Connecticut western news., 1896-01-30
MARTYRDOM

"A Dh | UT M i IL l ! lCDOM
 The colonel and the young reporter were slipping their respective portions 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, "when I was just sprouting my first whisker-a spindle thanked, truant playing product of the effete east--my father sent me out into southwest Missouri to get braced up. I don't know what was the matter with me, but 1 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.
 II bade my mother sorrowful good by, away back in New York city, and in due course of time landed on the farm of my unclo. It was revelation. The verdure clad hills, the breezes smelling spicy and sweet, the cold water from the well, wholesome food in large quan titles, horses to ride and lovely pool to ge swimming in nude new boy Of me in Q week. Barring the fact that was compelled to retire with the rest of the family at 0 o'clock at night and get up at an hour in the morning when the dew on the grass felt to my bare feet like ice water. that farm was heaven. It was two heavens when l got acquainted with Melvina Drake.
 "Melvina Drake was about the four teenth child of 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 in store for her but death. Both were hardworking and honest, but they had some kind of a hoodoo on them. They were old resi- depters 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 Drakes had al- ways been poor-as my uncle saHd, pore as shucks' About all the Drakes seemed fitted for was increas' 'ng the population and getting hold of horses that couldn't draw anything but flies. "As was saying, Melvina was about the fourteenth of the Drake brood, and she was dream. guess she was about l6 years, big and sweet and healthy. Her cheeks were as rosy and clear as a Missouri apple, and her eyes were big 1l cl in nocent that hope I may die if it didn't use to embarrass me like thunder.
 Consequences was, got mashed on | Melvina, hard mashed I don't be- lieve Q 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 noddle against q tree. At night l used to lie awake and dream myself a hero l used to imagine Melvina tear ing down the road on fiery steed, with certain death staring her in the face, and me coming up unexpectedly, stop- ping the horse and rescuing her, sustain ing in the operation a broken leg and sundry other bruises Then I'd imagine Melvina nursing me back to life. and finally marrying me. My head was full | of such stuff.
 "One day, along in June, there came out our way 0 wagon loaded with circus bills, pastepots and bill stickers, and they slathered the countryside with signs announcing that the great Egypto- Africano Circus and Menageries was to show in town on the Fourth of July. When I left home, my father gave me $10, and thad most of 1t left. l made up my mind that I would take Melvina to the circus. and directly my dreams al night took the form of Q monster ho1 rushing at her with open mouth and me engaging the lion just as he was abou' to grab her, and choking him to death with one hand.
 "The next time I saw Melvina-l used to see her every day; in fact, came pretty near being with her all tho time-I asked her if she'd go to the cir cus. 1 thought she'd faint. Her eye' opened wide, and so did her mouth, ant astonishment was engraved on every line of her countenalce. She was e overcome with joy that she just sa down and cried. I sat down, too, ant that was the first time ever kissed her
 "Young man, that kiss is sacret memory with me. I have experienced [ good many sensations in my time, br the senation of kissing a handsome buxom southwest Missouri girl righ square on the soft, sweet lips, while tn
 tears from her heavenly eyes are rnnpipI down and making pearly drops on you
 budding mustache, is something bette
 than all of them put together.
 .;Isnd when, like Melyina, she put her brown, bare arms around your necl and kisses bacss - cue of those long clinging kisses that Eiia Wheeler Wilco.
 writes about-words are supertnous
 But have often wondered, since hay
 become calleused and cynical, wher ] Melvina learned to kiss. She was rev
 elation to me.
 Finally the glorious Fourth cam around, and I got ready for the circus. might explain here that had brough suit of store clothes and a pair of shoe
 from the east with me, but had neve
 worn the clothes on the farm and sel
 dom wore the shoes Everybody down il
 that section went harefooted, boys an
 men, and I did as the Romans did. Thi n Fourth of July morning put on a bile { shirt, my store clothes, ny shoes an
 socks. and brushed and cleaned mysel
 until I was positively uncomfortable. "After breakfast, followed by tn good natured but cutting ioshina' (