Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-11-22
SELECTED STORY
HER TWO HANDS.

oiu CaspeF came uOue aUOut sunset. til;
pick was on his shoulder SO was his old
wool hat, for he thrust it far back from his
wrinkled front. Casper had bend, as il
he bad been half persuaded these many years
to 60 on hands and knees again, SO heavily
time sat on his back, and so close to the earth
did his daily labor draw him.
lie was good natured, trotting old fel.
low, working his mouth eagerly, and strain
ing his beared eyes, as he approached the
towns draggled skirts, for very thinking of
his folks-his old woman and his little gal
There were rows of dismal frame huts all
around, built by railroad companies for the
purpose Of penning as many of their en-
ployees' families at time as possible. They
reposed, grimly and barr-like, squat on that
sandy foundation which scripture condemns,
su arming with legions Of tallow headed chill
dren. Women, sharp at the elbows, and
sharper at the face, were raising clouds of
pork smoke from their respective kitchen
affairs. In fact, the whole neighborhood
reeked with the smell of grease, and the
evening was SO warm Laplander might
have resented it. But Casper's nose was
not delicate. H trotted over the cinder side.
walk, nodding this way and that, glad there
YVES such a Gne air, and that his old bones
were so near homo
"Thar's the little gall as usual" he
chuckled, as he turned IA corner and found
Madgie on her lookout at the gate. She
was comforting sight III see in that neigh
borhood, so tidy and fair, in calico and
braids, and the pink flesh color of youth
You wondered why she hadn't been set furth-
er up town, and draped in something cost
ly; why her def fingers had never learned
there were ten keys to unlock soul which
slumbers in rosewood, and which rises at a
touch, like some blessed genii, to comfort
all ills and fill all thoughts; you wondered
why some high-bred father was net coming
home to her now. But then this old man
would have found it SO hard to do without
her. Then, too, Madgc might never in her
life have struck the royal heart which was
now in her hands, which she held her bank
against all the future, and the interest of
which was the only income she wanted.
"There you are, grandpa p cried Madge.
eyes, and there you are, Madgo. And
here we both are, Madgie entering the
open gate and casting down his pick
He put his hands on each side of her head,
and gave her a sounding smack on the
cheek
s'Supper's ready"
Yes, yes, just wait till get little of the
smut off my hands and neck. It's been a
powerful hot, dusty day
Caspar trotted through the little barn al
lotted to him, hailed his old wife, Who sat
ready to pour his tea, and, after blowing and
plupgiDg through deal Of water, returned
to his family with shining countcnance and
handful Of onions.
Il jist pulled these up for relish.
They're cooling, ingens is. You tended
that ingen-bed, didn't you, Madgio o.
'Grandma and 1 -
"And we wanted some of them lac gems for
Market" said the old wife, cycling the sac
rifce severely. 1--WE amt got no ground
any to throw raisin' luxuries Cor ourselves. .
well, WELL mother, pleaded Caspar, dip
ping his fragrant sphere in salt, II don't
calk' to pull 'em all. 1 jist wanted
somethin' refreshin' after hard day Taste
'em, Madgie," said be, insinuating the en-
erald tops toward her
ooh, no, grandpa, keep EN- yourself,
shaking her head and smiling
Il feel" rambled Caspar, filling his
senses and his jaw with perfumcd roots, un
til blind man would have pronounced him
a Mexican, if bis nose had sat in judgment
over Caspar, Il RALLY feel as if I needed
somethin' refreshin', workin' hard day afte
day for nothin', you might say. Sort o
SEEM your work 60 to pieces under your
eyes, and KNOWN the danger to them on
the road"
"What do you mean, grandpa? :" cried
Madge, turning white as her bread and but
| ter.
Why, honey you see we've picked ane
picked in that cut, and the sile's as unstidd.
as water. The stones and earth jist roll or
the track contineral The company ort tt
do somethin' to that cut. Stones as big a
you is Jared down every train. But thcl
the roads new, the roads new, yet"
"Men amt got no sense" broke in til
old wife. "Don't you see you're skeerln9
that child to death for. fear CharleyH gi
smashed up. He runs on that road
Two blades Of keen remorss leaped from
Caspar's bleared eyes.
CHOW, don't you be skeered, honey
Take an ingen, honey
He reached over to pet her fingers.