Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-31

persOnaees Of importance if one could Judge
by their looks OF owlishly- profound wisdom.
At the front Of the rostrum a boy de-
lTverlng an Grafton IN high explosive voice,
With an accompaniment OF eccentric gestures.
When his effort was concluded, the pro
longed applause that greeted the appearance
OF another boy prevented the men outside OF
the window from hearing the approach of an
old man who hobbled up behind them with
the aid Of a couple OF canes, and endeavOred
to seat himself on stone Just back OF them.
de was considerably bent, as it was, but a
hitch. IN his back and a catch in his legs
seemed to give him great deal OF trouble IN
getting doubled up any more
Wonder what's up, anyhow" said Ike, as
the applause subslded.
Its a oratorical contest piped the old
man behind them. "Wisht you'd help me to
set down. This we're rheumatic makes it a
heap o trouble fer ne to git up or down. he
added, when they had assisted him. SLOW
waikln, but / got yeTe soonern l expected,
though. Lowed to Jest be in time to hear Paul
speak, an now l We got to wait till Harry Bal
lard through before l can hear him. Paul
comes last Of all, you see None OF 'em
know he's goin' to speak, an he'll sorter sur
prise en-
And the old man chuclled happily.
What's the object OF this meetln'!' asked
Jim.
While the youth inside was going on with
his oration. the old man told the causes that
had led up to the meeting.
The insignificant settlements of Rocket City
and Blue Mounds were rivals IN everything,
and the citizens Of each were ready to do any
thing in their power TO place their town IN ad-
vance If its opponent.
When Blue Mounds offered a prize to the
most eloquent Of its students, Rocket City
not only duplicated but increased its rival s
reward.
The prize offered by Rocket City was CON
slderably larger than that gwen by Blue
Mounds and Rocket ir- felt cOrreSDon IDQly
elated
There had been public meetings and enthu-
siasm galore, and Rocket City suddenly dlscov-
cred itself to be deeply interested In the pro
Everybody, unless their boys was to speak,
wanted Harry Ballard to win" rambled the
old man. His father owns pretty nigh the
whole town. But Paul will surprise EN-; he'll
surprise EN-"
Who's Paul?' asked Jim.
Before answering the old man turned slowly
around on the stone and pointed to the little
cemetery on the slope OF the rise a quarter
OF mile away.
thar Yes, Paurs my gran'son,' the old man
wont or -,-o=e1ilv the others did not
answer. ''Cripply Paul they call him His back
amt right"
Ike and Jim did not interrupt him, as he
piped out the story OF the little cripple 1t
had been for something more than a victor 5
honors that Paul had striven.
One Of the mounds in the little cemetery on
the slope had no white headstone- Beneath
it slept the father of the little cripple
Blue Mounds, too. possessed a cemetery,
and the citizens had decorated the resting
places of their dead with neat marble head
stones, rendered quite expensive by being
freighted a long distance by wagons.
Not to be eclipsed, the Rocky Cityites, who
had relatives buried in their little cemetery,
had placed at the head of each grave stone
a trihe larger than any in the rival
graveyard. The only unmarked grave was
that of little Paul's father
Since that father had died, leaving not