Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-15

be. Just like one of her queer no.
tions," said one. But it'll be blessin'
to poor dumb brutes, just the same"
said another, and third neighbor de-
clared that nothing on earth could
tempt her to have public watering
trough put up in front of her house.
The men within mile around
thought it was just the thing, and be-
gan to wonder why they hadn't taken
up a collection and got one themselves
long ago.
But when in a. few days a handsome
iron drinking fountain was brought out
from the city and set up at one end of
the long stone trough, and bright
lineup was chained thereto, people said;
''Wcll, Miss Penelope does beat all for
dom deeds of mercy!"
And the lady in question, sitting on
her vinc-wreathed porch, said to her
self, as she watched the thirsty school
children stopping on their way homo
from school in the hot summer after
moons: Il really couldn't spare that
$50 very we'll, but can do without the
new mating I was going to get, and
Tn going to make over my best dress
and pinch along ar;hile to make up for
it, and the dollar month extra water
tax won't be very much. Anyhow I'm
going to enjoy it."
And she did enjoy 1t. What pleasure
it was the next time 4 band of sheep
came through to see the thirsting crca-
lures crowd and push around the low
stone trough, full to the brim with clear,
cold water and how eagerly the jaded
horses dropped their heads forward to
the welcome draught. And 10 less sat
isicd was she to see the dusty shepherds
lift awllwardly their wide sombrercs
as they d;smounted and caught
glimpse of her before they drank cup
full after cupful from the iron fountain.
All this filed Miss pccclope's queer
soul with intense satisfaction. Who
so giveth q cup OF cold watcr"-sAe
thought to herself, "E1aybe it's just as
much decd Of mercy rs to send money
to the heathen."
One morning Miss Penelope, as was
her custom, worked among her flowers,
digging around the rose-tree with her
sharp little hoe, turning UP the earth
with her trowel, and tying up a sagging
vine here and there. Suddenly she
heard down The road the unmistala-
BILE herald of an approaching herd of cat
tlc-the confused lowing OF 4 hundred
plunging and plodding COWS min
glcd with the whistles and peculiar
cries and calls Of the attendant cowboys
who in wide felt sombreros and pet
uresque attire rode at each side of the
moving mass OF tossing horns and
rough-coated bodies.
Miss Penelope dropped her garden
tools and wentup the steps OF the porch.
1t was the way she paid herself fol-
the expense and trouble of setting up
the drinking place-this quiet enjoy
meut of hers in the cagerncss and salts
faction of the poor creatures, weary
with the travel of many miles over dusty
roads.
As she sat thus, locking out across
the cypress hedge upon the surgins
crowd of cattle, panic-striclien child
pushed open the gate and ran up the
walk. "Oh, Miss Penelope" she cried
out, shrilly, "let me come where you
are! I'm afraid of the cows"
Miss Penelope rose and went down
the steps, How womanly and tender
she looked as she reached hand down
10 the little girl and smiled 'reassuring-
ly. The cattle were crowling around
the long, stone trough and darlt-cyed,
weather-bronzed cowboy leaned from
his mustang and helped himself to
drink from the fountain. AS he did so
he heard the chiId's frightened cry and
saw the pretty, womarly little picture.
As he drank he studied the woman's
face furtively from the shadow of his
wide sombrero and a sudden look OF
wonder seemed to cone into his deep
eyes. But he assisted the others in
keeping the struggling herd under con-
troll and finally, after all were satisfied,
helped to start them moving again, in
a wide, dark stream of hoofs and horr&,
broad, rcd backs and switching tails,
down the dusty road. Then, with a
word TO the cowboy nearest him he
turned his horse and rode back to the
fountain.
AS Miss Penelope, standing at the
gate with the child, glanced up at him
he lifted his sombrero and sprang from
his saddle. BEG pardon, madam he
began, courteously, "but want to thank
you for the great privilege we have en-
joyed. It's rare thing in California to
find watering place along the road"
You're entirely welcome, I'm sure"
responded Miss Penelope, cordially.
This was nothing new. Dozens of
grateful passers-by had paused TO thank
her for providing such refres- ment for
man and beast and it was only simple
act of courtesy in this particular cow
boy to do the same. So she wondered
little why he did not take his depar
ture now that his GRAND was done.
Perhaps he enjoyed the shade OF the
mighty fig tree which spread its great
limbs and dense foliage far out over the
fountain and into the street.
Why should he look at her so? Why
didn't he go? Oh, whom did he look
like, and who was he?
At that moment her startled eyes
caught sight of a long, rcd scar across
the mans forehead, for his head was
barred. and in another instant she found
herself leaning against the cypress
hedge quite weakly and feeling as
though it must all be dream. Then
she gathered herself together and spoke
in quiet voice which trembled
little.
"Horace-Horace Markham, is you,
or am drcaming?"
you are not dreaming, Nellie" the
man replied as quietiy-'it is Horace
Markham and this is Nellie Owens, come
together at last in this strange way"
Miss Penelope suddenly lost her hold
o-1 IN f.r1-n cOft