Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-02-10
DAY OF MARTYRDOM.

e slipping their respective por-
is of cold bottle of beer and list
hg to the whir of an electric fan
other night when the colonel grew
hiniscent.
Away before the war;" remarked
colonel musingly, "when [ was
sprouting my first whisKer-a
idle shanked, truant playing pro-
{ of the effete east-my father
me out into southwest Missouri
let braced up. I don't know what
the matter with me, but was all
down, and my father was con-
ced that a season on the Missouri
n of my uncle would prove bene-
hl alike to my mind and body. l
hit say before going farther that it
I babe my good mother sorrow
goodby, away back in New York
and in due course of time land
On the farm of my uncle. 1t was a
citation. The verdure clad hills,
breezes smelling spicy and sweet,
cold water from the well, whole
be food in large quantities, horses
| ride and a lovely pool to go in
INNING made a new boy of me in
b of a week. Barring the fact that
as compelled to retire with the rest
The family at O'Clock at night and
up at an hour in the morning
en- the dew on the grass felt to my
be feet like ice water, that farm was
hven. 1t was two heavens when [
acquainted with Melvina Drake.
Melvina Drake was about the four
nth child of a farmer living about
b miles nearer town than my uncle.
|r father, Solomon Drake, was the
brest man in the county. He was
brer than watered buttermilk, but
} incest, mildest hammered old man
b ever saw. His wife was skinny
low, God forsaken looking, over
rked woman, with no pleasure in
re for her but death. Both were
and honest, but they
some kind of hoodoo on them.
ey were old residents in that part
the country, and their ancestors
4 been there before them, but as
back as the memory of man could
tend the brakes had always been
or-as my uncle said, pore as
1cks.' About all the brakes SEEM
fitted for was increasing the popu-
ion and getting hold of horses that
nldn't draw anything but flies.
AS I was saying, Melivina was the
of the Drake brood, and
3 was a dream. [ guess she was Is
ars, big and sweet and healthy. Her
eeks were as rosy and clear as a
ssouri apple, and her eyes were big
d blue. And she was so doggone
accent that hope may die if it
INIT use to embarrass me like thun-
r.
Consequences was, got mashed
Melvina, hard mashed I don't
lieve a stronger case of calf love
er developed in the whole state of
ssouri. If I saw one of my cousins
any other boy talking to her, I
,uld go to some secluded spot
d cry and butt my soft noddle
ainst tree. At night I used to lie
rake and dream myself a hero. I
ed to imagine Melvina tearing down
e road on fiery steed, with certain
ath staring her in the face, and me
ming up suddenly and unexpected,
,pping the horse and rescuing her,
staining in the operation a broken
? and other bruises. Then I'd i'm
inc Melvina nursing me back to
e, and finely marrying me. My head
as full of such stuff.
"One day, along in June, there
me out our way a wagon loaded
it'll circus bills, pastepots and bill
ickers, and they shattered the coun-
yside with signs announcing that the
eat Egypto-Africano Circus and
was to show in town or
e Fourth of July. When [ left home
Y father gave me SO, and I had
ost of it left. / made up my
ind that l would take Melvina tC
e circus, and directly my dreams al
ght took the form of monster lior
Ishing at her with open mouth and
e engaging the lion just as he was
,out to grab her, and choking him
death with one hand.
"The next time I saw Melvina-]
'ed to see her every day; in fact,
lme pretty near being with her al
Ie time-I asked her if she'd 60 tic
le circus. thought she'd faint. Hel
res opened wide, and SO did hel
outh, and establishment was en-
-aved on every line of her counter
nee. She was SO overcome with Joy