The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-12-26
WILLY.

"I guess poor Jun will have to go with cut his supper tonight" said Widow Hosmer as she peered anxiously out into the bleak, .rainy twilight. " Pete has sprained his leg so, slipping down out of the hayloft, that he can't take step on it, and l s'pose you and will have to finish the chores, Milly."
 "All right, mother l can milk old Speckle as we'll as not and then we have only to close up things for the night Pete managed to get the hay down be- fore he got himself down, but do think he is the most awkward, unlucky creature that we ever had on the place. Here it isn't a week since he almost cut his thumb off, and it's mercy he didn t burn the house up yesterday when he went and started the great fire in the e. place without ever taking the boards of the chi nney Y
 "Yes, that's so he does seem bit un- balanced; but feel sorry for the poor fellow. He is grooming dreadful with his leg, and won't let me do thing for 1t !; says he has got it wrapped up and thinks it will get easier after he gets to bed. I gave him some liniment for it, and he went to his room. And now comes this despatch from Jun, and no one to go to the station with his lunch"
 "Never mind, mother we'll fix it some how," answered pretty, brown eyed Miily, as she hustled about, putting on her waterproof and overshoes, preparatory to finishing the chores, and the darkness hid the rosy flush with which she said, as the first tinkling streams of milk made music in the pail: "Mother, believe can carry Jim lunch down to him my self"
 "Mercy, Milly! I'd never dare to let you l. the night so dark, and the road so long and lonelyi No, indeed, child ; Jim would never allow it."
 know, but it is too bad for the poor fellow to go without his supper this cold, bleak night, and know every inch of the way with my eyes shut"
 Mrs. Hosmer shivered little as she drew her shawl closer against the keen autumn blast, and one could see that her resolution wavered little.
 "A cup of nice, hot coffee from home would seem kind of cheerful to him." she said, in meditative tone, "snd it's pro- per kind of you to make the offer, child '; but doubt i,'s being safe for you going so far alone"
 "Nobody would be likely to be out such night as this, unless it should be some of the neighboring farmers, and even if there were, the darkness would hide me"
 "I'm afraid to let you go, Milly. I've heard of tramps, and"
 "ill tell you. mother; I'll take Jim's revolver. He left it in his room the last time he was at home.'
 We'll" began Mrs. Hosner, doubt fully, "though you'd never dare to use it."
 "Yes 1 would, if really needed to-" responded Milly so let us call it settled and go in and get something nice put up for lunch"
 Really pleased down in her m maternal heart for this reg ard for her sons com fort, Mrs. Hosmer gave reluctant con- sent l; for Jim WIS her only and almost idolized child, little Milly being only the daughter of a dear dead friend whose child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly taken to her home and heart.
 The farm was small and Jim detested farming so man was employed on the place, while ambitious Jim risked life and limb as an engineer. He was now a handsome, stalwart fellow of twenty six whose broad shoulders, bronzed face, and merry eyes were secretly enshrined in Milly's heart as her ideal of all that was noble and manly. As for Jim, he, too, had an ideal, and often as he sat waiting on his engine he pictured future fire side to which he could turn for rest in- stead of As barren boarding house, and the woman's face that always smiled his welcome in its light was wonderfully like the little picture of Milly that he always carried in the pocket of his blue flannel shirt. Many a time the engine light shone over the sweet face as it lay on his grim palm in intervals of work, and Jim would whisper, softly, "by and by, little girl" as he carefully slipped it back where it beat with every beat of his heart.
 Working faithfully and steadily, se- cretly laying the foundation of that ideal home, Jun had gained the respect and confidence of his employers and was on the read to promotion But his work now was somewhat varied, and when the busy season came and freight was moving freely, he often ran wild train Through Rock6eld, as the little place was called, where ssatiorSSad been erected for the accommodation of the surrounding farm ers.
 On these occasions he generally sent home a despatch. as in the present case, and in return, fouad . tempting lunch waiting his coming, and sometimes, if the weather vas fine, got glimpse of