Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-04-14

EOURIEEN years Oh age, ana ldlr DIS
L a lily, with silky, golden hair, ex-
pressive blue eyes and a charming
face; kind and gentle in disposition,
and with a refined simplicity Of man
ners that indicated the superior char
acter of her training and environment
such was the description of my
cousin Dolores. Her parents, wishing
to complete her education, had intrust-
ed her to my care to be taken to a
school in Paris.
We left Madrid by the Southern Ex-
press, and early in the afternoon OF
the second day, which was in January
it began to snow heavily. Dolores and
| were seated at one of the small tables
in the dining car, and were just be-
ginning dinner, when the train stopped
and we heard the call, ORLEANS, five
minutes stop"
"Orleans!" exclaimed she, covering
her face with her hands.
Eyes, Orleans, the birthplace of Joan
of Arc" said l.
NO" quickly replied Dolores, I'M
covering her pretty face, Joan of ARC
was not born here. She was a native
of Domremy, and if she is known by
the name of Maid of Orleans, it is be-
cause of her efforts to prevent this
place from falling into the hands OF
the English"
ut seems that you remember per-
fectly the history of that remarkable
woman"
Remember it! Even to the slight
est particulars"
After which my cousin remained
pensive for some time, scarcely tasting
the viands that were placed before her,
The train proceeded on it's way and
we were soon going at full speed, in
spite of the snow that was falling or
the track. Happening to notice two
tears in the child's eyes, and suppos-
ing that thoughts of her parents were
causing her sadness, l requested her
in order to divert her mind, to tell me
the story of Joan of Arc.
She began the recital and showed 6
familiarity with the story extraordi.
nary in one Of her years. She seemed
also to feel an incomprehensible agi-
tation as she related the sufferings Of
the Maid of Orleans. When she
reached the point where Joan of Arc
was condemned to be burned alive she
was too overcome to speak.
At that moment the locomotive
whistled several times and the train
began to reduce speed, soon stopping
entirely. Wiping off with a napkin
the frosty window of the car, / saw
the railway guards signalling with rec
lanterns.
"What has happened?" asked ar
employee.
There's a small landslide on tho
track, but I think it will soon be
cleared. We have two gangs at work
now"
Dolores had not stopped weeping
and the condition of her mind wa
such that she was unconscious of hav.
ing attracted the attention of the other
passengers.
Come" said |, wishing to put ar
end to this scene; and she followed
me mechanically to our own compart.
ment.
We installed ourselves there, and moi
wishing to add to her grief by re.
proof I sat down to look out of the
,u;ndou, An ;por,apca bopfro b,d boar
built, by the light of which workmer
were engaged in clearing the road, anC
which projected their figures in gro.
tesque, moving shadows upon the
snowy winding sheet that covered the
earth.
After looking a while at the fantas.
tic picture before me, l called my
cousin, who, rising to her feet and ap.
preaching the window, remained 6
short time silent and absorbed, looking
at the flames with fixed and staring
eyes. Then, as if taken with a suddeI
attack Of insanity, she exclaimed:
Look! there are my e~xecutioners-
they lead me again to torture! Ant
WIht LOIIulC' vi, lily bOu, W ulS w
fire! The smoke suffocates me; the
flames seize upon my garments; the
heat burns me; I grind my teeth ant
bite my lips; my limbs writhe an(
twist, my body trembles, shrinks, ant
vainly struggles to be free!"
| was astonished and alarmed a
hearing these words. Poor Dolores
Had she lost her reason? Was it 6
passing de~lusion, a momentary aberra
tion-or q serious symptom Of incur
able insanity?
Hurriedly drawing down the curtain
and taking the child in my arms,
laid her on the sofa, covered her will
my travelling wrap and seated mysel
at her side, without taking my eye'
from her face. She was as white al
wax, and her staring, CLASSY eye
filed me with alarm.