The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1902-07-10

The feld a long freight trnin. weight
ed with graz buiidingstonr, tore by.
leaving d stream Of sparks and smoke
In lie wake.
Ben wiped away the sweat drops ~
the siiaing air grew hotter. but Il ras
not until the Two Jersey cows. with
bellows Of fright. ran by him In fran
tic rush for the great ponds which
lay beside the fence a., the foot Of
the upward slope, that he observed
that the long, dry grass. infammabls
az tissuc.papcH was a wall 81 fame.
liz heart leapt in his throat. shayb
grave with itg unpaid-ior wooden
marker was In the rude cemetery on
the hin. close by the ,umble-down
fence with iis corners heaFcd with dry
leaves and dead growth II guldcnrod
and everlasting" II that slab was
burned good.by e. his hopes - Lurin.
do! he threw one quick glance at
the coming hrecloud, then looked 20.
ward the graveyard on the hilltop.
Could bc make a.?
BEFORE three seconds were gone he
had dipped himself In the pond, and
with his ragged cap running rivers Of
waters and his dripping coat In bis
hand, was running like a mad thinf
mp the road The hot air burned biz
checks and took his breath when he
reached Lurinda's mound, but with the
energy ~ desperation be wrcnchcd the
oak slab loose FROM its foundation
block and wrapped his wet Coat about
IL just rs the fire leapt through the
fence and caught the gyerlas,inEs and
the short grass on shay's grave.
The singing smoke choked and
blinded him--thc EcnrcbinR flames
licked nt his hands. but h. claAprd his
precious burden hard and stumbled
into the road, Happily a dozen hur.
ried steps brought him 60 the great
pond with Is waters ~ safety.
After a time Ben crept painfully ur
the road TO his cabin, gaping crowd
nf neighhors came TO exclaim over him
and minister Ca his needs. Old Aunt
Jimmy. Bcn's best friend. was loud in
condemnation 81 bic foulhardy feat.
"Lawd Ben, YOU Is sho' crazy :" she
exclaimed. as she bound up bic bills.
tered hands and bathcd his scorched
facc--"Dat n,Egnt Lurindy ain with
no sich str,ln's ~ dis. no way en- no
how! Now some YOU nigRuhs stay
hcah en- tCck kecr o. Ben while I 60
fuc Lurlndy cs ins' cz nv ole feet kin
tote me ober de- Rroun'l Igw'ine fahly
put dat wcnch tub shnmcl"
In the gathering dusk Lurinda, with
wiihercd water-suaked hands and
-sprinkIed dress, made her way
humbly 90 Bcn's home.
Bcn's eyes frightened as the angular
form Of his beloved appeared in the
doorway.
"Lurindy," he said. thickly, point.
ing with one cottonswathed hand n
the tall slab leaning against mis- bed
its splendor untaruishrd-"Lur
I rave II fuh yuhl"
The tears strcamcd down Lurinda's
durk facr-Aunt jimmy had done her
work well. and the sight Of Bcu'r ban.
daged hands wac an added prick to
her conscience.
"Nuh mutH nh buhnt up" Ben" she
qun,crcd, between sobs. "Yuh mout
nh died favin' dat piece o. wooden
den d. wouldn' been no rfe ~ me
h,inH q Ben, ! ain gwiue let dat ole
debt stan between me an YOU no
moah' En- Is ready tub manly yuh
now-right novel dat'll mex sch
any hapPiuh!"
Ben's eyes widenrd with hope-in
credulity joy. lie looked Of the down.
cost face ~ Luriuda, then at his ute,
lees hands, and opened and shut his
mouth hclplessly.
why Lurindy gal" he stammersd
at length, II won be able Ia wink fuh
yuh. fuh nh long time. En- ain got
de house paid fun yit." he added
weakly.
"Whut O.; inhttGh2" Aunt jimmy
spoke In o tone NJ command. "shct mp
dat mouf - youh'n. Bent ~ Luriudy
willin' tsck yuh now, don yrh try tuh
put huh uut'n de notiunl Can't some
yuh nigguhs 60 git de pFeachuh2 ?" sho
asked. turning 90 the other open.
mouthed guests.
Volunteer were not lacking. and
little later, ben, leaning on the arm
81 Lurinda. yiih the light 81 love and
the frnitiun II hope Illuminating hts
countcuancc, walked down the road
10 her cabin. A broad shaft ~ light
from the open door fell ON the coal.
ash path. and i've woody heads were
thrust out 20 welcome NANNY"
"Chilluns," announced Lurlnda,
proudly, as she led Ben in, as fotch
yuh an new papPy' BrcnF de cushion
cheer, smyrna Ann, en- Ned. yuh en-
Zcky kin teck dis dime an GO tub de
stonh en- Fit some reesins. while
Loueczy en- Cnlline sets de fab In de
stove. We gwine hab reesin cake fuh
suPpuh. No' pappy powful foud O.
recsiu' cakc."--N. Y. Post.