The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-10-11
This ~uuitive,

wv pHoit OhtS, ldSStu, yet
accomplishing; all OF them
drenched to the skin by the chill rain
mat sW1rled through the gap, down
into the night ridden valley below.
SKY never was 50 black. Days Of In
cessant storm had left 1t lmpenetrably
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 o'clock-no more
and yet 1t seemed to these men that
they had plowed forever through the
~olackness OF this evil night, through a
hundred v1llainous shadows by I'M
pointed paths. Few were the words
that had passed between them during
all those weary miles. An occasional
oath. muf1ed but impressive, fell from
me lips Of one or the other Of those
who followed close behind the silent.
imperturbable leader. The tall man
was as silent as the u~nspeakable night
itself.
1t was impossible to distinguish the
noes OF these logged nightfarers.
Inc collars Of their coats were turned
up, their threats were muffled and the
broad rims Of their rain soaked hats
were far down over 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
1915, and these men were forging
their way along a %treacherons noun
tain road In southwestern Virginia.
The washing away of a bridge fen
miles farther down the valley had put
an end to all thought Of progress by
rail. for the night at least. Rigid no
cessity compelled them to proceed in
the race OF the direst hardships. Their
mission was one that could not he
stayed so long as they possessed legs
and stout hearts. Since 3 o'clock IN
the afternoon they had been strup-
Cling along their way. at times bv mar
row wagon roads. not in~frcquentlv hv
trails and footpaths that made for
economy in distance.
"h man otiobs onward Win /
never decreasing strength and con
hdence. His companions, on the CON
trary, were faint and sore and scowI-
Ing. They We're not to the mountains |
born. They came from the gentle low. |
lands by the sea, from broad planta- |
tons and pleasant byways, from the |
tidewater country. He was the leader |
on this ugly night, and yet they were
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 on faith
and for what he was worth-Sl.
Are those the lights Of the own"
painted one Of the masters, a throb Of
hope in his breast.
Vas, r. was all the tall man said.
How far?" demanded the other.
Bout fob mile"
Can we make it by o, 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 thn tnwn
or :, then. as now, n thriving plooa
in the uplands. The ending of . dead
~ war not more than ten wears prior
to the opening Of this tale had loft
this part of fair Virginia ~gaspiug for
YET too proud 70 cry for holm
Nfrvinio tBn r;,I,,.4 -
prordest of all the seeding states. was
but now finding her first moments Of
real hope and grief.
Intermittent strains Of music came
dancing up into tho hills from tho
heart of s. The wayfarers listened
In wonder.
ITS a band" murrnured one Of tho
two behind.
"fas, L; 4 circus band" vouchsafed
the guide. q sudden eagerness in his
voice. Van Slye's Great and Only
Mammoth shows
"A circus:' interrupted one of tho
men Srnffly. Then the whole town i
full of strangers. That's bad for us.
/ dbh L NtS ny ne more fn1n
likely to be where the excitemont.s
highest. amt he? He's not too old for
that. Wen find him in that circus
tent, Tom, if hes in tie town at all"
"First circus they've had in S. I'm
A dawg's age. yentured the guide.
with the irrelevancy Of an excited
boy. "Rice's was there once. can.
remember Just when. an they was
ON talk Of Barnum las yeah. they
say. but he done pass us by. He's got
Holy Beheemoth that sweats blood
this yeah, they say. Doggone. I'd like
10 see one" The guide had not ven
tured so much rs this. all told. in the
six hours Of their acquaintanceship.
lets be moving on. I'm wet clear
through" shivered Blake.