Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-10-10
Tho Euaitive.


accomplishing; all Of them
drenched to the skin by the chill rain
that swiried through the gap, down
into the night ridden valley below.
Sky never was so black. Days of in
cessant storm had left it impenetrably
overcast Three or four miles lay be-
tween the sullen travellers and the town
that Graded itself in the lower end Of
the valley.
Night had stolen early upon the dour
spring day. Eight oclock--no more
ana yet 1t seemed to these men that
they had plowed forever through the
blackness OF this evil night, through a
hundred villatnous shadows by I'M
pointed paths. Few We're the words
that bad passed between them during
all those weary miles. An occasional
oath, muff1ed but Impressive. fell from
the lips OF one or the other of those
who followed close behind the silent,
tmpeTurbable leader The tell man
was as silent as the unspeakable night
itself.
1t was impossible to distinguish the
faces Of these logged nightfarers.
The collars of their coats were turned
UP. their Threats were 1nuffled and the
broad rims of their rain soaked hats
We're far down eyer the eyes. There
was that about them which suggested
the unresented pressure of firearms in
side the dry breast pockets of long
coats
This was an evening in the spring of
1870, and these men We're forein.
their way along Il rreacherous noun
tain road in southwestern Virginia.
The washing away of a bridge ten
miles farther down the valley had nut
an END to all thought of progress by
rail, for the night at least. Rigid ne.
cessity compelled them to proceed in
the face Of the direst harflshps. Their
MISSION was one that could not be
stayed so long as they possessed legs
aud stout hearts. Since o'clock in
the afternoon they had been strug-
Cling along their way, at times by mar
row wagon roads, not infrequently by
trails and footpaths that made for
economy III distance.
The tall man strobe onward with
never decreasing strength and con-
f1dence. His companions, on the con-
trary. We're faint and sore and scowl-
ing. They We're not to the mountains
born. They came from the gentle low
lands by the sea. from broad planta-
lions and pleasant byways, from the
tidewater country. He was the leader
on this ugly night. and vet they We're
the masters They followed. but he
led at their bidding. They had known
him for less than six hours and did
not know his name: nor he theirs for
that matter. They took him Oh faith
and for what he was worth-S5.
Are those the lights of the town.
painted one of the masters, a throb of
hope in his breast.
"Yas. r." was all the tall man said.
How far?" demanded the other
Bout fo'h mile
"Can we make it by 9, think?"
"Yas. r.
Wed better be moving along. It's
half past now
"Yas, r."
Once more they set forward descend
Ing the slope into the less hazardous
road that wound its way into the towr
OF s., then, as now. a stariving place
IN the uplands. The ending of dead
~ war not more than ten years priol
to the opening of this tale had left
this part OF fair Virginia gasping fo,
breath, yet too proud to cry for help
Virginia, the richest and fairest ani
proudest of all the seeding states, wa:
but now finding her first moments O.
real hope and grief
intermittent strains of music cam,
dancing up into the hills from TIL,
heart Of s. The wayfarers listened
In wonder.
TITS a band.'' murmured one of tn,
two behind.
"Yas. r; circus band" vouchsafet
the guide. sudden eagerness in hi
voice. Van Slye's Great and Onl,
Mammoth Shows
"a circus?,, Interrupted one of til,
men gruffly. ''1'hen the whole town i
full of strangers. That's bad for us
Blake
II don't see why He's more il,al
likely to be where the excitement
highest. amt he? He's not too old 70
that. Well find him il, that crell
tent. Tom, if he's in the town at ALT
First circus they've had in S. il
dawg's eye. ventured the guild,
with the irreievancy of an excite,
boy .'Rice's was there once. | cam
remember just when. an they VA
some talk Of Harlluln las' scah, tho
say. but he done pass MS by. He's 60
Holy Reheemoth that sweats bloo
this yeah. they Nay poggone. I'd Xix
TO see one Tlaekuide had not We.
hred so much as this all told. in tn
six hours, oe their mountaineering
81 Let's be moving on. I'm vet elea
through. :" shirereh Blake. &.