Year: 1878

1t was a bright spring morning. The
sun had just emerged from behind the
drapery Of forest, and was dipping his
golden beams into the dew-flled petals
of early flowers when Harper Argow
slowly limped along the village road re-
turning the CHEEKY salutations of passing
neighbors with pleasant smile and a
faint "good morning"


Harper Argow was lame, but in spite
of that he was the pride OF the village;
the boy to whom every father pointed as
a model for his sons; the boy whom every
other boy claimed for his comrade; the
boy who was always called upon to arbi-
trate in every quarrel. He was on his
way to the play ground to which his com.
rades had invited him after whole week
of conlcaves and mysterious gatherings
from which he, their leader was for the
first time excluded.


Arrived on the grounds where upwards
of thirty boys had gathered he said, with
faint touch of reproach in his voice,
Well, what are you up to now, so early?
Some mischief, guess, or else you would
not have kept your secret from me so
long,


Wrong, Harper, wrong" they replied
with merry twinkles in their mischievous
eyes," we got you out so early because we
wanted to enjoy your surprise undisturbed
by any passers-by. Here," said Ashley
Grey, producing handsome new crutch
from behind the nearest tree, II present
you this in the name of your comrades
as a memorial Of your heroic deed this
day two years ago. Then turning quick
ly to the rest he wispersd, boys, I've
seen tears in his eyes let's give him three
good cheers while he masters himself"


''Hurrah! hurrah hurrah! for Harper
Argow," rang through the clear sky
while Harper looked through the mist
before his eyes first at his new crutch,
then at his old one, then again at his COM
rades whose hats were tossed in all di-
rections in an excess of delight at the
happy issue of their plans, drowning his
words of thanks in the united exclamation
of 'All right Argow, We'll do more than
that for you, we II vote for you for Gov
ern VI some day."


While they are enjoying the surprise of
their comrade who is comparing the
merits and beauty of his new wooden walk
ing-companion with his old one, we will
relate the events Of that same day two
years ago when Harper was fourteen
years old


Ashley Grey and Harper Argow were
on their way to the mill with four bags
of wheat on their light spring wagon.
About four miles from home they heard
loud crash in the neighboring wood and
mans cry of alarm. Hastily jumping
from the wagon to ascertain the cause Of
the noise they diocovered Max Roberts,
nick-named by the village-boys as the
Mexican Robber, ever since he chased
them with cow-hide for playing base
ball in one of his fields lying in helpless
bleeding coadition beneath huge tree
which had fallen across the railroad track.
Ashley was about to harangue his unfor-
tunate enemy about his cow-hiding but
Harper, silencing him with one sharp
word of reproof, scrambled down the
steep banks and placed his ear close to
the mans lips who, after telling him that
after endeavoring to fell the tree the rope,
which was to pull the falling tree from
the direction of the track broke, and the
branches catching his garments, pulled
him along as it fell iato tae track.


Harper realized the terrible situation
at glance, and calling to his companion
to aid him they took long poles drove one
after the other as wedge betweed the
track and the tree until it was sufficiently
raised to releave the man from the pres
sure which had broken his arm.


Now, Ashley" he said, to his fright
ened companion, while the perspiration,
stood in large drops on his forehead, 6 we
are not strong enough to take him, but.
you run to the neighbors and ge them
to do it, and if possible to build fire on
the track in case I should not be in time
to stop the train at the station


"Hurry, Ashley, for your lite, . he cried
after the fast vanishing form: the train
is due in twenty minutes!'' Then rushing
to the wagon and unhitching the horse,
he swung Himself on his back.


For a moment he paused to consider:
~ have no matches to build fire; moth
ing to give the signal of danger, I must
go and risk it. In ten minutes the train
will be at our village station, and I have
four miles to ride in that time with an
old horse. Now Dolly, do your best, " he
muttered, as he lightly swung his whip
and sped away to race with time. Past
fences, and trees, he flew; hills, forests,
and fields followed each other in quick