Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-04-01

to lift and tug at the queer, long, stone
something in the wagon.
Old Mrs. Green peered through the
blinds of the next house and called out,
excitedly: Marian, come here this
minute! / do believe Miss Penelope's
went and had her own coffin made, or
sarcophagus or somethin'."
But Maria, leaning interestedly over
the old lady's shoulder, said: ''Pshaw,
mother, faint no such thing! Looks
a heap more like watering trough to
me-"
And so in course of time it proved to
be. Just like one of her queer no.
tions," said one. But it'll be blessiA'
to poor dumb brutes, just the same"
said another, and third neighbor de-
clared that nothing on earth could
tempt her to have a public watering
trough put up in front of her house.
The men within a mile around
thought it was just the thing, and be-
gan to wonder why they hadn't taken
up collection and got one themselves
long ago.
But when in a, few days handsome
iron drinking fountain was brought out
from the city and set up at one end of
the long stone trough, and bright
tincup was chained thereto, people said:
''Well, Miss Penelope does beat all for
doin' deeds of mercy!"
And the lady in question, sitting on
her vine-wreathed porch, said to her
self, as she watched the thirsty school
children stopping on their way home
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 / was going to get, and
I'm going to make over my best dress
and pinch along awhile 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 it. What a pleasure
it was the next time band of sheep
came through to see the thirsting crea-
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 no less sat
isfied was she to see the dusty shepherds
lift awkwardly their wide sombreros
as they dismounted and caught
| glimpse Of her before they drank cup
full after cupful from the iron fountain
All this filed Miss Penelope's queer
soul with intense satisfaction. "Who-
SO giveth a, cup of cold water'-she
thought to herself, maybe it's just as
much deed of mercy as 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 hee, turning up the earth
with her trowel, and tying UP sagging
vine here and there. Suddenly she
heard down the road the unmistaka-
bic herald of an approaching herd of cat
tle-the confused lowing of hundred
plunging and plodding cows min
gled with the whistles and peculiar
cries and calls of the attendant cowboys
who in wide felt sombreros and pict-
uresque attire rode at each side of the
moving mass of tossing horns and
rough-coated bodies.
Miss Penelope dropped her garden
tools and went up the steps of the porch.
1t was the way she paid herself for
the expense and trouble of setting up
the drinking place-this quiet enjoy
ment of hers in the eagerness and satis-
faction of the poor creatures, weary
with the travel of many miles over dusty
roads.
AS she sat thus, looking out across
the cypress hedge upon the surging
crowd of cattle, a panic-stricken child
pushed open the gate and ran up the
walk. "Oh, Miss Penelope" she cried
out, shrilly, "let me come where you
arel I'm afraid of the cowsl"
Miss Penelope rose and went down
the steps. How womanly and tender
sne looked as she reached hand down
to the little girl and smiled reassuring-
ly. The cattle were crowding around
the long, stone trough and a dark-eyed,
weather-bronzed cowboy leaned from
his mustang and helped himself to a
drink from the fountain. AS he did so
he heard the child's frightened cry and
saw the pretty, womanly little picture.
AS he drank he studied the woman's
face furtively from the shadow of his
wide sombrero and sudden look of
wonder seemed to come 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
wide, dark stream of hoofs and horns,
broad, red backs and switching tails,
down the dusty road. Then, with
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 a rare thing in California to
find a 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 refreshment for
man and beast and it was only a 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 errand 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 long, red 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 spoks
in quiet voice which trembled
little.
Horace Horace Markham, is it you.
or am dreaming?"
"You are not dreaming, Nellie" the
man replied as quietly--"it is Horace
Markham and this is Nellie Owens, come
together at last in this strange way"
Miss PeDelope suddenly lost her hold