Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-11-08

ers, were Big Bow and Cross Eyes.
Big Bow was easily the most success
full fisherman and hunter in the tribe,
and a somewhat goodly man to look
upon. Cross Eyes was but moderate
ly successful in the pursuit Of food,
either on land or water, and he
squinted prodigiously.
Somewhat unfortunately for Cross
Eyes had thus far progressed this ar
dent wooing. Big Bow, mighty fish
erman and hunter, brought daily spoil
to the feet of Little Toes; spoil some
thing more than appreciated, not only
by the young lady, who had a healthy
appetite, but by her father and moth
er, who CHANGED to be people not
overstrenuous to grapple with the
problem of existence. Cross Eyes did
the best he could. but he brought less
~sustenance to his ~inamorata, and, as
has been intimated, Big Bow was the
more p~resentable man of the two.
But the case of Cross Eyes was not
altogether hopeless. He could talk far
better than Big Bow in the odd, chuck
ling way of the cav men, and was
never sullen. Little Toes had become
ing him around. Yet, the star Of Big
Bow was decidedly in the ascendant.
The rules of dress of the cave men
and women Of the time were becom-
ing rather evere For instance, 1t
was considered desirable that both
gentlemen and ladies always
rel something in public. This, as a
rule, consisted of a single skin gar
ment worn over one shoulder and un-
der the other, and, in case of the more
rigidly conventional, belted at the
waist. This admirable garb, Of course,
left the neck bare. 1t afforded a mag
nificent opportunity for the display of
jewelry, but the only jewelry ever
worn by a cave belle up to this par
ticular :..me had consisted of a neck
lace OF red berries strung upon some
grassy fiber. Such a necklace could
last for. but the passing hour. 1t was
a transient thing. Such as 1t was,
though, it was much affected by the
flirtatlous Little Toes, as she did love
to adorn herself.
1t fell upon a day that Cross Eyes
was wandering, ill-mooded, far from
the madding crowd, along the banks
of a turbulent creek which came tum-
bling down from the hills to enter the
enticing depths of the White Tarn.
This was his meditative afternoon
with a vengeance. He recognized the
fact that Big Bow was far ahead of
him In the race for permanent posses
sion of Little Toes. He realized that
the other man was decidedly the bet
ter hunter and better fisherman, and
the additional fact that the qualities
of purveyor and provider were then
considered in a wooer of the first i'm
p%ortance. He strobe up and down the
little beach where the creek hurled
Itself la%ughingly I've a wonderful bed
of shells and pebbles into the broad
waters 1t was seeking, and, finally,
sat himself down upon a rock and
thought most dismally. He thought of
Little Toes as he had seer her that
morning, graceful as the slim wood
leopard, gliding merrily about, the
temporary necklace of red berries
showing a line Of contrasting color
about her smooth, brown neck. He
would like, he thought, to see a neck.
lace always there, though what did
1t matter! 1t seemed that Little Toes
could never be for him.
His eyes rested, at first unseeing,
upon the creeks margin, where was a
blaze of coloring, C glittering rides.
cence, as the suns rays struck upon
the ~tossed-up shells Of a brightly pink.
hued mollusk, and the many pebbles
Of clear white, brought down from the
chalky heights above. He thought
vaguely Of the resemblance, save in
glitter, Of the bright objects in the
water and the red berries about the
throat Of Little Toes. Then. dImly
at first, and then more definitely,
there came to him a suggestion which
grew into an inspiration. His face
Frightened; he leaned from his rock
and into the water. Up and down the
shore he ran, gathering pink shells
and snowy pebbles. He filed his
wolfskin pouch with them. Then, as
s%trenuously as If upon the hunt, he
ran toward the village al the rocks
and into his own particular cave. He
was possessed of a very great idea
an idea which, in the crowding cen
turtles since, has won many a soft
Land and shaken many an oriental
kingdom.
For many days there was little seen
of Cross Eyes in the chase or at the
fishing. Food enough to sustain him
self was all he sought. Inside his
cave he was at work, with flint anf
drill and sandstone polisher, engaged
more earnestly than he had ever beer
when forming spear or arrowhead
With infinite labor and patience unex
ampled hitherto, he wrought logged
ly, but happily, and wonderful thing
began fashioning themselves In hi
strong hands. He bored each whitt
chalk pebble, each rose pink shell, un
til there were many Of them thu!
pierced, and then he shaped then ant
J rounded them and polished them IN
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