Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-10-18
MARTYRDOM

We're slipping their respective pOft1OnS OF
a cold bottle Of beer and listening to the
whir Of an electric fan the other night
when the colonel grew reminiscent.
''Away before the war; remarked
the colonel musingly, swhen was just
sprouting my first whisker-a spindle
ehanked, truant playing product of the
effete east-my father sent me out into
southwest Missouri to get braced up. |
don't know what was the matter with
me, but I was all run down, and my
father was convinced that a season on
the Missouri farm of my uncle would
prove beneficial alike TO my mind and
body. might say before going farther
that it did.
81 babe my mother n sorrowfnl good
by, away back in New York city. and i'll
due course of time landed on the farm
of my uncle. 1t was a revelation. The
yerdure clad hills, the breezes smelling
spicy and sweet, the cold water from
the well, wholesome food in large quan-
titles, horses to ride and a lovely pool
to 90 swimming in made a new boy of
me in week. Barring the fact that |
was compelled to retire with the rest Of
the family at o'clock at night and get
up at all hour in the morning when the
dew Oh the grass felt to my bare feet
like ice water, that farm was heaven. 1t
was two heavens when got acquainted
with Melvina Drake.
"Melyina Drake was about the four
teenth child of a farmer living about
two miles nearer town than my uncle
Her father, Solomon Drake, was the
poorest man in the county. He was
poorer than watered buttermilk, but the
incest mildest hammered old man you
ever saw. His wife was skinny, sal
low, God forsaken looking, oyerworked
woman, with no pleasure i'll store for
her but death. Both were hardworking
and honest, but they had some kind OF
hoodoo on them. They were old resi-
denters in that part OF the country, and
their ancestors had been there before
them, but as far back as the memory of
man could extend the brakes had al
ways been poor-as my uncle said,
pore as shucks. About all the brakes
seemed fitted for was increasing the
population and getting hold Of horses
that couldn' draw anything but flies.
GAS I was saying, Melvina was about
fhs fourteenth of the Drake brood, and
she was dream. I guess she was about
j6 years, big and sweet and healthy.
Her cheeks were as rosy and clear as
Missouri apple, and her eyes were big
and blue. And she was SO doggone in
nocent that hope I may die if it didn't
use 10 en- ;,arrass me like thunder.
Consequences was, I got mashed on
Melvina, hard mashed | don't be-
lieve stronger case OF calf love ever
developed in this whole state Of Mis-
souri,. If I saw one of my cousins Or any
other boy talking to her, would go to
some secluded spot and cry and butt my
soft neddle against tree At night l
s1sed to lie awake and dream myself
hero. used to imagine MslFina tear
ing down the road on fiery steed, with
certain death staring her in the face,
ard me coming up unexpectedly, stop-
ping the horse and rescHing her, sustain
ing in the operation broken leg and
sundry other bruises. Then To imagine
nielyina nursing me back to life, and
finally n.arrying me. My head was full
OF such stuff.
Zone day, along in June, there came
out our way wagon loaded with circus
bills. pastepots and bill stickers, and
they shattered the countryside with
signs announcing that the great EgyptQ-
Africane Circus and MenageGies was to
show III town Oh the Fourth OF july.
When I left home. my father gave NE
$40, and had most Of it left made
np my mind that I would take Melvina
TO the circus, and directly my dreams at
night took the form Of monster lion
rushing at her with open mouth and me
engaging the lion just as lie was abQll
to grab her, and choking him to death
with one hand.
'"The next time I saw Melvina--1
used to see her every day; i'll fact, I
came pretty near being with her all the
time-I asked her il she q 60 to the Cir
eus. ] thought she'd faint. Her eyes
opened wide, and so did her mouth, and
establishment was engraved on every
line OF her coantenance. She was SO
overcome with joy that she just sat
down and cried. I sat down, too, and
that was the first time | ever kissed her
"Young man, that kiss is sacred
memory with me- | have experienced q
good many sensations in my time, but
Che senation Of kissing Q handsome,
|Duxom southwest Missouri girl righb
square Oh the soft. sweet lips, while ting
tears from her heavenly eyes are running
down and making pearly drops on youe
budding mustache, is something better
than all of them put together.
HAnd when. like Melvina, she rpts
peg brewn, bare arms around your neck
usad kisses back - ons Of ttoss long.
clinging kisses that Ella Wheeler Wilcex
writes about-words are supsrauons.
But I have often wondered since I have
become calloused and cynical, where
Melyina learned to kiss. She was rev.
citation to me.
"Finally the glorious Fourth casne
around, and I got ready for the circus. I
might explain here that 1 had brought
suit of stoye clothes and pair of shoes
from the east with me, but l had never
worn the clothes OF the farm and sell
dom wore the shoes. Everybody down in
that section went barefooted, boys and
men, and I did as the Romans did. This
Fourti, of July morning I put Oh billed
shirt, my fstore clothes, my shoes and
socks. and brushed and eleansd myself
until was positively uncomfortable.
"After breakfast, followed by the
good natured but cutting 'joshing' OF
my relatives, started down the road
20 meet MelYina. had arranged with
her to walk tq town, figuring gu the
walk back in the moonlight, when We
could hold hands as we strolled along
the road and siobbef over each other.
My uncle wanted us to 60 in the wagon
with him and his family, but was too
Wise.
II was two miles ts the Drake cabin
and fogr miles to iown: I was to meet
Alelyina at ting turn in the road just be-
low her fathers house. Tbs SUP was
about two hours high and cast long
shadows OIL the ground as I trudged
aiong to the trysting place.
If relaemhrsr [ took ont my barlow