horses) and all other reputa-
BILE people in Chloride Flats were
asleep. They had gone, after mature
and potatious consideration, to secure
1heir horses for the ride home; but,
Anasmuch as it was one-thirty a. M,
and the stables and corral-gate were
securely locked, they had decided to
walk home-neither of them, they con-
dded to each other, ever did like riding,
anyhow.
Gold" calculated Lord Byron, in
response to remark from his COM
Ssznion, who plodded rod or two be-
bind, as usual-"cold? Say, Jim, this'd.
drive a cast-iron statue in off green
lawn. jim! wherein hell be We, any
bow? Oh, y're right yere, be We?
Didn't know but what ye was back
about las Chris mas Il summers. Wa-al,
belly up, an irrigate; this Is this Christ
mas. an we don't want no sluggards
I'm the celebratin exercises--so git a
move on!'
''Wah-h." said Mr.. Kerr, as he &C
.eepted Lord Byron's invitation; "wa-ah!
that sho' hits tn spot"
- cIo IN roc Gil o.
eriend. That is good, an here's how"
And Lord Byron lifted the bottle to
his own bearded lips, and held it there
Cor several seconds.
Mother, Jim?' inquired Lord Byron.
GO to it, son; it may carry ye home
Z won't. Wa-al, we better fade out
d. this, son. Come on"
They had struggled on few rods,
when Lord Byron halted. "Hor on,
Jim? Did ye hear that?'
"Whnt?"
"W'y, didn't ye hear some un' a-hol-
aerin', jes' now? Listen"
A faint cry came down to them, borne
by the Wild wind from point on the
trail ahead
"Come enH' said Lord Byron. Sounds
like "a woman cryin'! Hurry, Jim.
Hill"
Lord Byron and the faithful James
hurried on, and, presently, coming to
where the trail turned to go across
the hills into the valley, over to the
"B H. ranch, they came upon the au-
thor Of the cries they had heard.
1t was, as they could see by the light
of Jim's lantern, a small boy, about
twelve years old, and, he told them,
he was trying to find the ''B H. ranch.
tie had started from the Flats after the
arrival of the evening train, and, losing
his way, had, very sensibly, stopped
at the old dug-out by the cutoff to
wait until some one should come along.
Lord Byron did not wait to 1sk ques-
fions-it was too cold. 'Grab a-holt
Jim, an come on he commanded
and the homeward march was resumed
mot very steadily, but still in the prop
or direction, generally speaking.
"Who be We, boy?' asked Lord By
ron, when, about half-past three, he
and Jim and the young stranger, after
q snack and something to thaw then
out, sat before the open fireplace il
the big living-room, getting warm.
"pm Mark Dunton, and pa sent me
out here. He said t. come t. Byron
Hutchins an say he sent me here,
responded the boy, incoherently
Eyre Mark Dunton's boy?" asked
his big hand on the boys shoulder
. MARKS boy! Where's pa?" ..
Big tears came into the lads eyes
and there was q great sob in his throat
'tH-he's dead, mister
.'Hor on, boy-hor on; les go SCI
ma" And Lord Byron picked up tn
now crying boy and carried him int
Mrs Hutchins, who, arrayed in no
very immaculate wrapper, was jus
about coming from her room to discus
the late-hour question with her recrean
spouse.
Mark stayed. The Hutchins .wer
not blessed with "ary chick mr. kid,
as Lord Byron expressed it; and if the
had been it would have been all til
same. Mark Dunton, the elder, ha
I,een. according to Lord Byron's state
ment. 9Th best man th't drawe
breath''-and all the love the old ma
and his kind-hearted wife could LAWS
they considered none too much fO
Mark Dunton's son.
Mark proved to be good boy, in th
main True, he was bit waywart
and inclined to be weakly led into a
sorts Of scrapes; but he was so fran
and open. and, when he had been gui
ty Of any small misdeed, was alway
80 honestly sorry ana ueeply fepenIan
that, maybe, his foster-parents love
him all the more for his occasions
1apses from rectitude.
Lord Byron and Boy as he inval
ably called Mark, were almost insepa
able. When Mark was not at scho
he was invariably to be found Wi
4IJncle Bly, 1t was good thing Il
the boy, this companionship. The o
mans exterior was rough; but benea
it beat the kindest. truest heart; an
in his talks with Mark, his uncou
speech carried many good lesson