The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-12-11

CduSo, Salu one.
Poor little fellowr' answered the
other-a lady Hes dropped down,
torch and all, and gone to sleep"
Elsie started and looked around her.
Where was the procession Where was
JoeP Too terrified to say word, up
the street she rushed, gazing wildly on
this side and on that. No Joe did she
see, no procession either. 1t would
have been quite dark but for the street
lamps.
g | must stop somewhere. Unjust ask
some one for Joe."
AT house smaller than the others
she paused, and rang the bell. There
was confused sound of talking within.
"Don't you open that door as you
value your life, Phoebe Maria" said
some one, in shrill tones. "Us all
alone! This time of night! It's tramp,
surer'
Then Phoebe Maria called through the
key-holt, $50 right away. l sha'n't
let you in if you stop there till midnight.
De-partr'
l think if the word "de-pnrt'' had not
sounded so very ponderous, Elsie would
have called back that she was no tramp.
AS it was, she ran blindly on.
"Mother! mother!'' she sobbed,
wringing her little cold hands. But no
one answered. A clock near by tolled
nine, ten, eleven. Two drops of rain
fell. The wind rustled drearily AMONG,
the tree-tops.
Steps sounded near A tall man APP
preached, and Elsie caught the CLEAN
of brass buttons.
"What are you doing here, boyP''
demanded the newcomer in a great
bass voice.
"rm not a boy" cried Elsie. "I
never was boy in all my life. I'm
Elsie Baker want to go home"
She quite broke down, and wept pit
eously.
"Hoity-toityr' exclaimed the man,
who was one of the police. "Where is
your homer"
"Out at Porter's Corner. Joe
brought me to the procession. 1 wish
he hadn't. wish Oh dear, dear me!''
"Now here's a pretty messr' said the
policeman. "There's nothing for it
but to take charge O. you tonight, and
see how we can manage tomorrow.
You come along with me-"
Finding the child too exhausted to
walk, he picked her up and tramped off
down in town with his burden. Where
did he carry her?
To tell the truth there seemed to be
no other place, and he took her to the
public "lock-up."
Elsie was too worn and spent to mind;
too hungry was she not to devour eagerly
the bit of salt fish and hard cracker
which her new friend gave her; then,
forgetting her woes, she fell asleep once
more, safely wrapped in his warm over
coat.
But, in the morning, waking in a
strange place, all the terror of last night
came upon her once more. Through
an open door she darted like startled
hare, and when No. II came, an hour
later, to find her, no child was visible.
All that was left was the small rubber
cape with its rcd collar.
81 must find some cars" thought
Elsie. 81 can't get home unless find
some cars"
1t must have been her guardian angel
who led the little girl, for, as she walked
hastily along, right in front of her
doomed up a big building, in and out of
which locomotives were running.
"Would you please point out the
train for Porter's CornerP' said Elsie,
tremblingly approaching man who
was pushing round some trunks.
"Bless you! you're at the wrong sta
ton for that, sissy or hubby, whichever
you be-" said the man, glancing from
the girls dress to the boys cap. "But
there" added he, as the brown eyes
filed with tears, "a gravel trains just
going across the city to the Eastern
Depot Come with me, and I'll take
you there"
Down the track Elsie rode, perched
on heap of gravel.
81 cal late you've got ticket for
Porter's CornerP'' said her companion.
Here was fresh trouble. No ticket
had she, and, what was worse, not
penny to buy one.
"You don't mean to say you're going
to steal a rider exclaimed the man.
Very likely this was meant for joke,
but Elsie took it for sober earnest. She
had been called tramp last night;
now she was taken for thief. 1t was
too dreadful. She looked here and
there, if perchance there might be some
way of escape from all this misery, and
suddenly-why!- WHAT boy on
the platform of the Eastern Depot
Acould it beP
"Joe! Joer' shrieked Elsie.
1t was Joe; very wretched Joe,
Joe who had not slept wink all night,
though he had gone home in vain
hope he might find the missing sister
there.
He saw Elsie. He sprang toward her.
He clambered on the Car almost before
it stopped, He Rugged her, he kissed
her. Boy though he was, he wept great
tears over her. Then he took her by
both shoulders and shook her.
"Oh, you bad girl! Where have you
beenp You've frightened mother most
to death. Elsie, Elsie, what made you
come to Portlandp'
"You brought me, Joe," said Elsie,
humbly.
Home they went, those two. At the
Porter's Corner Station they found ev-
cry man and woman of the village, and
to each severally must Elsie tell her
story. Her mother never said word.
She only clasped Elsie tighter and tight
er, while the tears streamed down her
cheeks
Il. t. all