Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11

violently words of furious protest upon his lips his
heart bursting with the outrage Of It ALL
You will do it. Marcus" she said, you'll do It
that no one may say that you were hurt You can
stand 1.-THE modification and the disappointment
and the Of ingratitude But they mustn't pity
you
So, that day which might have been the greatest
nnd happiest of his life, old Marcus Degrelnont rode
mt the head of the third division. He rode his own
mount Pom7ey, chestnut sorrel with white name
and tail. and the walking gait of conqueriug
horse. The mount was as familiar to the people IS
the man himself
lie sat in the saddle exactly as he had sat for
years. He held himself so for her sake who would
he wotching for him. love ana rGbeGn m9rtiira,
old head carried high and an indomitabe snlll" for
all who glanced her way.
After much delay Lancy finally got the parade II
shape and started IL OF towards the depot He looked
uncommonly proud he rode at its head on his
dainty stepping beautifully muscled horse Bands
playing and people cheering. The old thrill
was in the air and Desremont's blood began to race
But there blotting out the brightness OF the day.
lancy's slender npudent figure and he wheeled
Pompey halfway about that he might not it,
Then Il shout brought him sharply around.
Down the street from the first division four hlac'1
horses bitches to float about toppled their
driver from his seat and came plunging madly back
through the line Of parade To Degremont the street
before them seemed to lift in the midtnc sping col
orful rivuets of paraders toward the RIB. \ pan
icky mob instantly evolved from the orderly
ranks. Men pushed and struggled ard fought 10 get
of the uncertain Of the frightened animals.
Drivers lost their heads and tried to pull into nearby
alleys. jumbng the line of vehicles ineXtricably The
frances.
Degremont spurred Pompey toward the runaway~.
the second they sWcrved suddenly. crashed
the rear wheel from Il projecting float and swung
toward flower hcdeclNd phaeton that had pulled
into the curb The woman in it tried to lift her TWO
little children ont Of the way.
I.ancy who had come callopinC behind the run
aways, shouting futiley. her and called TO her
in a frenzy Of alarm. Al the moment old Marcus
Degremont swept by. He seized the nearest horse by
the bit and the force with which pulled the
leaders their knees and broke the pole of the toat
the Splintered end stopping within a foot OF the
phaeton's wheels
A great cheer went up from the dense crowd ana
Lancy flung himself from his horse.
rs your wife hurt. colonel" asked Degremont,
leaning down from his horse.
Lancy, about his wife re ed up and
grpped the gauntletod hand. NO not hurt, thank
God You saved her. and the children. TAX.
my place" he added Nobody hut you can straight
en- things out in time now And it was your place,
auyhow-it shall di,cays be your place"
A 1T later, because OF that magic which was
his, scattered columns were reassembling floats and
vehicles were taking their old p1sitiOuS bands began
to play, flags that had been abandoned We're waving
again. and Pompey and his rider, both unmindfui
OF that terrific strain OF the muscles dur ne the sec
ond's onslaught against the blacks, took their GA
place at the head of the parade, the rider with his
accustomed martial bearing the horse with his con
T1cgremont massed the first division In the square
before the station the others stretching away in beau
tiful, streomerlke lines. The train was inst in and
few nuteS later the welcoming committee came
out with their distinguished guest.
Cheers started in the SQUARE and ran down thf
lINoS WIN uncovered mead, me NlStoT StdrVtu lol-
ward to his carriage, then Cmrsed the spcndid Oil
figure at the head Of the parade.
"A minute gentlemen" he said and ran out in the
SQUARE like schoolboy h grab Marcus pegremont =
hand.
There pandemonium Of cheers NJ that which
did not cease till Iey1en returned 10 the committee
This is proud day to me, 10 be thus honoref
and 10 see my old friend honored also. he remarked
the chairman.
staff and the parade resumed. Never, it seemed
TO Marcus nocremout, had his heart beat so proudly.
never had Pomnev stepped co high
On the tiny balcony Of their oldfaShi oned house.
Of the last residences left in tho business uls-
tr'ct Mrs. Dorromort awaited tho parade.
There hurt in her heart and proudly non
chaant she turned her head from the Cltcring STAR
and tried In keep her the distant third dyi-
sion where she thought her husband must no. Then
permitted herself ono swift rlHrco IN ~ direction Of
the staff. No word of what had happened had come
to her.
Just as he had done many tmcs before when he
reached that balcony, porremont turned his horse
slightly, refined him in for second and swept a
gallant salute to the old figure above,
His wife starod in astonlshwont Her Marcus Had
there been q miracle Ave hit she had felt all along
that someth hing Ike that must hauuen' What 1t was
she did not know. did not care. He had been spared
cruelty lie had kept his place Of honor. That was
enough
Shc snHtched her old lace handkerchief from her
bosom and waved toward him, following him ms long
she could him. and missing altogether the
who sceirc her there, had bowed profoundly and
lifted hiS INT,
rsr@sC~ asin Ha&an-,..s- Nrcscqpcr spn6icata 7