Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-09-01
ZINTHA'S FORTUNE.

Whiz! whiz! whir whir! puff! puff!
--and the Through Pacific Express, on
its way to the Golden Gate, paused be-
fore the station at Fremont, Neb. The
engine drew a long breath, like a boyt
after a race. The passengers hurried
out to get some dinner at the refresh
ment room near by; the train dis
patcher, conductors and telegraph oper-
ators joked each other merrily; and
every one was smiling and happy, al
though the day was unusually warm for
June.
On one side of the track stood a large
grain elevator, and many men were busy
loading some cars with barley destined
for the New York market. The elevator
platform, like that of the station, was
crowded with people. A little apart
from the crowd stood a girl of twelve,
with long braids of hair down her back
and a sturdy baby boy in her arms. At
the open window of a Pullman car a
young lady and two children sat watch
ing this girl. A strange. wistful look
in her eyes attracted them.
"Come here, little GIRL" said the
young lady. ''come and get some candy
1OI your llCUle DrOCQer.
'.He is not my brother, and she bids
me never cross the track alone" said
the girl, and her large brown eyes grew
more wistful. The pretty children in
the a reached out and tried to toss
some chocolates across to her; they all
fell, however, on the track near the
wheels of the grain cars.
els she your motherp''. asked the
young lady.
mo; my mother is dead" replied the
girl. f.
ooh, Aunt Sue, do you hearP' cried
the girl in the car. ssShe hasn't any
mother-just like Hal and me. I'm SO
sorry"
eyes, Vesta, I hear" said the young
lady; ''the poor child looks unhappy
just then the conductor came in to
SAY that some Chinese were engaged in
cooking their dinner on the prairie
CLOSE by, and to inquire if Miss Perkins,
with her little niece and nephew, would
like to visit them.
Miss Perkins was delighted, and at
once nodded to the little girl that she
was coming out.
"Can you tell me anything about that
'child?" she asked, as the conductor
assisted the party across the track.
''The one with the baby?" said he.
l"No; l have noticed her here frequent
Ay, sometimes when it storms hard, and
she is always holding that heavy boy"
"She looks like a picture [ once saw
in Rome,' said Miss Perkins, ssand I
want tospeak to her. Shall we take her
with us to see the Chinese?" :.
Certainly, if you wish" And, STEP
ping up to her, the conductor took the
baby and lifted him down from the
platform, and then smiled as the girl
leaped lightly to the ground.
"Must yon carry that big boy?" said
Miss Perkins to her, as she was about
ITO take up the baby again. "You look
tired. He can walk, can he not"
eyes, Miss, but he does not like to-"
Miss Perkins took the little fellows
fat hand in hers, saying: CHOW
baby will you walk like a big man."
and the party soon joined Hal and Vesta,
who were already watching the indus
trious foreigners, and calling to Aunt
Sue to ''come quick" 1t was a curious
sight. Groups of Cinnamon were
gathered around fires built upon the
Brouno, WIN various queer-looklng
utensils lying about. Hal walked
around n man, trying in vain to count
his pockets, for every moment he
emptied a fresh one. Miss Perkins said
that the inmost recesses of his clothing
must be all pockets. Hal was anxious
to buy some chopsticks then and there,
but his auntie told him he would see
them frequently, for the servants in his
fathers new home at Los Angeles were
all Cinnamon. The wearers Of pigtails
would not answer any questions save
with the words: ''No talkee." The
children soon became tired, and were
glad to return to the car, taking the
strange girl with them.
"What is your name, dear?" asked
Mas 3arlias. when the child was