Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-24

After a matt
"Ter git a pig-a creased pig fer the
atterleetics- The farmer what run
our joint made her chase ava to
by one off his brother, who needs
tie money. / told her I'd go meself,
cause she's so tired, but 'Naw,' she
says, 'Cuppy, youse must stay fer the
bot-enny.' So she chases erlone, for
she says it's her dooty, she says"
Shepherd gave his leg a savage slap
with his walking stick.
Hurry along, Cuppy," he exclaimed.
Perhaps we may meet her. And this
is a fine job for Lydia Farrow."
He plowed through the dust dog
gedly, while Cuppy took to the road
side, lodging among the low bushes
and keeping a wary glance over his
shoulder for a possible pursuer. Pro-
ceeding in this skirmishing order they
reached a turn from which could be
teen a little bridge, spanning a peace
full brook, and, on the bridge, a girl
with a green sun umbrella. She was
holding the umbrella owe something
behind her, and she did not observe
the two pedestrians.
"Hey, Miss Farrer," yelled Cuppy.
Miss Farrer turned and Shepherd
waved his hat.
Hello, Lydia" said he, what IN
the world have you got there?'
II have a pig here" answered the
young lady. 81 am afraid the pig is
| overcome by the heat. How do yoa
do, Walter?"
There's a sight more chance that
you are overcome by the heat ynar-
SELF" retorted Shepherd wrathfully,
and, in spite of her protesting gasp,
he seized the umbrella and shaded her
pretty head with it. This maneuver
gave him a chance to shake hands
with her, and left the pig exposed in
the glow.
Say, he's a dead one," remarked
Cuppy.
The small animal lay apparently
moribund on the planking and
emitted a feeble wall when Shepherd
poked a toe gingerly against his some
what emaciated flank.
"Oh. dear, what shall we do?" said
the girl. do you think it is going to
die? Auntie is so sever when 1 fail
in my duties"
"Good heavens, Lydia, do you mean
to say that a pig more Or less"
But you don't understand, Walter
I must, must show myself trust
worthy in every detail. Aunt Eliza
beth says so. She knows a girl who
couldn't stay at the Rivington Street
mission-that's where 1 want to go
because they couldn't rely on her to
clean milk cans. Do you believe that
if we sprinkled water on the poor
thing
Lets throw him in the brook"
muttered Shepherd between his teeth.
He'd appreciate it, and so would J."
mo, no, no." cried Miss Farrow.
"Your handkerchief"
Shepherd gave her one wild look
and vaulted over the low railing at
the side of the bridge. He soused his
handkerchief in the stream, clambered
up the bank and squeezed out the
water over the pig, who was reduced
by this demonstration to the last eX-
tremity of terror. He rolled about,
involving himself in the cord around
his neck; he squealed; dissolution
seemed imminent.
"I don't know much about pigs"
said Shepherd, desperate because of
the genuine trouble in Lydia's big
gray eyes. do you, Cuppy?"
saw, L seen one in Jones wood, an
say, I tink this feller's fakin'. Stan
up, Bill" ordered Cuppy, grabbing
the leading line. >"Lemme take him
elong fer yer, Miss Farrer."
II couldn't let you, Cuppy, really I
couldn't protested Lydia. "Aunt
gave me this to do, and every failure
counts against me. Besides, you
ought to be at botany. Give me the
cord" She leaned rather YEARLY
against the railing and contemplated
the hot stretch of road. but 1 am
tired and thirsty" she added.
Whats hat place up on the
slope?" inquired Shepherd, pointing
TO the right.
The place was where a rude bench
stood under some heavy overhanging
trees on the neighboring hillside.
The clear water of a spring spouted
generously out of a rock close by it,
FLASHING into a pool, and the dark
green of the foliage surrounding it
made the spot stand on the knoll
like a bower.
That's the-that's a-why, a
spring." faltered Lydia.
1.-THE farmers call it the Lovers
Well.'" explained Cuppy.
Miss Farrow blushed slightly. She
could not help it; Shepherd was look
ing straight at her.
LYDIA" said he with stern deter
mination, you and L are going to
walk up there and you shall rest
yourself. 1t is absolutely ridiculous
for you to think of promenading
through the sun with this beast.
Cuppy shall guard the pig. You'll
take car of that pig, Won't you,
Cuppy?"
"Yep," agreed that eager youth.
"Come on, Bill"
Shepherd picked up the green UNI
breiia and closed it with a snap.
"But-Aunt Elizabeth" the girl de-
INJURED "She will be angry. She will
say I'm not fit for Rivington Street."
ST advise you not to introduce those
subjects at this moment" said Wal
ter, pulling her hand within the crook
of his elbow, in an old-fashioned but
an extremely comfortable way Here
is the path. Goodby, Cuppy."
Cuppy, however, was already in
visible in a rapidly moving cloud of
dust. from which the indignant