The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-04


 and hoarding up every nickel in order to buy herself plain cashmere dress.
 Please, ma'am," interrupted Little Nan, having knocked again at Miss Nor rin's door, twill you come and look at old Billy2 He's talkin' to himself and his face is red as the deuce"
 The what P said Miss Morrin, some what shocked.
 ''i said his face was red" repeated Little Nan, innocently.
 Miss Morrin silently followed Nan across the hall to a small room plainly furnished. Old Billy lay quietly on the bed, a patchwork quilt over him, and his head on dirty pillow. He looked up as they entered.
 Good mornin'," he said, with effort. It's so dark can't see you"
 "l'll raise the blind," said Miss Nor rin.
 Then pass" murmured old Billy.
 "He thinks he's playin' poker" ex- claimed Little Nan, in a whisper. He don't know what he's sayin'. Would you mind sittin' with him while git the doc torH'
 As she left the room old Billy put his hand on Miss Morrin's arm. For a mo- ment he was quite himself.
 "Please git me pencil and bit of pa per-" he said eagerly. "Qdickp
 Silently Miss Morrin rose and crossed the hall to her room. When she re- turned she handed sheet of tinted note paper and long Faber pencil to the sick man.
 With an effort old Billy raised his head and Miss Motrin piled up the dirty pill lows behind him. He wrote few lines feebly then the pencil dropped from his hand. He thrust the bit of paper under the pile of pillows, and drew the patch work quilt well around his shoulders Still he shivered slightly. "I'm so cold and tired" he murmured, Then a sweet peace seemed to steal over his face. His eyes closed, and he fell gently asleep. But he never woke again in this world.
 The day oi the funeral Little Nan came to Miss Morrin's room with basket of bright flowers on her arm.
 twill you please help me to fix the Aowers~ she asked, while tears came to her eyes. want to make a wreath for old Billy"
 "Sit down." said Miss Morrin kindly and drew rocking chair toward the fire. Then she turned to her trunk, and after some search, came back to her visitor with a roll of fine wire in her hand. Tenderly she lifted the flowers. There were red roses, and pink and scarlet gera- niums, and few sprigs of green.
 "Old Billy liked bright flowers" said Little Nan. He used to throw lem to me ohen."
 "What do you do at the theatre ?" asked Miss Morrin, hesitatingly.
 "I'm a song-and-dance artiste," an- swered Nan, proudly. sing songs and dance"
 "Do-do ladies attendP
 No, ma'am only men,"
 Miss Morrin shuddered.
 And you like to sing and dance be- tore them ?" she said severely.
 "Not much, ma'am; git awful tired sometimes"
 "Then, my child, why not earn your living some other way2 It would be better to scrub floors all day long,"
 But they wouldn't pay me nothin'"
 "What matter ?" began Miss Morrin, virtuously.
 But send my money home, pretty near every dollar," said Little Nan. mothers dead. Father don't git but half-wages now. I've earned heap the last two years, since I've bin dancin'. I'm eighteen. There's two dead between me and Willie. He's twelve. Jennie, she's ten, and the baby's two. Jennie has an easier time than had takin' care of 'em. They're up and out of the way now"
 The wreath was finished before Miss Morrin spoke again.
 "Who taught you to dance2 she said, suddenly.
 A man my father knew. He had theatre. Eve standing engagement a. the Central. Old Billy was awful good to me. never saw him before l come here, but he kinder took to me. He was poor, too. He had a claim up the moun- tain, but guess he never struck it. He never sold much ore, anyhow. Hain't that a beautiful wreath Billy would think 1t was stunnin'. He always liked everything bright"
 When the funeral was over, and they had all returned to the Grand hotel, Lit tie Nan threw herself on her bed and cried piteously. Miss Morrin heard her sobbing, and entering her room, tried to comfort her. Presently Nan sat up.
 "I must dress," she said, wearily. "lt mast be late" Her long hair fell around her, and silently Miss Morin took a brush and began to smooth its bright strands. Then Nan put on her shawl and hood.
 "Pil git 'em to lst me sing Under the DAises,'" she said, suddenly. "Oid Billy always liked it. He used to clap until I'd come out and sing 1t fur him. Maybe he'll hear it tonight"
 Maybe he will," answered Miss Nor in, with tears in her eyes. "Im sure he will !"
 
 Spring cana The snow that had lain for months on the mountains began to melt slowly, and prospectors talked of grub-stakes. Old Billy's claims had not been disturbed since he died. No one supposed them of any valse. It was