The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-05-28
T HE union of lakes, the union of lands,
The union of states none can sever:
The union of hearts, the union of hands
And the flag of our Union forever!
It is doubtful If any European tou,

It Is doubtful If any European tour.
personally conducted" or otherwise,
ever gave such satisfaction as did this
little trip. They tried singing Hail
Columbia" and John Brown" and de-
rived a great deal Of satisfaction, II not
much melody. from the attempt The
little girl from a nearby farmhouse
ran down and brought them some lem.
onade, and altogether it was a day
crowded with pleasure.
But 1t was just at the close of the |
day that disaster came. They had
fingered as long as they dared, and
then when they started back to the
station the feverish hurry of inexperi-
enced travellers seized them.
A carriage with a party Of gentlemen
turned down n crossroad just as they
approached the station. but the gen.
eral. intent only on the train that was
drawing up to the platform, saw moth
ing else and pushed forward. There
was a warning cry, a shout to the
horses, a groan.
"Oh, he's killed. he's killed, and now
l can't never take him back!" sobbed
Miriam.
But the general was not dead. One
of the gentlemen. a physician. speedily
assured himself of that.
II do not believe he is dangerously
hurt" he said after a swift examina.
ton, but there is a fractured bone in
the leg, and with that and the wound
In his head be ought not to be moved
II he can be cared for near by. Where
does he live2"
All eyes turned upon Miriam, ana
the simple story Of where they belong
ed and how they had won their days
pleasure was told between pitiful
catchings Of her breath as she tried to
restrain her tears.
The station keeper suggested that
the people at the farm neal the grove
had a comfortable house and had plen-
ty Of room and might be willing to
care for the invalid until he should be
able to travel.
I'VE will e that they are we'll paid
for It." said the leader of the party,
who instructed the volunteer messen-
ger, and word was soon sent that the
mistress OF the house was willing If
Miriam would stay to assist her.
So the general was gently removed
to a pretty, roomy chamber. his
wounds dressed, and he began to mend
from the first day.
The doctor made regular visits, and
the gentleman whom the others adj
dressed Is governor came OCCASION
ally and meanwhile used that intangi-
BILE but powerful thing called influence
to set certain forces at work in Wash.
ington. The long delayed papers were
speedily found and attended to, and
n day, when the general had nearly
recovered, the governor brought out a
long envelope.
Here's your pension, my friend
$12 a month while you live and the neat
little sum Of 81, 100 for arrears"
eleven hundred dollars in a lump,
Mir'um. and $12 every month as long
as l live!" murmured tho general.
"I'l go back to the poor farm,
an If I a just find some place to
live, kinder like this
"You can stay right on in these
rooms that you like so WE'LL" said the
farmers wife, kind hearted, but willy
also-"that is, If your daughter will
live here, too, and help with the work.
She a earn her own keep, and I'll
pay her fair wages besides"
Miriam had been called his daugh-
ter many times during his illness, but
now that he might possibly have
something to bequeath her the word
caught the old mans fancy, and by
the aid of his friend. the governor,
Miriam was legally adopted. - Ruth
Cady in Forward.