Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-12-10

They are coming to take me away
but they shall not-you will not let
them-you have promised a hundred
times, and you will not break your
word"
He struggled to a sitting posture
and his gaunt, wasted form, trem-
bling with fear, was weird enough to
appal the stoutest heart.
"No, no, Jack, they shall not take
you away from memo one shall do
that. 1t was only the church clock
striking the hour. They are ringing
no bells for you. No one shall harm
you; 1 would not let them. Trust
me, Jack; 1 have been here with you
sc long; do you know how long 1
have been with you? Can't you
think? Can't you remember"
The tones of her voice soothed him
to quietness and he lay still. Jack"
she began again, slowly: Jack, l an
going to ask you a question, and 1
want you to answer me. 1t is very
important, Jack. Do you know what
night this is? Try and remember.
1t is a night you used to love. 1t is
Christmas eve, Jack; Christmas eve"
"Christ's evening" he m%urmured,
dreamily; "the night for telling sto-
ries-stories of home and love. Did
we not once tell stories on this
night?"
Eyes, Jack, yes, and we two will
tell a story together. Once upon a
time, Jack-that's the way we always
began our stories-you haven't for
gotten, JACKIE"
She was having a hard struggle,
this brave-souled woman. A mans
reason was in the balance and a sim
gle word might win or lose it. The
demons of the storm shrieked and
tore at the shutters as though they
would get in and fight against her
for the mans soul. 1t was a slender
woman pitted against the fates. She
realized this, but went on bravely,
"Once on q time, Jack, there was a
grand old forest, and through it
wound a shining river, n in it's re-
cesses was a beautiful lake" The in.
tense earnestness of her voice, anc
the frequent repetition of his name
arrested his attention, and he seemed
to follow her. Something like the
CLEAN of consciousness came into his
eyes. She looked at him steadily anc
continued: "And there were greer
hills and wide meadows and an ole
rambling house."
ard the grass was thick and sof'
and green on either side"
True, Jack; see how you are help
ing me with the story? And on on
side of the gate grew a lilac tina
bloomed early and gave to spring it,
sweetest fragrance; on the othel
side a lofty pine"
"The blackbirds sang in it,
branches all day long"
He said this so quietly and will
such seeming faith in his recollection
that even she, who was striving will
all her strength for this result. wa
startled. Then hope leaped in he
heart; her eyes shone with renewed
light and the\warm blood stirred ant
kindled in her bosom.
"There was a spring at the foot o
the SLOPE" he continued.
Eyes, yes"
"And just above it grew a POLAR
willow"
"Oh, God, I thank Thee!"
The nervous, strident quaver hal
gone from his voice and he spok
with the calm assurance of one VIII
is moving over familiar ground. g
remember a narrow path that lie
down from til, Iouse to the sprin
and in the early summer morning
the grass that bordered it was Ii
like q million diamonds where tn
dewdrops were kissed by the sum-"
'It was all very cheerful and brigh
, a~nd-and-" She could say no more
The tears would flow with anothe
utterance. She must not weep nov
, and yet her joy was so intense tina
she felt If she did not that she Shout
die.
t cit was a pretty place, Jack" sh
forced herself to say, land Their
, we're some who used to run up an
down the path trying to count th
, Jewels"
"Three," he said, confidently; "tw
boys and a girl. One of the boys wa
r slight, with hair like gold and grea
blue eyes that seemed always to loo
v beyond the hills into another worlt
The other was q sturdy lad wit
t thick, dark hair that fell in way
masses round his sun-burned fac
, They called him Jack"
"True, true; go on. The third, til
girl-can you remember what she We
like, Jack?"
e They I seemed to have change
places, the brain-sick man an
i the brave, patient woman, for sh
was now all agitation while h
was cool and self-possessed. She use
all her strength to appear calm, LEI
i he should notice her excitement an
lose himself again. She must lea
him on.
"The other, Jack, the girl-ha'
you forgotten her?"
81 have never forgotten her."
n said, the light in his eyes softenini
+ "she has been with me always. 81
was the constant playmate of tt
boys and gave her favors to bot
alike. The three were cousins, bl
4 she was loved by both with MOI
than cousins love-
4 mo, no." she cried, with sudde
4 vehemence, mot both"
She was u woman now with all