Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-10-29
MlLlY.


ow Hosmer, as she pesred anxiously out
into the bleak, rain! twilight. Pete has
spraiEed his leg SO, slipping down out OF
the hayloft, that he can't take n step on
it, and 1 s'poss you and 1 will have to
finish the chores, Milly."
Gall right, mother; can milk the
old Speckle as well as not; and then we
have only to close up things for the
night. Pete managed to get the hay
down before he got himself down. but
do think he is the most awkward, un-
lucky creature that we ever had on the
place. Here it isn't week since he al
most cut his thumb of, and it's mercy
he didn't burn the house up yesterday
when he went and started the CRATE fire
in the fireplace without as much as TAX
ing the boards off the chimney"
eyes, that's so; he does seem bit
unbalanced; but / feel sorry for the
poor fellow. He's grooming dreadful
with his leg. and won't let me do thing
for it; 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 dispatch from Jim, and
no one to 90 to the station with his
lunch"
"Never mind, mother; we'll tiI it
somehow" answered pretty, brown
eyed Milly, as she hustled about, put
ting on her waterproof and over-shoes
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 tin
pail: "Mother, L believe 1 can carry
Jim's lunch to him myself
"Mercy, Milly! I'D never dare to let
you!-the night SO dark and the road so
long and lonely! No, indeed, child;
Jim would never allow it,"
al know, but it is too bad for the
poor fellow to 60 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
autumnbl asst, and one could see that
her resolution wayersd little.
ga cup of such nice hot coffee from
home would seem sort Of cheerful to
him." she said, in meditating tone,
"and it's proper kind of you to make
the offer, child; but doubt It's being
safe for you going so far alone"
"Nobody would be likely to be out
such an awful night s this, unless it
should be some Of the neighboring
farmers, and even if there were the
darkness would hide me-"
az am afraid to let you 60, Milly.
I've heard of tramps, and"
"Pll tell you, mother; I'll take Jim's
revolver! He left 1t in his room the
last time he was at home
"well," began Mrs. Hosmer, rather
doubtfully, "though you'd never dare
to use it,"
Eyes, would, If really needed it"
responded Milly; $50 let US call 1t SET
tied and 60 in and get something nice
put up for lunch"
Really pleased down in her mater
nal heart for this regard for her sons
comfort, Mrs. Hosrner gave a reluctant
consent; for Jim was her only and
most i1olized child, little Milly being
only the daughter of dear friend
whose child Mrs. Hosmer had gladly
taken to her heart and home.
The farm was small and Jim detesteG
farming, SO man was always employ
ed on the place, while ambitious jim
risked life and limb as an engineer.
He was now Il handsome stalwart fell
low OF twenty-six, whose broad shoul-
dsrs, bronzed face, and merry eyes
were secretly enshrined in Milly's heart
rs 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 a future fireside to
which he could turn for rest instead Of
to his 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
alwaylcarried in the pocket of his blue
flannel shirt. Many time the engine
light shone over the 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, Sc
crstly laying the foundation Of that
ideal home, Jim had gained the respect
and confidence Of his employers and
was on the road to promotion. But his
work was now somewhat varied, and
when the busy season came and freight
was moving freely, he often ran 9
"wild train" through Rockfield, as the
little place was called, where a station
had been erected for the accommodation
Of the surrounding farmers.
On these occasions he generally sem
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