Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-01-02


| In front Of the toaming steeds . sign
which was nearly q groan went up
from the crowds pushing frantically
to get out ofthe way.
He was carried on his feet and
dragged between the, horses, but with
the skill born Of much experience he
had secured grip Of iron on the bri-
dies, and he gave each Of his hands .
swift turn even while the horses were
trampling on his mangled legs-a twist
that brought the team to their knees.
There was mighty struggle for q
moment, when one of the horses fell
heavily dragging the other after It,
Both fell partly upon Mark.
The fleeing crowd who had watched
the daring deed paused in their flight
and in an instant q hundred willing
hands pulled the farmer boy from un.
der the horses, while other hands as
sisted the girl from the carriage.
OF all this, however, Mark knew
nothing, nor did he recover conscious
ness until he had lain for many hours
in the hospital. When he opened his
eyes he gazed about at the simple
cleanliness and drew in long breath
of good wholesome air and looked up
into the eyes of the kindly-eyed nurse
and wondered where he was. Sure
ly there was no such clean, quiet,
wholesome, restful place in the great
city whose streets he had roamed dur
ing the past weeks. He stirred and
uttered a sharp cry. A thousand
needles seemed to have been inserted
into his anatomy.
The nurse smiled and said: "You
must be very quiet. You are badly
injured, but we will pull you through
all right"
Where am II" he asked, weakly.
In ST. Marks hospital" she replied.
you have been here three days. You
have been delirious and talking about
Henrietta and the orchard and the
cornfields and home-and-and lot
Of things"
He smiled wan smile. yes" he
said, weakly, Il live in the country
and am homesick for it--and Henri
eta, well Henrietta, she lives in the
country, too-and she has brown hair
like yours"
you must be quiet now" she said,
a slight flush coming to her face.
Every day a great box of the most
exquisite flowers lay on the chair near
the head of his hed-and as soon as
he could eat the choicest fruits were
brought to him.
Presently, one day tall, white
haired man, with straight, thin lips
and gray side-whiskers, came in to
see him, and on his arm leaned radi-
antly beautiful girl.
you saved my daughters life"
said the man, in voice he vainly
tried to keep steady. "And did it, sir,
at the risk Of your own. am man
of soma means, and have great deal
of 'ufiuence in the business world.
All have-my influence and my mon
ey-afe at your command. You are
a young man. Choose your career and
will see that every obstacle Is re-
moved from your path. What do you
desire most earnestly, my SOM"
Mark gazed into the earnest eyes of
the man bending over the bed, and
peculiar whimsical smile, habitual to
him, played about his mouth.
my most earnest desire is to see
the cornfields and to smell the apple
blossoms in the orchard, and to sleep
in my own bed in the little back soom,
and to eat some Of Aunt Maria's corn
bread-and to see Henrietta-most of
all, to see Henrietta, and to marry
her"
All Of which came to pass, and the
bridesmaid was the daughter Of mil
lionaire banker-which filled Henriet-
ia with unspeakable joy, and all her
friends with corresponding envy.