The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-20


 heart Bursting with tbe outrage of 1t all.
 "You will do it. Marcus" she said, you'll do it stand 1.-the modification and the disappoIntnent and the sense of insrattude But they mustn't pity you"
 so on that day which night have been the greatest and happiest of his lffe old Marcus Desremont at the head of the third division He rode his own mount Pompey chestnut sorrel with a white mane and tai and the walking gait of conQuering war horse The mount was as familiar to the people as
 He sat in the saddle exactly as he had sat :.r years He held himself 50 tor her sake, who would t be watching S for him. love ,,;a and r;Ss9n % ,,ercs old head carried high and fndomitabie smile for all who glanced her way.
 After much delay Lancy finally got the parade in shape and started it of towards the depot He looked uncommonly proud he rode at it's head on his playing and people cheering The old thrill was in the air and Degremonts blood began to race was Lancy's slender, mpudent figure and he wheeled Ponpey halfway about that he might not see 1t,
 Then shout brought him sharply around.
 Down the street from the first division, four black horses hitches to float swung sbout toppIed eheir driver from his seat, and came punsins nsdly back before them seemed to lift in the mid1.e, spng col oFful rivulets of paraders toward the rb pan cS 9U en was h instantly TSm ana ons m out of the uncertain of the frightened anmss Drivers lost their heads and tried to pull inte nearby alleys jumbling the line of vehicles inextrcably The sidewalk crowds jammed ruthiessly into store en- frances.
  At the second they sverved suddenly crashed the rear wheel from a projecting float, and swung toward a flower bedecked phaeton that had pulled into the curb. The in it tried to lift her two little children out of the way
 Lancy, who had gaIoping behind the rum aways, shouting futlely saw her and called to her in frenzy of alarm At the moment old Marcus Degremont swept by He seized the nearest horse by the bit and the force with which pulled the leaders to their knees and broke the pole the float the spintered end stopping within foot of the phaetons wheels.
 A cho Inc dous nuUd uf Lancy flung himself from his horse
 "Is your wife hurt colonel?" asked Degremont, leaning down from his horse.
 Lancy, an arm about ms wne, re ed up an1 gripped the gauntleted hand No, not hurt thank my place." he added. Nobody but you straight things out in time now. And it was your place, anyhow-it shall d1sooys be your place"
 mo Ut later because Of that magic which was hs scattered columns were reassemblng, floats and vehicles taking their old positions, banth began to play, flags that had been abandoned were waving again, and Pompey and his rider, both unmindfui of that terrific strain of the muscles during the sec <onds onslaught against the blacks, took their old place at the head of the parade the rider with his accustomed martial bearing the horse with his con- quering step.
 before the station the others stretching away in beau tiful streamerlike lines. The train was inst n anu few nutes later the welcoming committee came out with their distinguished guest.
 Cheers started in the square and % ran down the lines With h neaa me , .r6 os figure at the head of the parade.
 "A minute, gentlemen" he said, and ran out In the square like a schooboy, to grab Marcus Degremonts hand.
 There pandemonium of cheers at that whcn did not cease till Leyden returned to the committee "This is proud day to to be. thus honored and to my old friend honored also," he remarkeo to the chairman
 The carriage fell in behind the marshal, and his staff and the parade resumed. Never, 1t seemed to Marcus Degremont had his heart beat so proudly never had Pompey stepped high.
 On the tiny balcony of their old-fashioned house, of the last residences left in the business ds trict Mrs. DegreD,ont pwaited the parade
 There hurt in her heart and, proudly non chalan she turned her head from the gtterfng stan and tried to keep her the distant third oiv1 sion where she thought her husband must be. Then her v7nmans curiosity got the better of her sod sne permitted herself swift glance in tt direceson or the staff. No word of what had happened had come to her.
 Just he had done many times before when bs reached that balcony. Degremont turned h2s horse silently reined him in for a second, and swept . gallant salute to the old figure above.
 His wife stared in astonishment. Her Marcusl Had there been miracle! Aye but she had felt all along that something like that mast happen What it wse she did not know, did not He had been spareo cruelty. He had kept his place of honor. That was enough.
 She sratched her old lace handkerchief from her bosom and waved toward him. following him as so1g as she could him. and missing altogether Oe tribute of the distinguished visitor in the cArrfAge who. seeing her there. had bowed profoundly ano lifted his hat. Copyright 1910 oy Ketraeolttqn yeessas~ ankias>A 4