West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-11-07

the hearthstone, in her gown of clean
chocolate calico with her linen collar
and scarlet cravaJ. Top. Senior, had
noticed and praised the new red ribbon.
lie comprehended that IL was put on
10 please him and Junior, both of whom
liked 10 see Mother fixed up In
this life, they were her all, and she ac-
counted that life full and rich.
As she sewed she heard the SLOW pat
ter oil February rain on the shelf outside
OF the window. where her flowers stood
IN summer. The great city was sink
ing into such half sleep as IL took be-
tween midnight and dawn; tho shr ek
and rush of incoming and outgoing
trains grew less frequent She did not
fret over the disagrecablo weather.
Top, Senior, had often sad that such
made home and fire and supper more
welcome.
At Juniors bedtime he was eighty
miles away, walking up and down the
muddy platform OF the principal station
OF Agapolis, stamping his feet n. each
turn I'm his promenade 20 restore the
circulation. His was fast exp ess
train, and he stood during most Of tho
rum on the alert to guard again t acct
dent. There was no more careful en-
E ncer on tho road Fireman AMI
brakeman were oil for super in or
near the station. He s,ouchcd rs he
walked, his hands thrust deep into his
pockets; his oyercoat was too heavy
and too loose even for his bulky figure.
lie had taken IL OF the hands of an
engineers widow whose husband was
dragged from under n wrecked train
ono night last SUNNI II. "Mother :"
used to look grave when Top, Senior.
began TO wear it, but she was not a
mite notional Mother wasn't, and she
was glad now that poor Mrs. Wilson
had the money and he had the beaver
cloth coat. His face was beyrimed
with smoke, his beard clogged with
cinders and vapor. A la Nv, travel
ing alone, heSitatcd visibly before
she asked II question, looked surprised
when he touched his hat and turned
to go half the length of the plat 'orm
that he might point out the parlor car.
He observed and interpreted hes tation
and surprise, and was good-humoIedly
amused
81 s'pose l don't lock much like what
JUNIOR calls hero, " ne meddated
with broader CLEAN. What a cute
young one he is! Please Cod hen
make better figure in the world n his
father hes done. | hope that lilv-nowcr
o hisn will be open i'm tie mornin'.
Seems if 1 got softer-Eearted bout
heyn' tibet boy disapp 'iDtcd every day
L live. Come summer, he shall hev Il
run or two on Her every week. Mother n
me hes got to make mp 10 him for what
he loses in not boin' strong an like
other chilren. Mother--sho's dispose |
to Spite him jest alcetlc. But dear mo-
whaS fustrate fault that is in q wom-
an. She did look good in that ere rcd
neck-tie, tonight, an she was always
pretty"
The rain was fine and close, like n
slantng mist that pierced the pores,
when the express drew out of the sta
ton, and as it fell, it froze. Stokes
growled that "ths track would be one
glare of ice before they got her in.' He
was inclined TO be surly ton ght, an
uncommon circumstance with the Young
fellow, and after several attempts to
enIiVen him, Top, Senior, let him alone.
lie was not in talkative mood himself.
The tea table chat ran in his heal and
set him to dreaming and calculating.
In live years Junior would be seventeen
old enough, even for lad who was
mot strong" to earn his living. |; all
went we'll there on Int to be a hundred
and fifty dollars in the bank by then.
There might be something in mother !
idea of setting him ND as florist. And
mother could help with the flowers.
"Hello, ole Teller, look out"
Stokes had stumbled over the fuel in
the tender, in rcplcni,hing the boiler
fires. He recovered himself with an
oath at the slippery rubbish" Some
thing had upset his temper, but he
neither spoke nor looked like man
who had been drinking The teasnr.
chilling drilzle continued. The head
light OF the locomotive glanced sharply
from glazed rails and establishments;
the long bareback of the enc ne shone
a5 with fresh warn sh.
"D'ye know that on a night like tb is
she beats out the tune O Home. Sweet
Home" s plain as ever YOU heerd n
band pay it?' sa d Top, Senior, cheer
lily ont OF the thickeniny damps. 1T
makes me see mother n the boy clear
as ken be. is q great thing fur a man
to hcv comfortable home, n a good
woman in it -
Stokes burst out vchemcntlv ut that
This IS wor than dogs lie, We
you n mc-are no more to them SET
ish creturS in there nodding back
wards at the passenger cars "then tho
5lne that draws EN-. I'm sick o.
frecNn' an slavin' an bein' desoise
by men no better IN I be! How man
of any srerr.t m ambition ken stan If
fur twenty years as YOU hey, beats nv
ondcrstandin'.'
tie will always remember the pause
that prefaccd the RELY. ard how TOP,
Senior, patted the polished lever under
his hand rs he spOSc she's pretty
respectable crctur, take her all i'm ali.
When You N | run into the las dark
/ decpo that waitin fur at the end.
. hope wc'll be able TO shows good sti II.
/ Kits rs hern. Here's the bridge. Wen
be soon home, now
10 was q long bridge, built far out %
be above high tides As they touche
. 1t the furnace door few oDcn. Some
said, q forwards that the door was not
properly secured. others spoke OF a
"hack-dra.t,' others suspected that the
/ fire was ovcc-fed. Tho volume OF flame
I that leapcd out licked the very faces OF
the two men. They recOlel with a
bound and male simultaneous ru. IA
Tor the air-braSc IN the forward passeu.
ger car 20 stop the train anil check the
backward sweep OF the Haze. The
pa sengcrs, CeIng the fash and hear
ing The white and shouts Of "Down
brlkes pressed against the front
windows and dense living ma 4
blocked the door ocsofYsf ,.l,f,.L To-.